Tag Archive for: dementia

Creating a Dementia-Friendly Home: Small Changes That Make a Big Difference

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Dementia Action Week is an important time for raising awareness and supporting those living with dementia.

Throughout the UK, an increasing number of families are modifying their homes to better accommodate their loved ones. You don’t need to make large-scale changes to create a dementia-friendly home. Instead, small, deliberate adjustments, along with appropriate support, can help make everyday life more peaceful, secure, and easier to handle.

Professional cleaning can play a key role in maintaining that environment.

Why a dementia-friendly home matters

For people living with dementia, familiar environments can reduce confusion and promote independence. Changes in memory and perception may make daily spaces more challenging to navigate. Maintaining a clean and consistent home fosters reassurance and stability.

A well-maintained environment can:

  • Reduce confusion and stress
  • Support daily routines
  • Make movement around the home safer
  • Create a calmer atmosphere for both individuals and carers

The role of a clean home in dementia care

Cleaning is not just about appearance. For someone living with dementia, clutter, mess, or sudden changes at home can heighten anxiety.

Regular cleaning helps:

  • Keep pathways clear and safe
  • Reduce visual distractions
  • Maintain a consistent layout
  • Support a calm and familiar environment

When cleaning is performed regularly, the home looks consistent, which promotes a sense of comfort and confidence.

Lighting and layout still matter

In addition to cleanliness, minor changes to lighting and layout can enhance the ambiance of a space.

It helps to:

  • Keep rooms well-lit, especially later in the day
  • Avoid moving furniture unnecessarily
  • Maintain clear, simple layouts
  • Reduce shadows and dark corners

These small changes complement regular cleaning to support a more comfortable environment.

Why are consistent routines important?

Routine is essential in dementia care. Regular cleaning of the home, instead of sporadic deep cleans, helps reinforce a stable routine.

Predictability is important. Being assured that the home is attended to regularly can lessen stress for both individuals with dementia and their families.

How Merry Maids supports dementia-friendly homes

At Merry Maids, we understand that cleaning a dementia-friendly home requires more than attention to detail. It requires care, consistency, and understanding.

All of our maids are trained through the Alzheimer’s Society to work respectfully and thoughtfully in homes where someone has dementia. Our teams emphasise keeping familiar layouts, following established routines, and ensuring a calm, clean environment without causing disruption.

We also provide consistent teams where possible, so the people entering your home remain familiar faces. This helps build trust and reduces uncertainty.

Regular visits mean:

  • The home stays clean without large changes
  • Clutter is managed before it builds up
  • Surfaces and floors remain safe and clear
  • Families and carers have one less thing to worry about

Supporting families and carers

Providing care for someone with dementia requires time and effort. Managing cleaning tasks can increase stress.

Merry Maids home cleaning services help ease that burden. By handling the cleaning, we allow families more time to focus on caring, relaxing, and enjoying meaningful moments together.

We are also proud to support Alzheimer’s Society as our Charity of the Year. Through our fundraising activities for Alzheimer’s Society, we help raise awareness and support for people affected by dementia.

Small changes, lasting impact

Creating a dementia-friendly home is about consistency, simplicity, and support. Regular, careful cleaning is an important part of maintaining a space that feels safe, calm, and familiar.

This Dementia Action Week is an ideal opportunity to reflect on how proper support can simplify daily life.

Find your nearest Merry Maids business to book a clean online or call 0800 021 3072 today.

How Seasonal Changes Can Affect People Living With Dementia

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Seasonal changes can be challenging for people living with dementia. Fluctuations in daylight, temperature, and daily routines may affect mood, sleep, and behaviour. These changes can also impact family members and carers, especially when symptoms become more noticeable during certain times of the year.

Understanding how the seasons influence dementia can help you organise your home and routines to feel calmer and more supportive.

Why seasonal change matters in dementia

People living with dementia often rely on routine, familiarity, and environmental cues to feel secure. When daylight hours change or daily patterns shift, these cues can become confusing. As a result, anxiety, restlessness, or disrupted sleep may increase.

Seasonal changes can also affect energy levels and emotional wellbeing, particularly during spring and autumn when clocks change.

Sundowning and changes in daylight

One common symptom linked to seasonal change is sundowning. Sundowning refers to increased confusion, agitation, or restlessness that typically happens in the late afternoon or early evening.

As daylight diminishes earlier or light levels fluctuate, the brain may find it difficult to judge the time of day. Shadows, dimmer rooms, and reduced natural light can make familiar spaces seem strange. This can cause distress, pacing, or behavioural changes as the day comes to an end.

Maintaining consistent lighting and avoiding sudden brightness changes can help lessen the effects of sundowning.

Circadian rhythm and the spring clock change

The circadian rhythm is the body’s natural internal clock. It controls sleep, wakefulness, and daily routines. Dementia can already influence this rhythm, and clock changes in spring can cause further disturbance.

When clocks go forward, even a single hour shift can seem significant. People living with dementia might experience:

  • Difficulty settling at night
  • Waking earlier than usual
  • Increased confusion around time
  • Changes in appetite or energy

Because their sense of time may already feel uncertain, gradually adjusting routines before and after the clock change can help make the transition easier.

Other ways seasonal changes can affect dementia

Seasonal changes can also introduce other challenges:

  • Temperature fluctuations: Warmer or colder weather can impact comfort and lead to confusion around clothing choices.
  • Routine disruption: Spring and summer often attract more visitors or activity, which can feel overwhelming.
  • Environmental changes: Such as brighter light, open windows, or alterations in sound, can influence concentration and calmness.

Maintaining daily routines as consistent as possible helps offer reassurance during these transitions.

How the home environment can help

A calm, familiar home is essential in helping someone living with dementia cope with seasonal changes.

Helpful steps include:

  • Using gentle, consistent lighting in the late afternoon and evening
  • Drawing curtains before dusk to minimise shadows
  • Keeping rooms tidy and free of clutter to prevent visual confusion
  • Maintaining familiar furniture arrangements and routines
  • Supporting regular sleep and mealtimes

A clean, well-organised home also lowers background stress for both the individual and their carers.

Support during seasonal transitions

At Merry Maids UK, we know that small changes can make a big difference. We are proud to support Alzheimer’s Society through our fundraising efforts, and all of our maids are dementia-trained through Alzheimer’s Society.

Support the Alzheimer’s Society by making a donation here – https://www.justgiving.com/team/merrymaidsuk

Being Alzheimer’s and Dementia trained helps our teams work with extra care, understanding, and sensitivity in homes where someone may be living with dementia. A consistent, respectful cleaning routine can help maintain comfort and familiarity during seasonal changes.

If you would like support keeping your home calm and cared for, find your nearest Merry Maids business to book a clean online or call 0800 021 3072 today.

Dementia-Friendly New Year’s Tips

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The new year is a time for celebration, reflection, and new beginnings. However, for people living with dementia, changes in routine, noise, and crowded gatherings can be confusing or distressing. By taking a few thoughtful steps, you can make your New Year’s celebrations calm, safe, and enjoyable for everyone.

At Merry Maids UK, we are certified Dementia Friends, as many of our staff members work with individuals who suffer from the condition and strive to ensure they are cared for properly and confidently while we clean their homes.

Last year, we raised £4,000 for Alzheimer’s Society as part of our Forget Me Knot Challenge and have pledged to raise £10,000 in 2025.

Year-round, we work diligently to ensure the safety and well-being of our customers.

Here are some dementia-friendly New Year’s tips to help you plan a peaceful and positive start to the year.

1. Keep the Evening Calm

Late nights and loud celebrations can feel overwhelming. Try celebrating earlier in the evening instead.

  • A family dinner, gentle music, or a cosy movie night can create a relaxed atmosphere that still feels special.
  • If you decide to stay up, make sure to keep the lighting soft and the noise levels low.
  • Avoid making sudden loud noises, such as party poppers or fireworks.

2. Maintain Familiar Routines

Routine brings comfort and helps reduce confusion.

  • Maintain a regular schedule for meals, bedtime, and daily routines. If plans change, explain them clearly and gently.
  • You could also include familiar traditions, such as watching a favourite film, sharing family photos, or having a favourite meal.

3. Involve Everyone in Simple Activities

Engaging in simple, shared activities can foster a sense of connection among everyone involved.

  • You could try baking together, working on a jigsaw puzzle, or listening to music.
  • Steer clear of games or events that seem hurried or overly competitive.
  • Emphasise calm moments that provide comfort and encourage conversation.

4. Create a Safe and Comfortable Space

A tidy, well-lit home helps reduce anxiety and the risk of falls.

  • Ensure walkways are clear, eliminate trip hazards, and keep decorations unobtrusive.
  • If the house is noisy, create a calm space for relaxation.
  • Familiar items such as photos, cushions, or blankets can help create a sense of comfort and belonging.

5. Keep the Environment Gentle

Loud music, flashing lights, or large groups can be unsettling.

  • Select soft lighting and minimise background noise.
  • Natural scents, gentle lighting, and a comfortable temperature create a calm environment that feels welcoming and secure.

6. Start the New Year Fresh

After the celebrations, take some time to tidy up. A clean and organised home feels more peaceful for everyone, especially those living with dementia.
If you need extra help, Merry Maids home cleaning services can assist. To learn more about how we can help you or a loved one, find your nearest Merry Maids business to book a clean online or call 0800 021 3072 today.

Dementia-Friendly Christmas Tips

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Christmas is a time for family, comfort, and togetherness. However, for individuals living with dementia, the busy atmosphere, bright lights, and loud noises can sometimes be overwhelming.

By making a few minor adjustments, you can help create a calm, familiar, and enjoyable festive season for everyone.

At Merry Maids UK, we are certified Dementia Friends, as many of our staff members work with individuals who suffer from the condition and strive to ensure they are cared for properly and confidently while we clean their homes.

Last year, we raised £4,000 for Alzheimer’s Society as part of our Forget Me Knot Challenge and have pledged to raise £10,000 in 2025.

Year-round, we work diligently to ensure the safety and well-being of our customers.

Here are some straightforward dementia-friendly Christmas tips to enjoy your celebrations:

1. Keep Decorations Simple

Bright lights and flashing decorations can be confusing or distressing for some individuals living with dementia.

  • Instead, opt for gentle, warm lighting rather than flashing fairy lights.
  • Use familiar and safe decorations, and avoid cluttering rooms or walkways to ensure a safe environment.

Maintain the layout of your home, as changing the position of furniture can make navigation more difficult for someone living with dementia.

2. Create Calm Spaces

Christmas gatherings can get noisy, especially with the addition of visitors and music.

  • Designate a quiet space where your loved one can rest if they feel tired or overwhelmed.
  • A familiar chair, soft lighting, and calming background sounds create a comfortable and secure atmosphere.

3. Keep Routines as Normal as Possible

Establishing a routine provides stability.

  • Try to keep consistent mealtimes, bedtime, and daily habits throughout the holidays.
  • Abrupt changes can be confusing, so schedule visits or outings at times that align with your loved one’s regular rhythm.

4. Choose Activities Everyone Can Enjoy

Engaging in simple, shared activities can help create an inclusive atmosphere during the Christmas season.

  • Listening to music quietly, looking through old photos, or decorating cookies together can help spark happy memories and conversations.
  • Steer clear of anything overly complicated or hurried. Slower moments often hold the deepest significance.

5. Be Mindful of Noise and Lighting

Loud music, television, and bright flashing lights can lead to sensory overload.

  • Maintain low background noise and use soft, consistent lighting. This creates a relaxed and inviting atmosphere.

6. Prepare Guests

If friends or relatives are visiting, inform them in advance about any changes or assistance your loved one may need. A little understanding can significantly enhance everyone’s experience together.

7. Keep the Home Safe and Clean

A tidy home reduces trip hazards and makes moving around easier. Clear walkways, keep floors dry, and ensure decorations don’t block doors or lights.

We hope you have an enjoyable and safe dementia-friendly Christmas for all those celebrating with individuals living with dementia. To learn more about how we can help you or a loved one, find your nearest Merry Maids business to book a clean online or call 0800 021 3072 today.

Case Study: Supporting life after a hospital stay

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How Merry Maids Northampton helped a customer’s home recover after time in the hospital.

At Merry Maids, our regular and one-off cleaning services help people stay on top of the cleaning and give them the time back to focus on the things that matter most to them.

Often, this is just helping stay on top of the clutter or day-to-day messes or get the home ready for hosting. But sometimes, it means the world of difference for people in need.

In this blog post, we see how Merry Maids Northampton helped a customer get back to life after a stay in the hospital.

The Problem

The customer booked the cleaning through our online shop for a one-off cleaning after a stay in hospital had left her family at home unable to keep up with the regular maintenance of the household to the standard they’re used to.

The Solution

The team at Merry Maids Northampton sent two cleaners to the home on the day of the cleaning and cleaned the agreed areas of the home (including the oven) until spotless, leaving the customer delighted with the results.

The Result

After the cleaning, the customer was so happy with the standard of service delivered by our team, that they have booked in for multiple one-off cleanings since!

Want help with your cleaning?

A clean and happy home is essential for a healthy life. At Merry Maids, we’re on hand to ensure you get just that.

Whatever the needs of you or your home, our teams offer bespoke cleaning services tailored to suit you. So, whether there’s a room you can’t seem to stay on top of, are or you have a loved one living with dementia or other illnesses, or you need to schedule regular cleaning around a busy home life, we have you covered.

If you’re in Northampton and the surrounding areas and would benefit from professional and expert domestic cleaning services backed by over 30 years as part of a beloved worldwide brand, contact Becky and the team at Merry Maids Northampton on 0800 035 1015.

Or nationwide, find your nearest Merry Maids business or book online to see how they can help you today.

Merry Maids AAA Steps Up for the Forget Me Knot Challenge

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Making steps to raise awareness for the Forget Me Knot Challenge at Merry Maids Inverness.

The AAA team from Merry Maids Inverness have made a grand start to their tenure under the new ownership of Siva and Aryanna Kugathas, taking part in a team walk as part of this year’s Forget Me Knot Challenge to raise awareness and funds for those living with dementia in the UK.

The Forget Me Knot Challenge

Alzheimer’s Society is symbolised by the forget-me-not flower, which has long been associated with Alzheimer’s and dementia due to its connection to memory loss. The Forget Me Knot Challenge is a sponsored virtual relay where staff and owners from various UK businesses run, walk, or cycle the total mileage between each location, linking them together and raising funds for Alzheimer’s Society: creating the Forget Me Knot. Walking to raise awareness and honour those affected, the team showed that even small steps can make a meaningful difference.

Members of staff had a fantastic time walking together at Epsom Downs Racecourse, enjoying the views, fresh air, and great company while racking up around 12,000+ steps each in two hours. Even those who couldn’t be there in person joined in by walking in their own local towns, making it a fun, inclusive, and heartwarming team effort that brought everyone together in spirit.

The walk was a lovely chance for everyone to catch up outside of work and enjoy the fresh air. With plenty of laughter, the team came away feeling closer and proud of raising the miles on the Forget Me Knot Challenge.

Support the Challenge

If you’d like to help support our teams, please visit our Just Giving page to donate, or, if you’re one of our customers, please feel free to speak to our staff about donating.

Thank you for all your support!

Need a dementia-conscious cleaner?

If you know someone who is living with dementia, see how we can help to give them a better quality of life for as long as possible by finding your nearest Merry Maids business for a free, no-obligation quote on our services or booking online today.

Merry Maids Fylde, Blackpool and Preston Recognised as Forget Me Knot Champion for 2024

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Nicky Morris and her team have been recognised as Merry Maids’ Forget Me Knot Challenge Champions for 2024.

Merry Maids Fylde, Blackpool and Preston have been awarded the title of Forget Me Knot Challenge Champion for 2024, for their exceptional contributions to our fundraising efforts over the last year for our charity of the year, Alzheimer’s Society.

This blog post has all of the details.

Merry Maids Forget Me Knot Challenge

The Forget Me Knot Challenge is an annual initiative started by Merry Maids in 2023 to raise money for Alzheimer’s Society.

Our staff nationwide regularly clean for members of the public living with dementia and have been long-time supporters of Dementia Friends, which helps people become more aware of ways to support those living with dementia.

As we noticed we were encountering an increasing number of people living with dementia, whether themselves or caring for a loved one, we devised The Forget Me Knot Challenge to provide more ways to help by supporting Alzheimer’s Society and its mission.

The sponsored virtual relay tracks the distance covered by our business owners and staff as they walk, run, cycle or swim to travel the equivalent distance between each Merry Maids business nationwide.

Since then, we’ve raised a significant amount of money for Alzheimer’s Society, including £10,000 in the last year, all of which goes toward helping them provide help and hope to the over 800,000 people living with dementia in the UK.

Not to mention, over the last year, every Merry Maids cleaner across the UK has also attended exclusive dementia information sessions run by Alzheimer’s Society to recognise and bolster their knowledge of dementia, helping position them to provide informed care to the people we serve.

Forget Me Knot Challenge Champion

Each year, we recognise a Forget Me Knot Challenge Champion, who has gone above and beyond in their fundraising efforts. As the second-ever Forget Me Knot Challenge Champion, succeeding Mike Fargher from Merry Maids Sheffield, Nicky and the team at Merry Maids Fylde, Blackpool and Preston were celebrated for their impressive donations, group activities, and vocal advocacy of the initiative across their social media platforms.

The team collected their award at the annual ServiceMaster Thrive in 2025 gala and has taken it back to the office to sit in pride of place in their trophy cabinet as a reminder and motivator for this year’s challenge, which is already underway.

Need a cleaner who cares?

If you or someone you love could benefit from dementia-conscious and expert cleaning services from your local professionals, find your nearest Merry Maids business, book online or learn more about our commitment to supporting Alzheimer’s Society today.

Understanding the Risk Factors for Dementia

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What are the main risk factors for dementia?

Dementia is the UK’s biggest killer. Affecting around 982,000 people in the UK, with numbers expected to rise to 1.4 million by 2040, 1 in 3 of us born today will be diagnosed in their lifetime.

But what are the biggest risk factors for dementia, and what are some misconceptions around the disease?

  1. Age

The biggest risk factor for dementia is ageing.

While it’s important to note that dementia is a disease, and not, as many believe, a natural symptom of ageing, your risk of being diagnosed with dementia increases as you get older.

For people aged between 65 and 69, around 2 in every 100 people have dementia. A person’s risk increases as they age, roughly doubling every five years. This means that, of those aged over 90, around 33 in every 100 people have dementia.

  1. Genes

Certain genes can affect a person’s chances of getting dementia. These may be passed down (inherited) from a parent. There are two types of these genes: ‘familial’ genes and ‘risk’ genes.

  1. Long-Term Health Conditions

Diagnosing certain long-term health conditions earlier may reduce their damaging effects on brain health as people get older.

These include:

  • Diabetes
  • Hearing and vision loss
  • Head injuries
  • High blood pressure
  • High cholesterol
  • Depression

  1. Lifestyle

There is a lot of evidence that our lifestyle choices can affect our risk of developing dementia. These behaviours and health conditions include:

  • Physical activity
  • Smoking
  • Alcohol
  • Social isolation

Dementia risk is lowest in people who have healthy behaviours in mid-life (aged 40-65).

  1. Biological Sex

Overall, there are more women than men living with dementia. This is mostly because women tend to live longer than men.

The risk of getting dementia is about the same for men and women. However, women who are currently over 80 have a slightly higher risk of getting dementia than men their age.

  1. Lower Cognitive Reserve

Cognitive reserve is when a person has a disease in their brain, but it takes longer for them to start showing symptoms. It is built up by keeping the brain active over a person’s lifetime.

The more cognitive reserve a person has, the longer it takes for diseases in their brain to cause problems with everyday tasks. This means people with a larger cognitive reserve can delay getting dementia symptoms. People with a smaller cognitive reserve are at a higher risk of getting dementia in their lifetime.

  1. Race and Ethnicity

It’s possible that race and ethnicity could also be risk factors for dementia.

It’s still not clear if people from different ethnic groups in the UK have a higher chance of getting dementia.

Some studies have found differences in certain locations worldwide, though it’s hard to know if they reflect the situation in the UK population.

A few studies have suggested that people from Black African, Black Caribbean and South Asian ethnic groups are more likely to get dementia than people from White ethnic groups due to socioeconomic disparities, access to healthcare, and genetic predispositions like high blood pressure.

  1. Socioeconomic Factors

People who live in deprived areas without suitable housing, education and work opportunities are at a higher risk of getting dementia.

This may be because the lack of opportunities in these areas makes it harder for a person to get further education and to access jobs that keep a person mentally active throughout their life.

Want to act against dementia?

At Merry Maids, the Alzheimer’s Society is our charity of the year, and after working to support their mission for multiple years, we are committed to assisting our staff and customers to have a better cleaning experience.

The Dementia Awareness training our staff have undertaken has given our team additional knowledge and understanding of dementia. We are thrilled to be continuing this initiative to continuing to have staff trained by Alzheimer’s Society.

If you want to make a difference in the fight against dementia, you can do so directly now by donating to our annual fundraiser to raise £10,000 for Alzheimer’s Society.

If you or someone you know would benefit from a professional and compassionate, regular or one-off, home cleaning service from the dementia friends at Merry Maids UK, find your nearest Merry Maids business or book online today.

4 Ways to Support Someone with Dementia When the Clocks Change

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How you can help someone with dementia feel at ease when the clocks change.

REJOICE, British Summer Time starts this Sunday!

While losing an hour’s sleep is nobody’s favourite thing, most of us are likely looking forward to the extra daylight and the start of spring.

Changing the clocks can be confusing, and most people have probably fallen victim to some daylight-saving-related scheduling confusion at one time or another.

But, it can be especially disorientating for people living with dementia, who may struggle with awareness of time.

At Merry Maids UK, we’ve spent the last year working closely with our charity of the year, Alzheimer’s Society to attend dementia training workshops so that all of our cleaners nationwide are equipped and specially trained to support our customers across the UK living with dementia.

In this blog post, we’re sharing their expertise on ways to support someone with dementia when the clocks change.

How the clocks changing can affect people with dementia

As our days get longer and brighter, people with dementia may find it harder to differentiate between 6 PM and 6 PM.

This disrupts their circadian rhythm and makes it hard for them, and those who care for them to ensure they get enough sleep.

Losing sleep can lead to irritability, tiredness, and sometimes even distress, which can be exacerbated if their routines are impacted.

They may forget when to eat, or take their medication or not know when their favourite TV show is on.

But the good news is, there are simple things you can do to help people living with dementia through these changes, to ensure minimal disruption and distress.

  1. Start their evening routine an hour earlier

Consider starting your evening earlier on Saturday, including having dinner and going to bed an hour earlier.

This will ensure that the person you’re caring for still gets enough sleep and can wake up at their usual time on Sunday and that their routine will only be different for an evening rather than the whole day.

  1. Keep to a routine

Keeping to a regular routine during the day and at bedtime can help to regulate a disrupted body clock.

It helps if these are associated with other everyday tasks such as going for a walk after breakfast.

Doing this consistently will help a person with dementia to make sense of the time.

  1. Keep Active

Gentle exercise during the day can help the person feel sleepier during the evening, meaning they’ll go to bed at their usual time.

If this isn’t an option, keeping them active during the day can have a similar effect and using blackout curtains to reduce sunlight in the evenings can help with body clock regulation, too.

  1. Look into auto-setting clocks

You may want to invest in an auto-setting clock for them.

Deciphering a clock face can be tricky for some people with dementia, so often digital clocks are easier.

You can also get clocks that show the day of the week, date and time, and for some people, a day/night clock can help them distinguish what time of day it is.

See the value of a cleaner who cares

If you or someone you know would benefit from a professional and compassionate, regular or one-off, home cleaning service from the dementia friends at Merry Maids UK, find your nearest Merry Maids business or book online today.

Case Study: Dementia-Trained Cleaners in Wakefield, Leeds, York and Harrogate

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How Merry Maids in Wakefield, Leeds, York and Harrogate have supported their customers living with dementia.

As part of Merry Maids UK’s ongoing partnership with Alzheimer’s Society, our staff across the UK have completed licensed training to provide help and hope to our customers living with dementia, which makes us the only officially dementia-trained domestic cleaners in the nation!

We’re not just experts in home cleaning.

We’re also a nationwide network of compassionate, friendly, and warm local professionals who always go above and beyond to help the people who trust us daily to clean their homes.

But what does this look like in action?

This blog post shares the story of customers of Merry Maids in Wakefield, Leeds, York and Harrogate and how our dementia-friendly cleaning has helped them.

Meet Mr and Mrs R

Merry Maids has been cleaning for Mrs R’s family for the last ten years.

Four years ago, she was diagnosed with dementia, aged only 58 years old, and the team have been cleaning for her and Mr R ever since to support her in keeping her house a home.

How we help

Initially, we visited every month to stay on top of the cleaning and keep everything tidy.

Today, Mr and Mrs R have increased the frequency of their service to a weekly cleaning from our expert team, ensuring the whole home always looks its best week in and week out.

During this time, due to changes in how her dementia impacts her, the team have adapted their services, like entering through a gate rather than the front door, as Mrs R’s condition means she was at risk of wandering from home unannounced.

Still, Mrs R is elated whenever our staff (or her ladies, as she has dubbed them) call in for her cleanings, greeting them at the door and walking around the house with them, as she likes to see the process of our cleaning in action.

Despite her health, she also likes to dust under our supervision, and Mr R has asked if she can do this whenever Merry Maids is there – which, of course, she can.

Our staff have gotten into a steady rhythm whereby one cleaner stays with Mrs R while she dusts and ensures she has some extra companionship and supervision, while the other maid gets on with the rest of the cleaning.

In an email to our staff, Mrs R shared her satisfaction and delight at seeing our cleaners and the impact our help has:

‘[I] can’t wait to see my ladies, they always bring cheer to us both,’ she says.

‘Oh, and the house is always sparkling when they leave!’

Need a new cleaner?

If you’re in Wakefield, South Leeds, York and Harrogate and need support from a dementia-friendly cleaner backed by over 30 years of brand expertise as a leader in the cleaning industry, call your local experts on 01924 871122.

Or, nationwide, find your nearest Merry Maids business or book online to see how we can help you today.

Forget Me Knot Challenge Champion: Mike Fargher from Merry Maids Sheffield

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Why Mike Fargher from Merry Maids of Sheffield joined the Forget Me Knot Challenge and helped us raise over £4,000 for Dementia charities.

The Forget Me Knot Challenge is an annual, sponsored virtual relay in which staff and owners from Merry Maids businesses across the UK run, walk, or cycle the equivalent total mileage between each Merry Maids UK business to raise money for Alzheimer’s Society.

Last year, the challenge was a huge success, raising over £4,000 that will support Alzheimer’s Society to continue to aid those living with dementia in the UK (currently estimated to be over 900,000 people.)

Mike Fargher of Merry Maids in Sheffield and South Yorkshire racked up 1186 miles and raised over his £2,000 pledge target.

Goals and Dementia History

Mike’s Merry Maids business has had many encounters with dementia over the years.

“We have some long-term clients that did not have dementia when we started to clean for them but sadly now have it,” he says.

“We also take on new clients where they, and their families, wish to remain in their own homes and, with the support of ourselves and other outside agencies, can do so.”

“Sometimes a client wants to chat over a cup of tea, to tell you about their life, family and other interests. The Maids may have heard the same stories several times but will listen as if it was the first time they heard it.”

Mike got back into cycling during lockdown after purchasing an electric bike.

So, he knew, when faced with the Forget Me Knot Challenge, that this would be his way to meet it.

“I try to cycle 25-30 km at least twice during weekdays and have also recently purchased a road bike for use at the weekends,” he says.

He also knew the challenge would be perfect to incorporate into the cycling holiday he had been dreaming of.

Mike’s Mileage

The trip was a week’s cycling around seven islands off the coast near Split. From Brac to Stari, Grad, Orebic, Korcula, Mljet, Hvar, and Solta.

“The trip was fantastic,” he says.

Mike was part of a group of 15 cyclists from around the globe who completed a week of cycling under the guidance of a Croatian guide and a crew of five on a boat named the MV Leonardo.

Some (Literal) Highs

The days followed a routine to ensure mileage was met.

Mike says the seven days were filled with expansive views, “good food, weather and plenty of excellent cycling routes.”

After breakfast each day, the bikes would be unloaded off the boat at one end of an island, and the group would set off to complete between 20km and 55 km.

This included literal highs with “many challenging hill-climbs, with ascends as high as 800 meters.”

By lunchtime, the group would have completed the day’s route and would be met by their boat & crew at the other end of the island.

Then, bikes were loaded back onboard for lunch whilst the boat made its way to a port where the afternoons and evenings were spent exploring and relaxing after a hard day’s work.

This meant that in one week, the group completed around 280 km.

Final results

As part of Mike’s pledge, he also completed a further 720 km cycling over the summer (at £1 per kilometre).

Much of his donations were also made by family, friends and people he met on his cycling journeys.

A further £1,000 was raised from a Google review campaign, in which each new review added £25 to the funds.

A huge well done to Mike for all of his efforts and for making such a massive impact in fundraising to support those in need.

Learn more

To learn more about Merry Maids UK and our work with the Alzheimer’s Society, call 0800 021 3072.

If you’re in Sheffield and the South Yorkshire areas, call Mike and his team today on 0114 272 2655.

If you or someone you know would benefit from a professional and compassionate, regular or one-off, home cleaning service from the dementia friends at Merry Maids UK, find your nearest Merry Maids business or visit our online shop today.

Merry Maids Forget Me Knot 2024: Angela’s story

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Angela shares her family history of dementia.

At Merry Maids UK, our teams nationwide are undertaking our second annual Forget Me Knot Challenge as part of our partnership with Alzheimer’s Society.

This is a sponsored virtual relay in which staff and owners from Merry Maids businesses across the UK run, walk, or cycle the equivalent total mileage between each Merry Maids UK business, tying them together and raising funds for Dementia Friends/ Alzheimer’s Society: creating the Forget Me Knot.

Last year, as part of the challenge, we shared the story of Angela from Merry Maids Fylde, Blackpool and Preston, who had a long history with the disease, which has impacted both her parents and mother-in-law.

Angela has since left Merry Maids but has permitted us to keep sharing her story to raise awareness of the reality of living with dementia.

Angela’s Story

In a touching video on our YouTube channel, Angela opened up about her experience.

“I’m doing the Forget Me Knot challenge because I’ve been through dementia experiences three times so far, and I’m just about to go through my fourth with my dad,” she says.

The conditions that Angela and her family have faced have varied.

From Alzheimer’s to frontal temporal and vascular dementia, the experiences and maladies were “completely different” each time.

“It’s devastating,” she says. “The person you once knew changes into somebody else.”

“They don’t die… straight away. It’s a long process. But they change. They’re unrecognisable as the person you once knew.”

Why Supporting Alzheimer’s Society Matters

Angela describes the experience and how frightening it is, particularly in the early stages, where the family had little information about what was happening to their loved ones.

“You need to talk to people,” she says. “You need people to help you, so you haven’t got to be afraid to ask for help.”

Alzheimer’s Society and Dementia Friends do just this.

They are there to support and inform members of the public about Alzheimer’s and its varying forms so that we can all be prepared should we encounter the disease.

Dementia Advisers from Alzheimer’s Society provide critical support to people throughout their experiences with dementia, allowing people living with the condition and their carers to access expert support.

Our support means they can invest in ground-breaking research into better ways of treating and caring for people with dementia.

Dementia Friends, as a subset of Alzheimer’s Society, trains people and businesses like ours to interact with people with dementia.

At Merry Maids UK, we often serve members of the public living with dementia and ensure that through Dementia Friends, our staff are trained to provide care and support while cleaning their homes – as they often cannot do it for themselves.

Whether making them a cup of tea or being a friendly and recognisable face, there are many ways to be there for those who need it.

As Angela says:

“You have to be kind to one another. You have to talk. Don’t bottle things up, and listen.

“Listen to the person who is ill because they are just as confused as you are.”

“It’s really important that we help them to feel as normal as possible for as long as possible. We have to try and find some kind of way of making this illness easier to live with.”

How you can support us and Alzheimer’s Society

As Angela says:

“It’s very important that we raise awareness and help raise money to develop new medication to help slow this process. Because it really is devastating. It really is.”

The Merry Maids UK Forget Me Knot challenge will continue to run throughout the summer months – with our teams nationwide getting involved in the virtual relay.

You can support our teams by sponsoring us in this endeavour via donations to our JustGiving page.

All proceeds will be donated to Alzheimer’s Society.

Or you can become a Dementia Friend today, either online or through a more comprehensive and in-person training session.

If you or a loved one knows someone who is struggling with dementia, see how we can help to give them a better quality of life for as long as possible by finding your nearest Merry Maids business or booking online today.

Merry Maids UK becomes official partner in aid of Alzheimer’s Society

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Merry Maids have become official partners of Alzheimer’s Society.

We are thrilled to announce that Merry Maids has become an official charity partner in support of Alzheimer’s Society as of 2024.

This blog post has all the details.

What does the partnership mean?

We have named Alzheimer’s Society our charity of the year.

And have thus pledged to raise £10,000 to go towards their work throughout 2024.

Last year, as part of our longstanding commitment as Dementia Friends, we raised over £4000 with our nationwide Forget Me Knot Challenge Campaign.

This year, we’re kicking it up an extra gear.

As official partners, we are committed to supporting our staff and customers to have a better cleaning experience by training every Merry Maids cleaner across the UK in professional dementia support.

Therefore, we are the only domestic cleaning company in the UK certified to provide accredited support to the over 800,000 people living with dementia in the UK.

The training will also help our maids to support our customers with specific needs and extra support, and our customers feel ever more strongly that they are in good hands.

What does dementia support mean to Merry Maids customers?

To Merry Maids customers like this woman from Croydon, our support means her father can maintain his independence:

“My Dad is 93 and has got a serious heart condition and dementia,” she says.

“After a long stay in hospital and living with us for four months, he wanted to live independently,”

“He reluctantly accepted help and within a couple of weeks was looking forward to his visits by Merry Maids.”

“They are very caring and have a very soft spot for Dad,” she adds.

“Which makes my life as a carer easier.”

“Dad would never be without his Merry Maids, and they have made a huge difference to his enjoyment of life.”

What does dementia support mean to us?

This partnership officially recognises our commitment to supporting them and the people we serve living with dementia.

Vikki Donnachie, Merry Maids Brand Leader, says:

“We are thrilled to be working with Alzheimer’s Society again this year. The ability to offer further training to all our maids provides added support and peace of mind to both our customers and their families who are or have been affected by dementia.”

“At Merry Maids, our high levels of customer service and community engagement are what makes us different. Being able to support both our customers and Alzheimer’s Society is a real privilege.”

Aaliah Chik, Senior Marketing Executive for Merry Maids UK, adds:

“As many of our customers are facing dementia, to have this opportunity to take what we do for them to the next level by training our maids and supporting Alzheimer’s Society is so exciting.”

“We have great things planned for this year. I’m looking forward to developing our work to better the people living with dementia in our communities.”

Meg Foxhall, Community Fundraiser of Alzheimer’s Society, says:

“On behalf of Alzheimer’s Society, I would like to thank Merry Maids. We’re so grateful for their support, which allows us to provide help and hope for everyone affected by dementia.”

“Dementia is the UK’s biggest killer,” she adds.

“Too many people face dementia alone. 1 in 3 people born today will develop dementia in their lifetime. We want everyone affected by dementia to know that whoever you are, whatever you’re going through, Alzheimer’s Society is here for you.”

Discover the value of a cleaner who cares

To learn more about Merry Maids UK and our work with Alzheimer’s Society, call 0800 021 3072.

If you or someone you know would benefit from a professional and compassionate, regular or one-off, home cleaning service from the dementia friends at Merry Maids UK, find your nearest Merry Maids business or book online today.

Merry Maids UK ‘Forget Me Knot Challenge’ Raises £4,000 for Alzheimer’s Society

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The Merry Maids UK Forget Me Knot Challenge has raised over £4,000 for Alzheimer’s Society and Dementia Friends.

At Merry Maids UK, we are a nationwide cleaning franchise that has long had our heart in care and the community.

When, in 2014, a friend of the Croydon-based franchise, Debbie Walker, was researching a PhD thesis on dementia patients and told her about Dementia Friends, we began to work closely with the charity and have never looked back.

Our Merry Maids business owners provide care across the UK through compassionate and professional home cleaning services.

This often means they encounter members of the public living with dementia and struggling with the disease.

This year, we took our dedication to giving back a mammoth step further by undertaking the Forget Me Knot Challenge – which has raised over £4,000 for Alzheimer’s Society.

The Forget Me Knot Challenge

The Forget Me Knot Challenge – named in reference to the tying together of Merry Maids businesses and the small blue flower that has long been associated with Alzheimer’s and dementia – was a sponsored virtual relay in which staff and owners from Merry Maids businesses across the UK ran, walked, or cycled the equivalent total mileage between each Merry Maids UK business.

The results

Cleaners, business owners, customers and head-office staff from across the UK put forward donations, helping raise over £4,000 – achieving more than double their initial £1000 donations and 2345 mileage targets.

Collectively, the Merry Maids franchise network has walked 4796.14 miles – the distance between London and Dallas, Texas!

Our stories

With over 900,000 people estimated to be living with dementia or Alzheimer’s in the UK today, it is likely that we all know or have known someone affected.

Each participant had their reasons for taking part.

Like Mike Fargher of Merry Maids in Sheffield and South Yorkshire, who racked up 1186 miles and generous donations by cycling and pledging £1 per mile.

“Our Merry Maids business has had many encounters with Dementia over the years,” says Mike.

“We have some long-term clients that did not have dementia when we started to clean for them but sadly now have it.  We also take on new clients where they, and their families, wish to remain in their own homes and, with the support of ourselves and other outside agencies, can do so.”

“Sometimes a client wants to chat over a cup of tea, to tell you about their life, family and other interests. The Maids may have heard the same stories several times but will listen as if it was the first time they heard it.”

Or the team in Fylde, Blackpool and Preston – including maids Angela and Bernie – who each has had multiple family members live with the disease.

“I’m doing the Forget Me Knot Challenge because I’ve been through dementia experiences three times so far, and I’m just about to go through my fourth with my dad,” Angela said back in July.

“It’s devastating. The person you once knew changes into somebody else.”

“They don’t die… straight away. It’s a long process. But they change. They’re unrecognisable as the person you once knew.”

“You have to be kind to one another. You have to talk. Don’t bottle things up, and listen. Listen to the person who is ill because they are just as confused as you are.”

“It’s important that we help them to feel as normal as possible for as long as possible. We must find ways of making this illness easier to live with, raise awareness and money to develop new medication to help slow this process.”

Learn more

To learn more about Merry Maids UK and our work with Alzheimer’s Society, call 0800 021 3072.

If you or someone you know would benefit from a professional and compassionate, regular or one-off, home cleaning service from the dementia friends at Merry Maids UK, find your nearest Merry Maids business or visit our online shop today.