Care home residents ‘pimp’ their frames

Dearne Lea Park residential care home activities co-ordinator Yvonne Lynman (second right) pictured with residents and their 'pimped' up zimmer frames, from left to right are: Dorothy Fowler, Margaret White, Shirley Lea, Phylis Parkes and Joan Schofield. 180139-1

People living at Dearnlea Park Residential Home in Thurnscoe have been working with volunteer Darryl Hand and the home’s activity co-ordinators to add a touch of colour and glamour to the equipment.

Darryl explained that there was a more serious side to the fun project: “All the frames are customised to the residents, with particular heights and so on, and we were seeing accidents because people were sometimes taking the wrong ones.

“By personalising the frames in this way, the ‘pimp my zimmer’ project will hopefully reduce the amount of falls in the care home.

“Residents living with dementia will be more easily able to recognise their own frame.

“They have been having a great time getting creative with the decorations, too.

“One calls herself ‘Princess’ so hers is decorated with a tiara, a necklace and feathers.

“We have done about five so far but we hope to do everyone’s eventually.”

Home manager Mel Heaton said the project had been very successful so far and said she would be keeping a record to see if it did achieve its aim of keeping residents safer and reducing the number of falls.