DEMENTIA care home residents have enjoyed an afternoon of ice lolly making as national heatwaves threaten the elderly with dehydration.

Camelot House and Lodge residents have had the chance to make their own ice lollies from fresh fruit and juice which, the team said, “proved a great way to encourage elderly residents at the dementia care home to maintain their fluid intake during the recent hot weather.”

Activities co-ordinator Harriet Burraston said: “All our residents are affected to a greater or lesser extent by the eating issues associated with dementia, which often means they don’t automatically reach for a drink when maybe they should.

“Although it’s been hot, thirst reflexes in the elderly don’t kick in like they do when you’re young, so we know it’s even more important than usual to monitor how much people are drinking and make the most of any opportunity to encourage them to boost their fluid intake.

“Involving our residents in the preparation of ice lollies and drinks for their own consumption proved a real hit.

“They also love rocking up to our in-house pub bar, the Windsor Arms, which they named themselves for the late actress Barbara Windsor who many of them loved.

“The Windsor Arms has been in operation nearly five years now. It was created by our talented maintenance man Wally Perlik and had only just been completed when Dame Barbara passed on.

“We were lucky to have donations to help create an authentic pub atmosphere, including from Sheppy Cider and the home’s local pub Blackbird Inn, who donated glasses, table runners, beer mats and cider.

“We aim to do everything we can to help our residents live their best lives, and having fun with activities like this is a huge part of that.”