Meet Parklands Executive Manager, Donna White

I was born and schooled on the Island and as a young child, I spent many enjoyable hours engaged with older people as I tagged along with my mum, who was working in a residential care home. I fell upon a card school within one of the rooms – they were a tough crowd and after fighting my way in they didn’t think twice about wiping the table with the small amount of pocket money I produced each week. I was soon put to work to recoup my losses and have since always felt a close affiliation and respect for the wisdom, knowledge, and life experience of our older generation.

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​I lived for a few years in Norwich, where I attended the University of East Anglia to complete a degree in Occupational Therapy. I was easily lured back to the Island to eventually get married and have since had two children. I started my career in the NHS as an Occupational Therapist (OT) working in adult mental health, in a community Home Treatment Team, that was later developed to support older person’s mental health. After 5 years, I left to take up the post of Registered Manager at Brighstone Grange, a family run residential home that was very close to my heart. After a brief interlude working on staff training and development, I resumed my position as Registered Manager for Island Healthcare Ltd, when they later took over this home. I have 10 years full of wonderful memories, supporting people to thrive and live well within residential care and within their own homes. I returned to the NHS in 2021 and worked initially as an OT within adult and older person’s acute mental health, before returning to what has always been my passion, supporting people with dementia as an OT in the Memory Assessment Service. I took up my current post with the Alzheimer Café IOW charity as Executive Manager of Parklands in February 2024. 

15 years ago I was one of the first people on the Island to attend the Dr Gemma Jones training on Communication and Care giving in Dementia Care, and suddenly everything made complete sense. I understood dementia in a way I never had before and the impact this had in my own practice and the education I have provided to others since, has been invaluable. It ignited an absolute passion to help people see beyond the misperceptions that are so often associated with the word ‘dementia’. It is testament to the many dedicated years of work by the Alzheimer Café, Dementia Awareness Partnership, and all the other training providers, for how many people on the Island now share a common language to talk about dementia so that we can really understand a persons need and respond appropriately to enable the best possible outcomes. It is paramount that people can live as they wish, safely, but most importantly with engagement and activity that promotes joy and maintains a sense of identity and belonging.

I have been overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and volume of people and outside organisations that have already been in touch to offer their support and commitment in helping to sustain the Parklands project, which speaks volumes for how many people on our Island are touched by dementia in some way, whether that be a relative, friend, neighbour, or a best friend’s partner.
The opportunities to support people and collaborate with our local community at Parklands, and through our existing Alzheimer Cafes, is endless. I have seen and experienced personally how overwhelming it can be for people and families to suddenly receive a dementia diagnosis. It can take time to process, and people are often left feeling fearful, not knowing where to go or what to do next. Having access, 5 days a week, to a library of resources, support, and signposting, all under one roof, in a safe space, without any time limited pressure, is an unbelievable advancement for Dementia Services on the Island. We can be the benchmark for creating excellence and innovative practice and hopefully share in our successes with others across the water. I feel so privileged and excited to have joined this charity to manage Parklands and genuinely feel that it will be a place that everyone involved can feel proud of for years to come.  As the walls are stripped and hidden names reveal themselves behind the wallpaper- how amazing to revive a building already stooped in so much history and be part of its next chapter.

Our team at Parklands is growing by the day and we cannot wait to open the doors and welcome you in!