Dementia care home teams up with Montessori nursery 

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Children from a Montessori nursery having been bringing joy to residents at a dementia care home.

Residents at Camelot Care’s Avalon Nursing Home in Bridgwater, Somerset are participating in monthly activities with children from the nearby Little Montessori nursery.

Siobhan Orr, co-proprietor of Little Montessori House, said: “Both age groups certainly derive a huge amount of pleasure from the visits, right from the very first morning when they connected over an enthusiastic game of balloon swat.

“The children really look forward to their Avalon trips and sometimes ask if they can take something to give to their special friends – last time a couple of our four-year-olds picked flowers from the nursery’s own garden and presented them to the residents.”

During the most recent visit the children helped the residents with their gardening: planting runner beans and sweetpeas, and watering them afterwards. They also loved meeting Avalon’s pet guinea pigs, Dotty and Ethel.

Other favourite activities include sharing a singalong, playing percussion instruments, seasonal craft activities and sometimes a plate of biscuits or fruit.

Emma Hill, Avalon’s activities co-ordinator, added: “Spending time with the children clearly evokes positive emotions and memories for our ladies and gents, and they also relish being ‘in the moment’ – chatting and playing with the little ones and sharing a laugh.

“And, without even trying, the children bring certain residents out of their shells, with the result that they’ll happily join in with activities which wouldn’t normally interest them.”

The post Dementia care home teams up with Montessori nursery  appeared first on Care Home Professional.

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