A SHELTERED housing development in Sale has opened a 'Reminiscence Room' to help tackle dementia, which affects more than 850,000 people in the UK.

Transporting residents back in time, the Reminiscence Room at Fiona Gardens replicates a 1950s living room and is designed to provide a familiar space where people living with dementia can relax and connect with the past.

The newly renovated space features items from the era, including a stereogram to play records, a sewing machine, typewriter and furniture donated from Trafford residents.

The wallpaper has also been aged to look authentic and complete the experience.

Joy Fawkes, aged 82, who lives at the Trafford Housing Trust’s extra care scheme, said: “The Reminiscence Room is beautifully decorated and a nice place to sit and think.

"It reminds me of my childhood home and has a sewing machine just like the one my mum used to take up the hems on my dresses. The radiogram brings back fond memories of the one which used to hold all my dad’s records.”

Rodger Cairns, assistant director at the trust’s independent living service TrustCare. said: “We’re always looking at innovative ways to support our customers living with dementia and will be including a Reminiscence Room or area in each of our sheltered schemes over the next 12 months.

"The trust also plans to introduce Memory Cafés across Trafford as a welcoming space for people with dementia and their family and carers, while partnering with specialist dementia organisations to provide information about their services.

“We also offer GPS tracking monitors as part of our Alert and response telecare service to provide peace of mind for friends and family of those living with dementia who are at risk of wandering. Also popular is our recently launched over 50s club, Be Social, which encourages members to take part in activities and events to increase wellbeing, improve memory and reduce loneliness.”

Other ways TrustCare is tackling dementia includes having 25 members of staff trained as Dementia Friends Champions through Alzheimer's Society to help spread awareness and promote inclusion for people living with dementia.

The Reminiscence Room is open to Fiona Gardens’ 71 residents and their families as well as members of the community, who are free to enjoy the facility, with plans to hold regular reminiscence sessions using stories, music and even smells from the era, such as popular ladies perfume.

To arrange to visit the Reminiscence Room, contact Elaine Craven at enquiries@trustcare.org.uk or call 0300 7777 2777.