RESIDENTS and staff at a Ringwood care home have raised over £3,400 for a charity supporting people living with dementia.

Over the past year, residents and the team at St Ives House care home, on Horton Road in Ashley Heath, have hosted a number of events for their families, loved ones and the local community to attend.

All donations from the events have gone to Alzheimer’s Society, which is marking Dementia Action Week from May 19 to 25, which raises awareness of the importance of an early diagnosis for people affected by dementia.

These events at St Ives House have included summer and Christmas fayres, fundraising open days, staff dressing up for Elf Day at Christmas and a spring coffee morning.

Residents have also made forget-me-not flower badges to sell in the reception area.

Chloe, whose grandmother received care while living at St Ives House for four years, decided to complete a skydive from 15,000 feet for Alzheimer’s Society in her honour.

She originally set a target of £600, but she ended up raising £2,545 for the charity.

She said: “I’ve always wanted to do a skydive and Alzheimer’s Society is a cause close to my family, so it was very rewarding to raise so much money for them.”

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Emma Cotton, home manager at St Ives House, said: “We are so proud of the incredible fundraising efforts of our residents, staff, their families, loved ones, and the local community.

“It’s such a fantastic cause which supports people at a challenging time in their lives, and we’re so pleased to be able to support Alzheimer’s Society’s incredible work.

“At Care South, our residents love engaging with the local community, so our fundraising mission was the perfect combination of hosting fun events while also fundraising for the charity.”

Ross Boon, regional fundraiser for Alzheimer’s Society, said that there are currently over 101,590 people living with dementia in the southwest of England.

He said: “We simply can’t reach everyone without the continued support of our incredible fundraisers like St Ives House.

“It’s wonderful that they have given so much time to support Alzheimer’s Society. Each hour people generously give to fundraise for us, every event they take part in, every pound they donate, they’re making a life-changing difference to people living with dementia.”

St Ives House, part of the Care South family, provides residential, respite, and dementia care.

For more information about the care services available at St Ives House, visit care-south.co.uk or call 01425 209464 to book a tour.