Staff Health and Wellbeing Week is right around the corner and we are excited to announce a series of craft events that not only nurture the mental health of our dedicated healthcare professionals but also bring comfort and joy to patients with dementia.
Knitting and crocheting newbies and enthusiasts are invited to participate in the events, with a special call to action to create ‘twiddlemuffs’, designed to keep dementia patients’ hands active and engaged.
Twiddlemuffs are knitted muffs adorned with various tactile elements such as textured ribbons, beads and fabrics. These sensory-rich creations provide visual, tactile and sensory stimulation, keeping restless hands occupied while providing warmth and comfort. They offer tremendous benefits to individuals with dementia, soothing their minds and providing a sense of security.
The craft events are an initiative to engage our staff members in a creative and therapeutic hobby while also contributing to the welfare of our patients.
We encourage our healthcare professionals to put their knitting and crocheting skills to good use by crafting these twiddlemuffs, which can be donated to the care of the elderly ward. If you would like to donate your finished twiddlemuffs, please feel free to post or hand them in to:
HPHS, Health Improvement, Law House, 4 Airdrie Road, Carluke ML8 5EP.
In your submission, please include your name and contact details (email address or telephone number) to enter a prize draw.
Tracy-Ann Kidd, health improvement senior, shared her personal journey with knitting: “My mum taught me to knit when I was younger and I’ve always wanted to be as good a knitter as she was. Knitting has provided me with incredible mental health benefits and I find the rhythmic clicking of the needles soothing. It’s a tactile and rewarding activity that reminds me of my mum, who also found so much joy in knitting.”
She continued “We established a ‘Knit Your Way’ group at work earlier this year, where beginners and experienced knitters come together. We share patterns, help each other with techniques and enjoy the camaraderie. I am excited to continue my knitting journey, progressing from scarves to gloves and hats.”
To help you get started, we have provided a guide on how to crochet or knit a twiddlemuff, which can be found on YouTube: How to Crochet | A Twiddlemuff – YouTube, How to Knit | Twiddlemuff – YouTube
You can also check out the full calendar of events for Staff Health and Wellbeing Week, including details of the crafting sessions, here: Line up of events for Staff Health and Wellbeing Week | NHS Lanarkshire (scot.nhs.uk)
There will be drop-in sessions where you can pick up some tips, compare projects and chat, as well as access yarn, knitting needles and crochet hooks.
Join us in this heart-warming initiative during Staff Health and Wellbeing Week and make a positive impact on your own mental wellbeing and to the wellbeing of patients while experiencing the many mental health benefits of knitting and crocheting.
