Southport dementia service pays a festive tribute to careers

22nd December 2017
Sefton New Directions Brookdale Day Service Sandbrook Way Ainsdale Southport Christmas sing along for service users and carers with entertainment provided by Mike Palmer

A specialist Southport day service for Sefton residents with dementia staged a musical double celebration to herald the start of the festive season this week.

The afternoon party at Brookdale Resource Centre in Ainsdale – run by the borough’s leading adult social care provider, New Directions – was designed to get Christmas under way in tuneful style and to say ‘thank you’ to the carers of its clients. 

Supplying the music was popular Lancashire-based entertainer Mike Palmer, alias The Lounge Singer.

Mike’s varied repertoire of musical memories ranged from swing classics of the Rat Pack era to the ballads of Matt Monro, with a nod to rock and roll greats like Elvis Presley and Buddy Holly along the way.

And of course, Mike’s set also included some popular Christmas songs, which perfectly complemented the Yuletide fayre of mulled wine and mince pies served by staff to service users and their guests.

Sefton New Directions Brookdale Day Service Sandbrook Way Ainsdale Southport Christmas sing along for service users and carers with entertainment provided by Mike Palmer

Brookdale Service Manager, Salwa Moustafa, commented: “This event was attended by well over 50 people and the many positive comments we have received show just how successful it was. 

“With the help of our talented singer, it was a great way to mark this special time of year, and at the same time to pay tribute to the people who do such a fantastic job of caring for Brookdale clients when they’re at home,” Salwa added.

Brookdale Resource Centre enables the carers of service users with advanced dementia to have an important break from caring responsibilities.

Clients enjoy a wide range of activities at the centre including arts and crafts, sensory stimulation and music and reminiscence therapies.