STAFF and residents at a Darlington care home donned pyjamas yesterday to raise money for charity – and also to help residents with dementia get a better night's sleep.

The team at Anchor’s Elderwood in Westmoreland Street swapped uniforms for pyjamas before the residents went to bed to create a relaxed and calming environment to aid residents’ night time routines, especially those living with dementia.

The carers were also asking for voluntary donations to the Children’s Trust which is raising money through its National Pyjama Week.

All the money raised will help the trust provide support for children with brain injury and neurodisability.

Ann Dale, Manager of Elderwood, said that studies had found that when care teams wear night clothes shortly before residents with dementia go to bed, this helps them settle and have a better night’s sleep.

She said: “When we heard about the Children’s Trust, we thought they were the obvious choice of charity we would like to support along with the staff having fun.

“We have many residents living with dementia and have developed lots of different ways to support them to help them lead as fulfilling and happy a life as possible. The pyjama day is an extension of this.”

Elderwood is run by not-for-profit company Anchor, and provides different social activities to enhance the lives of residents.

It is just off the A167 in Darlington, set in its own grounds. Its most recent Care Quality Commission assessment rated it as good.