Jewish Care

Baking is good therapy for centre members

Celebrations for the festival of Shavuot got underway at the Leonard Sainer Special Day Care Centre where Jewish Care volunteers Sheila Lee made cheese cake with centre members.  "Everyone really enjoyed it, it was good therapy," said Mrs Lee, who runs a weekly cookery session for people with dementia.

Based in Rectory Lane, Edgware, the Leonard Sainer centre is open five days a week offering day care for people with dementia who gain enjoyment from a range of activities in a safe and caring environment.  Nicky Slipman, the centre manager, explains: "More and more people with dementia are being cared for in the community - this puts pressure on carers and families and the services we provide help to meet that need."

The centre belongs to health and social care charity Jewish Care, which runs a wide range of services in the London Borough of Barnet.  People wanting to access services should call Jewish Care Direct on 020 8922 2222

Shavuot (also known as Shavuos), the Jewish festival of weeks, marks the giving of the Ten Commandments by G-d to the Jewish people at Mount Sinai. Customs include decorating homes and synagogues with fruit and flowers and eating dairy food such as cheesecake and cheese blintzes. This year, the festival begins on Sunday evening (8th June) and ends in the evening of Tuesday 10th June.