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How sensory dolls are helping residents at a Spalding care home




Tanglewood Cedar Falls care home in Spalding has recently received a donation of 14 sensory dolls from the John Lewis department store.

Simon Ragsdell, whose mum is a resident of the care home, has worked with learning disabilities in the past.

Now working part-time at John Lewis, he realised the importance of the dolls after a trial with four dolls proved a huge help to the residents of the home.

Pictured are: back - Sharon Boyd, Oli Long, Susan Palethorpe, Paul Warman, Sam Jackson, Anita Malkevica, Kay Brown, Teresa Smith; front Simon Ragsdell, Minnie Ragsdell, Mavis Dubber, Dorothy Warman, Joan Nicholls, Michael Stapleton and Emma Valerio.
Pictured are: back - Sharon Boyd, Oli Long, Susan Palethorpe, Paul Warman, Sam Jackson, Anita Malkevica, Kay Brown, Teresa Smith; front Simon Ragsdell, Minnie Ragsdell, Mavis Dubber, Dorothy Warman, Joan Nicholls, Michael Stapleton and Emma Valerio.

Simon arranged a sponsored walk last year in which people from both John Lewis and Tanglewood took part.

The event was aimed at raising money to purchase more dolls for residents at the home.

Simon also placed an application with Waitrose to raise money for the cause with the green tokens you get at the end of a shop. A huge total of £320 was raised for the fantastic cause.

John Lewis then kindly donated a further 14 dolls to the care home at the start of April.

The dolls, which have soft limbs and a beanbag belly, are weighted to feel like a real baby.

As the Spalding care home has a high number of residents with dementia and cognitive impairment, the sensory dolls are aimed at reducing agitation and stress.

Sam Jackson, the assistant manager at the care home, said: "They really calm the residents down," and explained that they like to sit, chat to and care for the dolls.

It's now hoped the dolls will be introduced to other Tanglewood homes.

Simon Ragsdell said: " We don't want to just stop at Tanglewood in Spalding."

He is currently organising another sponsored walk for the summer and is trying to get as much involvement as possible. Donations are still very much appreciated to help the ongoing cause.



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