Signature Hornchurch new care home hosts dementia awareness event

The sensory exercise was part of a recent dementia immersion event hosted by Signature at Hornchurch, a new luxury care home set to open later this month.

The event brought together healthcare professionals and community representatives from Saint Francis Hospice, the community urgent response nursing team from NHS North East London, and a local security company.

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People taking part in the immersion event (Image: Signature)

Attendees took part in sensory-based activities designed to simulate the physical, emotional, and cognitive challenges faced by those living with dementia. Other exercises focused on replicating feelings of confusion, sensory overload, and disorientation.

Signature said people thought the event was very good for understanding what it is like living with dementia (Image: Signature)

Sian Oakes, dementia care manager at Signature at Hornchurch, said: "We wanted to help people better understand dementia from the perspective of those living with it.

"Families, professionals, and members of the community often want to support someone with dementia but can find it difficult to understand the experiences of their loved one.

"By creating a fully immersive environment, participants gain valuable insight into some of the real challenges and emotions people face every day and leave with greater empathy, patience, and understanding."

The event offered visitors an exclusive preview of the new home (Image: Signature)

The care home said the event was created in response to growing conversations with families and community members who felt unsure about how to support loved ones with dementia and highlighted a lack of accessible resources.

Feedback from attendees described the session as emotional, with participants expressing frustration, fear, sadness, and empathy as they attempted to complete everyday tasks.

Ms Oakes said the response had been "overwhelmingly positive," with every attendee expressing how valuable the experience was.

People wore special equipment to mimic what it's like living with dementia (Image: Signature)

One participant said: "This was an incredible event, and I can't believe how much it moved me. I thought I understood dementia beforehand – I have a lot to take away from this event."

Signature at Hornchurch will officially open its doors later this month, and held an open day on Saturday, June 13 from 10am to 4pm.

Visitors were able to explore the new facilities, tour show suites, meet the care team, and sample refreshments prepared by the home’s chef, formerly of The Ritz Hotel.