Benfleet care home marks Dementia Action Week with 'powerful' photo exhibition
A care home has marked Dementia Action Week with a "thought-provoking" photo exhibition.
Godden Lodge Care Home, in Benfleet, which provides residential, nursing, and dementia care, commemorated Dementia Action Week with a photo display exhibition titled "These Hands".
The exhibition aims to challenge common misconceptions about dementia and celebrate the lives of its residents.
Godden Lodge Care Home’s ‘These hands’ photo exhibition display (Image: HC-One)
The initiative, led by senior wellbeing coordinator Julie Barnard, was designed to highlight the unique life stories and identities of residents living with dementia.
Ms Barnard said: "I wanted to show that each resident has a history, and those living with dementia are real people – not just someone who has trouble remembering things.
"Dementia is often misunderstood, unfortunately, and I felt it was a great opportunity to showcase ‘These Hands’ during Dementia Awareness Week."
'These hands played the piano and saxophone' (Image: HC-One) 'These hands advertised famous branded products' (Image: HC-One)
The display features monochrome photographs of residents’ hands, each telling a silent but powerful story with personal captions of what "these hands" have achieved throughout the resident’s lives.
From hands that once held newborn babies to those that worked the land or crafted treasured keepsakes, the images provide a dignified tribute to the individuals behind the diagnosis.
Each community at Godden Lodge took part, with colleagues capturing the images and arranging them in a central display that quickly became a focal point for reflection and conversation.
'These hands signed a record contract in 1976' (Image: HC-One) 'These hands took 100s of x-rays at Southend Hospital' (Image: HC-One)
The response from families and visitors has been overwhelmingly positive.
One visitor described the exhibit as "so imaginative and original," whilst home manager at HC-One’s Godden Lodge Care Home, Lewis Chester, noted: "It’s so powerful and emotional at the same time.
"We are committed to providing compassionate, person-centred care and will continue to support initiatives that honour the dignity, stories, and humanity of those living with dementia."
'These hands painted beautiful watercolour paintings' (Image: HC-One) 'These hands were an amateur boxer' (Image: HC-One)
The "These Hands" project not only served as a creative expression but also as an educational tool, helping to deepen understanding of dementia among colleagues, families, and the wider community.
The photographs are on display within each of the communities at Godden Lodge Care Home.
They will be available to be viewed at the home’s upcoming Care Home Open Week celebrations being hosted on Friday, June 20, from 12.30pm to 3.30pm.