People living with dementia have been getting creative as part of the GoGoCreate element of the GoGoHares art trail taking place across Norwich this summer.
Staff, patients, and relatives at the Hammerton Court specialist dementia unit and Sandringham Ward acute admissions unit in Norwich, have been busy decorating Care Hare. This is one of the 160 leveret or baby hare sculptures being painted by a variety of organisations, schools and clubs across the county.
The completed sculptures will go on display at locations around Norwich from July 2 to September 2 in an art trail being run by the children's charity Break and Wild in Art. There will also be a large art trail of 50 hares representing the 50 years since Break was established and a further 18 around the county.
Donna Townshend, senior occupational therapist at Hammerton Court, said: 'Giving older people living with dementia, depression and anxiety opportunities to take part in creative and social activities is among a number of life-enhancing treatments we offer here.
'Such activities play an important part in their physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.
'So, encouraging our patients to get involved in painting our very own baby GoGoHare was too good an opportunity to miss, and they have responded so well to it.
'There has been such a good vibe, it's been really touching to see.'
The design includes a road to represent the journey that patients and their families take and incorporates messages from patients describing what care means to them.
Care Hare has now been completed and taken away to storage until it is unveiled along with the other sculptures at the start of the trail. The large hare trail runs from June 24 to September 8.
When the trail has finished, Care Hare will be returning to the reception area at Hammerton Court where patients, visitors and staff can continue to enjoy the artwork and the message of caring that it represents.
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