Twiddlemuffs for Local Care Settings

Full Circle Funerals has been working with community knitting groups to respond to the demand for twiddlemuffs, sensory hand muffs that are used in care settings by people with dementia.

In Leeds more than 100 sensory hand muffs have been made so far for care homes across North and West Yorkshire by The Hookers and Clickers, who meet regularly to knit for local charities.

They have been busy making the special hand knitted muffs with sensory items sown into them, such as buttons, bells, pompoms, fabric and ribbons in response to a campaign by Full Circle Funerals staff in Harrogate and Leeds.

Community knitting and crochet groups have also responded in force to an initiative launched by Sara Fixter of Full Circle Funeral Partners in Altrincham. Sara started the campaign last spring and has been overwhelmed by the response, which continues to generate a steady stream of twiddlemuffs.

Timperley Knit and Natter and Altrincham Library Knitting Group are among the groups who responded to social media posts, community board notices and an A-board outside Full Circle Funerals on Ashley Road in Altrincham.

Since then, other groups have joined the band of knitters and crocheters, including Kim’s Colourway and members of the Facebook group,  Twiddlemuffs – for dementia, Alzheimer’s and Autism.

As well as receiving support from knitters and crocheters, local house clearance service CleverClear has donated wool, buttons and adornments to support the campaign, as have local residents and business owners.

Twiddlemuffs are a simple and effective way to help people with dementia cope with restless hands and reduce their anxiety levels.

Thank you to everyone who has helped us meet the need for twiddlemuffs in our local care settings and we are delighted our staff have been able to coordinate the making and delivery of them.