A NEW sitting room has been created by staff and patients’ families at Llandough to make dementia sufferers feel more at home.

The Cwtch, on East 18 ward at University Hospital Llandough, is a 1950s-style sitting room, complete with record player, glass cabinets and ornaments reflective of the era.

It was the brainchild of ward manager Ben Ford, and re-focusing nurse on East 18 Katherine Martinson.

East 18 is part of the Mental Health Services for Older People service at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board and provides care for patients with Dementia and Alzheimer’s.

After consulting on how best to use their rooms and following a comment from a patient that they would like to ‘sit by the fire’, the idea of creating a sitting room was born.

Mr Ford said: “As a team we were particularly moved by the generosity from carers, at a time when their loved ones were experiencing great difficulty with their illness. Dozens of personal items were donated which were relevant to the life history of the individual.”

Ms Martinson said: “It’s engaged the relatives, the staff and patients and has been a collective project. It’s been just as important for the families to have something else to focus on and keep busy while their loved one is in hospital. To have something else to think about other than a hospital visit means a lot to them."

Susan Beck’s husband, William, is a patient on East 18. She believes that places like East 18 are essential for families and patients and that "every time you come through the door you see a friendly face and know that your loved ones are being cared for".

She said: "The Cwtch is so positive and offers so much for people who live in the past and don’t live in today."

George Drummond has been instrumental in the decoration of the Cwtch, giving up his free time to wallpaper and tile the room.

His wife Elaine was admitted to the unit in November 2015 but died in May this year.

He said: “When you have a relative in hospital there is a lot going on in your mind and at times it is nice to be able to switch off from what’s going on here medically and get involved in a project to benefit everyone.

"Little things like finding wallpaper, tiles or visiting markets and charity shops just takes your mind off things."

Lyn James, whose husband Roger is a patient on the ward, added: “Everybody has really signed up and got involved in the decoration of the room and wanted to bring things in to contribute. I’m still keeping a look out now for things when I’m out and about that I think would be nice in here. It is just a lovely environment. It’s so homely, quiet and pleasant."