A dementia toolkit designed to harness the memories of older people in the African and Caribbean community has been launched in Sheffield.

The toolkit is comprised of a series of reminiscence exercises based on elders’ early African and Caribbean childhood and adolescence experiences, vintage objects, aromatherapy and a large collection of heritage videos.

Through the sharing and recording of individual’s life stories, it is designed to maximise the quality of life for people living with cognitive decline for as long as possible, and at the same time improving the competence and confidence of their care partners. 

Carl Case, director of Culturally Appropriate Resources, said: “Our goal is to empower healthcare partners with a user-friendly, culturally appropriate, person-centred, set of resources which enhances our elders’ self-esteem and identity, enabling meaningful two-way engagements, maintains connections, combining towards having a positive impact on African and Caribbean elders’ neuro-cognitive decline.”

The toolkit is being launched in collaboration with the University of Sheffield and SACHMA Health and Social Care.