St Fillans Care Home creates a new sensory room

Well-known actor and Only Fools and Horses star, Paul Barber, recently opened a new sensory room at St Fillans Care Home, alongside the Mayor of Colchester, Lesley Scott-Boutell.

The sensory room was created to provide a dedicated space where residents can rest and relax, while also providing the home’s lifestyle team with an alternative setting in which to host activities that benefit from multisensory stimulation. The space is a particularly useful facility for those living with dementia, as multisensory spaces can support reminiscence therapy.

Construction of the sensory room, which began after a generous donation was received from an anonymous benefactor who wanted to help St Fillans to create this new space, began after the team decided to use a nature theme which has the added benefit of providing a sense of being outdoors during the colder and wetter months, while also providing an accessible alternative for people with limited mobility. Accordingly, a full woodland mural was painted on the walls and a colourful sky painting was added to the ceiling, both of which successfully helped to transform the whole space.

Lifestyle Coordinator, Grant, who oversaw the project from start to finish, wanted to ensure the opening of Fillans’ Forest was memorable, so he reached out to Only Fools and Horses star, Paul Barber, as the legendary show is familiar to the residents and staff at St Fillans and is still something that they enjoy watching to this day. Naturally, he was delighted when Paul accepted the invitation to cut the ribbon with alacrity.

Grant also invited the Mayor of Colchester, Lesley Scott-Boutell to attend the event and Fillans Forest was officially opened! Everyone was star-struck when Paul Barber  arrived and he took the time to meet everyone and spoke entertainingly about his time on the hit TV series.

A countdown ensued as Paul and Councillor Lesley cut the ribbon, revealing the room in all of its glory for the first time.

Commenting on the event, Councillor Lesley Scott-Boutill says: “I was delighted to accept the invitation to the opening, having grown up nearby and knowing the area well. When I entered the Sensory Room, I realised that the team had delivered everything that they aimed to do.

“They have brought the outdoors in and have created a real sense of peace within the room. I also love the thought that has gone into the design, which makes the space inclusive and accessible to all. This is a matter close to my heart and I’d like to offer congratulations to everyone who played a part in delivering this wonderful facility”

Pau lBarber adds:, “This room, is fantastic – I could move in here. It is so peaceful with lovely lights and lovely pictures. It’s exactly what people need – security, comfort, and lots of colour. The team who created it should be proud of themselves.”

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