11 July 2019

Anya Court care manager helps 200 Rugby pupils understand dementia

Customer Relationship Manager and Dementia Champion at Anya Court Care Home, Karen Handley, recently visited Bilton Junior School to deliver an informal Dementia Friends session to 200 year three and four children to help them better understand dementia.

The short session explores what it’s like to live with dementia, how you can make someone who lives with dementia live a fulfilled life and the small things you can do to make a difference. The children also learned how dementia affects the brain and how people can live well with dementia.

Following the session, the children filled out action slips to express how they thought the session went – one writing that she won’t get upset when her Nana forgets her name and another saying he will be patient and kind.

Bilton Junior School is the first junior school in Rugby to aim to become dementia friendly.

Karen said: “I was delighted to be asked to deliver a session with Bilton Junior School whose children are building some lovely relationships with the residents here at Anya Court.

“They were interested in finding out more about dementia which showed in the thoughtful and considerate actions they committed to. I hope that leads to more schools becoming more dementia friendly.”

Teacher at Bilton Junior School, Faye McKee said: “When we were offered to become a dementia friendly school, I jumped at the chance as many of our pupils are touched by this in some way.

“The more we can teach the children about dementia and how to better care for our elderly community members, the better.

“Our recent monthly visits to Anya Court Care Home have enabled them to put this into action and hopefully our next year fours will be even better prepared to support and befriend the residents next academic year.”

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