SOUTHEND Hospital has opened the doors to its new dementia day room.

The day room is a veritable time capsule with its giant images of the Kursaal, its retro TV cabinet and old-style cooker. The room is designed to allow users to step into a time warp of decades gone by.

There are also rummage boxes featuring memory prompt items covering everything from food to knitting and musicals to make-up.

In addition to helping to create the day rooms on Princess Anne Ward and on Windsor Ward, the appeal has also helped to fund a projector to show films on the old style theatre screen, a portable sensory suite to help create a surrounding where patients can feel more relaxed and at home, bed chair sensors to alert staff to patients at risk of falling.

Kylie Locke, Matron for Medicine, said: “Being a hospital patient can be an unsettling experience for anyone, but for the estimated one in four patients with some form of dementia, the unfamiliar surroundings and people can be overwhelming.

“The hospital’s Dementia Appeal’s aim was to ensure these vulnerable patients are as comfortable and stress-free as they can possibly be while they are in our care. These amazing new therapeutic and interactive day rooms play a big and important part of that as it gives them a real sanctuary to spend time in.”

None of it would have been possible though without the efforts of fundraisers including the Roslin Beach Hotel, which has renovated the rooms for the trust.

Maureen Townley and Linda Ansell, both from Thorpe Bay, have been fundraising for the Dementia Appeal and their pop up stall at the hospital has raised £17,604.

Dean Ovel, 41, from Westcliff, spent 24 hours running in an 8ft tall giant hamster wheel almost a year ago. All the money raised was for the Dementia Appeal in memory of his grandmothers, both whom suffered with the disease. Dean’s total was £8,710. Dean also runs with local running club, Leigh Striders, who kept up the pace, raising £3,500.