Rotary Anns donate twiddle sleeves to Boksburg elderly
The group has previously donated twiddle sleeves to the Benoni Old Age Home.
The Benoni Aurora Rotary Anns recently donated 35 “twiddle sleeves” to residents living with dementia at Cosmos Old Age Home in Boksburg.
Twiddle sleeves, also known as “fidget sleeves” are hand-knitted or crocheted items adorned with various textures and attachments like buttons, beads and ribbons.
These sleeves offer a tangible experience that helps alleviate restlessness, provide comfort and reduce anxiety for people with dementia, particularly those with restless hands.
Benoni Aurora Rotary Anns president, Janice Carter, explained that their heartfelt contribution comes after it was brought to their attention that some residents live with dementia when they visited the home early this year.
“I decided to do research about dementia and that’s when I found out that patients can become very anxious and overwhelmed. Having a twiddle sleeve is one of the ways to help them calm down. I then presented the concept to the Anns, and they embraced it.”
Carter said they started crafting the sleeves in May with the assistance of several ladies who helped with knitting and crocheting. She shared that they had previously donated twiddle sleeves to the Benoni Old Age Home.
The Anns president added that they will continue to craft them to make them available for other old age homes in the East Rand.
