Bath College students mark Dementia Action Week with Cleeve Court Residents at Summer Garden Party

Bath College Level 1 Health & Social Care students have been working with Sirona care & health, putting on fortnightly dementia cafés at Cleeve Court Residential Home, providing activities and a safe and fun space for residents.

Sirona is a not-for-profit social enterprise providing community health and care services across South Gloucestershire, parts of Bristol and beyond plus residential and extra care services in Bath and North East Somerset.

Cleeve Court is a Community Resource Centre which is home for 45 people, it specialises in care for individuals with dementia.

As the students came to the end of their course, they celebrated by holding an all-day garden party for residents, which coincided with Dementia Action Week.

Activities included bingo, dominoes, paper flower making and arranging, a raffle, name the teddy, singing, a BBQ and plenty of cake.

The students have really enjoyed working with the residents of Cleeve Court and have grown in confidence over the year. They have gained so many skills in both employability skills and life experience.

Georgia Pinker, a current Health & Social Care student said that: “I have really enjoyed my Level 1 course. It’s been nice seeing everyone mixing together.

“I’m looking forward to going onto the Level 2 next year and afterwards I want to do an apprenticeship in a hospital, hopefully Bristol Children’s Hospital.”

The Cleeve Court residents have been delighted to have young people working with them, with some very intense games of dominoes taking place in the garden.

Maggie Dance, Manager of Cleeve Court said: “The residents have thoroughly enjoyed spending time with the students over the past year and had a splendid day at the garden party. There were lots of smiles.

“Although our residents live with dementia and short term memory loss, they have enjoyed being in the moment with the students, interacting in their planned activities. We do hope that we can carry on with the Dementia café with next year’s students.”

Moira Aldred, Lecturer in Health & Social Care at Bath College said: “It’s been great to see the students who started the year very anxious and who initially held back, who have been actively working with and encouraging residents to participate.

Over the course of the year I have seen the students grow and develop into maturity, ready to progress onto the next year when they will have the confidence to take part in a full work placement.” For more information on Health & Social Care courses at Bath College, click here.