As part of Dementia Action Week 2025, the MacIntyre Health team have created some Makaton signing cards as resources. Rachel Furniss, Health and Wellbeing Facilitator talks to us about how this all came about and their purpose.
Whilst working with people with dementia across MacIntyre, we found people use more Makaton sign language to help them with communication and how to navigate those difficult feelings and conversations.
In response, we created the dementia cards which would help people who draw on MacIntyre’s support, family and staff to communicate how they are feeling even when spoken language is a barrier.
Having previously worked with one of the Co-Trainers, Jess, on the Living Well, Dying Well signage cards, she once again offered her help in signing Makaton for us.
This has been a long process and has had input by numerous of people at MacIntyre including the MacIntyre Easy Read Checkers and Advisors; our Makaton trainer, Anita; Rosie, a person living with dementia and who also works as part of the Health Team and, last but definitely no means least, the amazing Jess.
To download the cards, click here.
