Children parade through town as part of project

AROUND 60 school children took to the streets of Basildon dressed as scarecrows as part of a project intended to strengthen understanding of dementia amongst youngsters in the town.

The Fairhouse Primary School pupils and staff paraded through the town dressed as scarecrows as part of a new collaborative project with Mundy House care home, which connects the youngest and oldest members of society.

The school and care home have formed an intergenerational partnership as part of their involvement with The Archie Project, which works to connect local primary schools with older people, especially those in care homes.

The ambition is to dispel the fear and stigma often associated with dementia and create more dementiafriendly communities.

The project is already underway, with the school’s pupils spending time with the residents during arts and crafts sessions.

The care home say the benefits are endless, reducing social isolation, loneliness and helping residents reminisce about their own childhoods.

Manager Josi George said: “Our residents have thoroughly enjoyed spending time with the children, reading and taking part in different activities like painting and drawing.

“The children bring such great energy and enthusiasm into the home, it really brightens everyone’s day.

“The Archie Project, and schemes like it, are really important for the wellbeing of our residents and helps younger people be more sympathetic to older people who may be experiencing dementia.

“It reminds residents of happy memories with their own children, grandchildren or even great grandchildren, and gives the children a better understanding early on about how dementia effects people.”

Kirstyn Box and Ruud Oosterbaan, who are both wellbeing coordinators at Aria Care’s Walstead Place Care Home, were announced as winners in the Ancillary Worker category during a glitzy awards ceremony at the Chichester Park Hotel.

The West Sussex Care Accolades celebrate the important and challenging work that care workers do in providing support, care and companionship to residents in retirement homes.

Jacquie Ferguson, home manager at Walstead Place, who nominated the pair, said: “I am so proud of Kirstyn and Ruud for winning this award, but it doesn’t surprise me at all. Together they give joy and wonderment everyday to our residents.

“The residents are always telling them they are the best. They have written cards and letters to the fact. Each meeting we have with the residents they cannot praise them enough; the families extend this praise also and they are very much loved in all they do.

“The wider community of the church and other groups have all stated what a wonderful team they are together and they come as a package.

“Kirstyn and Ruud put their heart and soul into everything they do –this award is so well deserved.”

The pair are much loved by the residents at Walstead Place and have created a biography of every person there in order to devise a resident-led activities programme.

In addition to a packed schedule of activities, they also create special events such as the ‘Woscars’ to give residents a taste of award season and the opportunity to nominate staff for an award, as well as the Walstead Olympics, in which everyone takes part.

Walstead Place prides itself on the care it provides to residents and the team not only has an engaging activities programme, but also meticulously plans every part of daily life at the home to support and encourage as much independence as possible.