17 Health & Social Care students took part in an intergenerational project organised in partnership with Derbyshire County Council and Whitestones Care Home in Chapel-en-le-Frith.
The students have visited Whitestones for three consecutive weeks as part of their Health & Social Care course, to help them gain more knowledge of dementia and develop their skills in communicating effectively with older people.
They were able to learn about the different types of dementia from one of the Nurses, Gronia Hall, who has worked as a carer for six years. Throughout the visit, the students built up relationships with the residents though organised activities.
Student Rachel Amery said: “This is my second time visiting the care home and I’ve really enjoyed myself. I worked on music bingo which focused on the resident’s era of artists. Being in this environment has helped me understand dementia and has steered me in the direction of where I want to take my career.”
Ana Theodoulou, a course instructor from the College, said: “This has been a big project from start to finish, each student has researched and designed each activity to help the residents explore their senses while putting the theory they are taught in class in a real life situation.
“The students have conducted themselves so well and the breadth of understanding of the disease has helped them deal with challenging and unpredictable behaviour.”
At the final visit, the students presented the residents with a memory book and donated the games they created to the home. Gronia Hall, Activity Officer at Whitestone said: “The involvement of students from Buxton & Leek College has given the residents such a boost as they love interacting with them and hearing about what life is like growing up these days.”
For more information about the Health & Social Care courses click here or call 0800 074 0099.