October 31, 2016 1.51 pm This story is over 89 months old

Boston hospital dementia patients carve pumpkins to celebrate Halloween

Dementia patients have been getting in the Halloween spirit by carving pumpkins at Pilgrim Hospital in Boston. Patients on ward 6B were given safe instruments to scoop out the pumpkins and were assisted in drawing and cutting out the faces onto the lanterns. Dementia practitioner Jodie Barwick runs afternoon activity sessions for patients where they…

Dementia patients have been getting in the Halloween spirit by carving pumpkins at Pilgrim Hospital in Boston.

Patients on ward 6B were given safe instruments to scoop out the pumpkins and were assisted in drawing and cutting out the faces onto the lanterns.

Dementia practitioner Jodie Barwick runs afternoon activity sessions for patients where they can mix with other patients, socialise, play games, paint, decorate cakes and listen to music from their era.

Dementia patients at Boston Pilgrim Hospital carved pumpkins to celebrate Halloween

Dementia patients at Boston Pilgrim Hospital carved pumpkins to celebrate Halloween

Jodie encourages patients who are mobile to take a walk with her outside and get some fresh air.

She has recently taken on her role as dementia practitioner and provides one to one support for patients identified with dementia at the hospital.

Jodie said: “We were donated pumpkins and as part of our afternoon activities staff and patients carved pumpkins.

“The patients that took part really enjoyed themselves and didn’t leave the room until every pumpkin was finished.

“We hope to be doing an activity session each week in the dayroom which will also be for 6A patients to come along.

“It was so good seeing the patients enjoy themselves and socialise with others.”