In partnership with Dementia specialists, The Rainbow Care Group, Leeds Rhinos Foundation is supporting a new initiative to provide sports focused day care for people living with dementia in our community.
In a pledge to become an Age and Dementia Friendly Stadium, Leeds Rhinos Foundation have worked towards creating a safe and comfortable environment for all. One of the ways in which the charity has strived towards this is through working with different organisations to provide dementia friendly support services, and the partnership with The Rainbow Care Group increases this offering.
The Rainbow Care Group provides dementia day care services across North and West Yorkshire, which includes specialist sports service day care groups that unites people through their passion for sports. The sessions take place in peaceful community settings, to ensure people who attend do not feel they are in a clinical or institutional environment.
Through their services, they encourage social interaction, whilst providing cognitive stimulation through meaningful activities. Their mission is to promote dignity and independence whilst striving to provide individualised, person-centered care.
Headingley Stadium is steeped in history and heritage and many people from sporting communities have memories of attending or playing at the iconic ground.
Amy Livingstone, Health Improvement Officer from the Foundation, explained how this partnership is important for the charity: “We are delighted to be working with The Rainbow Care Group to help alleviate the stigma surrounding dementia through providing a venue for these weekly sessions.”
“Growing the work we do and offering more sport specific projects for people living with dementia is really important to us. I am proud that we are supporting this initiative and are providing a safe and welcoming environment. We hope that we can use this service to support even more fans, ex-players, and our community through their love for sport.”
Natalie Hartley, from The Rainbow Care Group, explained how beneficial this partnership will be for the people they care for: “The Rainbow Care Group are extremely proud to be working in partnership with Leeds Rhinos Foundation, offering our pioneering dementia day care services.”
“Sport plays such an important role in people’s lives, and leading a physically active lifestyle can provide various mental and physical benefits to people living with Dementia. We are the leaders in sports focused dementia day care and feel our partnership with Leeds Rhinos Foundation offers a fantastic platform for our clients to engage in sports and sports reminiscence in a safe, stimulating, and friendly environment.”
Kelly Walker, whose father Stephen attends the day care service after having a stroke said: “My dad started attending the sessions at Headingley last year and it has been such a great for support for us. He really looks forward to attending and we have seen lots of improvements in his wellbeing too. The stimulus and interactions he has at these sessions have certainly helped, his walking is better and his memory has improved.”
“The staff are lovely and treat everyone with compassion and respect. It’s comforting for us as a family to see him attend these sessions with people who care and understand that people with dementia still have a life they can enjoy.”
For more information, please contact one of the following:
Amy Livingstone, Leeds Rhinos Foundation
amy.livingstone@leedsrhinosfoundation.org
07710094019
Natalie Hartley, The Rainbow Care Group
natalie@therainbowcaregroup.com
01423 223 454
Or to find out more about The Rainbow Care Group’s work, please CLICK HERE.