Magic Moments: Pete’s West End seaside soiree!
We understand just how important it is for people living with dementia to experience joyful moments and laughter in their lives, and that’s exactly what our client Pete was able to do when we took him for a night out on the town in Blackpool!
Pete, who is 68, suffered a stroke in 2021, which rendered him severely visually impaired and also affected his memory. Since then, and because he struggles to see visual cues that would otherwise help him remember things, Pete has had to work exceptionally hard to retain information.
Despite his difficulties, Pete has varied interests and a fantastic sense of humour, and it was our lovely Jojo and Jo who came up with the idea of taking him on an unforgettable night to the Vegas of the North. Both the Jos regularly work with Pete and all three have become great friends – even Jojo’s husband Graham often chats with Pete on the phone about their shared interest in cars and planes.
It’s Pete’s great sense of humour that led Jojo to find a fun event in Blackpool, featuring West End show tunes and comedy from well-known drag performer Stella Artois – real name Steve Phillips. Jojo has known Steve for 16 years since his Mardi Gras days, with the performer now living full-time in Benidorm, making this one-night-only a rare and real treat.
Making the magic happen
The day before the show, Jojo took Pete to his Turkish barbers as a surprise so he could be primped and preened to perfection for the special trip. The following day, Jo, Jojo and her husband picked Pete up at 3.30pm and met up with some ladies from the Bredbury Café at Stockport’s Portwood Tesco to collect their VIP tickets before excitedly making their way to Blackpool.
As is tradition when at the seaside, the group stopped for a delicious chippy tea and popped into a shop over the road to grab some ‘essentials’: sticks of rock and a ‘Kiss me Quick’ hat for Pete! They then made their way down the promenade and to Central Pier, where their VIP tickets admitted them right to the front of the stage for the show.
By all accounts the event was a fantastic night of West End songs – ideal for Pete who relies more on his hearing now since his sight loss. Stella Artois, who spent 50 years in the West End, provided the laughs all evening and the group were lucky to have a meet-and-greet session with the seasoned performer at the end of the night, much to Pete’s delight!
Afterwards, the group made their way home, tired but joyful, with Pete arriving back at 1.30am on Sunday morning and having a coffee and his tablets under Jojo’s watchful eye before retiring for the night.
Personalised care, just for Pete
This was a truly magical moment for Pete, who hasn’t stopped talking about the evening since! That feeling of being among friends and enjoying a sociable night out is still so possible for people living with dementia, and Pete’s family were overjoyed that our fantastic Jojo and Jo could give him this wonderful experience.
Our brand of dementia care isn’t the standard service; it’s personalised to focus on what each person enjoys, and what they’re still able to do. Because there is so much life to be lived after diagnosis – and Pete is surely the perfect example.
If you’d like to find out more about how we can help your loved one continue living life to the full, yes – even with dementia, do get in touch with us on 0161 537 0983, or send us an email at enquiries@ambiancecare.co.uk.