Scarecrow brings Chelmsford pupils and care home residents together to learn about dementia

Home news

Oct 23, 2019

The Care UK team and residents from Manor Lodge care home, on Manor Road, joined pupils from St. Michael’s CE Junior School to kick off The Archie Project, an initiative which links local primary schools to care homes.

Now in its second year, the partnership involves the children working with residents over several weeks on arts and crafts activities, as well as talking with residents about what life used to be like when they were at school.

Created by Reminiscence Learning, the project is centred around a brightly knitted scarecrow called Archie, designed to help pupils understand how dementia can affect older people. The pupils, who dressed as scarecrows, joined residents for a special assembly, to learn about the effects of the condition and how, as a society, we can help those with dementia to live well.

Juliana Miles, home manager at Manor Lodge, said: “We were delighted to return to St Michael’s CE Junior School to kick off what’s set to be another fantastic year of The Archie Project.

“Pupils and residents had a wonderful time getting to know each other and learning more about dementia. It is important for the children to gain confidence in speaking to an older generation, and to understand their needs. We are looking forward to continuing the work with pupils at St. Michael’s CE Junior School, with upcoming projects including arts and crafts, gardening and memory sharing, and we hope to build on the friendships which have already begun to form.”

Achieving an ‘outstanding’ rating from the Care Quality Commission (CQC), Manor Lodge is a modern and welcoming purpose-built care home in Chelmsford that delivers nursing, residential and short-term respite care for older people. The home also has specialist expertise in supporting individuals with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.

To find out more about Manor Lodge, please call home manager, Juliana Miles, on 0333 4343 052, or email juliana.miles@careuk.com

For more general information please visit careuk.com/manor-lodge