At 100 years old, Dennis Arnold is more than a resident of BCG Coupar Angus Care Home, he is a symbol of what the Scottish Care, Care Creates manifesto stands for: rights, dignity, participation, community, investment, wellbeing and a future we build together.
Dennis, who spent his life in service – surviving the Blitz, serving in the Royal Army Medical Corps, lecturing at Dundee Technical College and embracing lifelong learning – has chosen to spend his later years being cared for at Coupar Angus Care Home, and doing what he has always done: creating opportunity for others.
In the summer of 2025, Dennis set himself a remarkable challenge. Over 31 days, he walked 16 miles, walking around the gardens of his home; the distance of a return journey between the care home and his former home in Alyth.
On the final day of his challenge, he walked into Alyth itself, with former neighbours stepping onto their doorsteps to cheer him on in completing the last emotional steps of his remarkable journey – a testament to how profoundly he is held within the wider community.
What began as a personal challenge became something wider. As donations rolled in, Dennis declined every offer that focused on him. Instead, he insisted that the money be used to create something meaningful for his friends and neighbours inside the home – something that would provide calm, comfort, stimulation and joy.
And so, Dennis – fully supported by his care home team and resident friends, generated a gift for his whole community:
A fully equipped sensory room at Coupar Angus Care Home.
A therapeutic space filled with soothing lights, tactile materials, calming soundscapes and sensory tools designed to reduce stress, enhance trust and support people living with cognitive change.
The sensory room is more than equipment, it is Dennis’s legacy and it stands as an example of the six Care Creates themes in action:
- Care creates rights at the heart
Dennis exercised his voice, choice and agency – his fundraising and the room’s purpose are resident‑led. - Care creates integration
The whole community supported Dennis’s challenge. Neighbours cheered him home. Donors from his local community, and further afield, supported Dennis in his personal challenge, which resulted in therapeutic equipment. - Care creates care for people & planet
It provides a calming, natural sensory environment and encourages emotional regulation and healthy stress reduction - Care creates investment that matters
The space was carefully designed, personalised and created with intention – an investment in wellbeing, as well as equipment, and not only infrastructure. Resident-led, community-driven and staff-enabled investment - Care creates future‑ready care
The sensory room is a modern, therapeutic model of dementia‑informed practice. - Care creates fair work & fair care
The care home team worked collaboratively, guided by Dennis’s vision, embedding pride and collective purpose.
Dennis’s story is the kind of story that reframes how Scotland sees care. It is one of empowerment, leadership, participation, interdependence and deep humanity.
And the story continues. Dennis runs a monthly music afternoon as DJ Dennis, taking song requests, queuing up YouTube videos and getting the lounge singing, and often dancing. It’s become a highlight of the month, and he’s now exploring a simple permanent setup, maybe even a wee trolley to keep everything together.
Dennis says, “I think that the music programmes are the next adventure to develop. Each of these afternoon sessions bring a kind of liveliness, even to residents who may be living with more advanced needs. Many times, I have been in tears to watch the remarkable changes in one or two residents for whom engaging is more difficult. They have, for a minute or two, become part of the session, almost returning to their familiar selves.”
DJ Dennis’ sessions don’t just bring music into the lounge, they, too, echo the six themes of the Care Creates manifesto by putting choice and voice at the centre, using simple digital tools to connect people, and creating real community and collaboration between the residents and the wider team. Even planning for better equipment reflects investing in care like it truly matters, in essential, relationship‑based care that lifts the whole community.
In every aspect, as Dennis himself says, “care can create possibilities that may never have been expected or imagined. That’s how we should see ‘care’ – not just a ‘cost’: but as an investment with benefits that go far beyond what you can measure or anticipate.”
