An Edwalton nursery group got to learn about dementia in a gentle way thanks to a special colouring book created by a local care home provider.
Edwalton Manor Care Home on Landmere Lane is using the book ‘A Special Visit To Grandma’s House’ to help young visitors who may be struggling to understand the changing behaviour of relatives after a dementia diagnosis.
David Moore, Head of Dementia at provider Hamberley Care Homes, created the book for use during visits, which can be tough for families to navigate. It is designed to help residents living with dementia and their younger visitors bond through a colouring activity.
Local nursery Busy Bees attended the session to use the book, and David was delighted to see the positive impact on both generations as residents joined in with the children.
David said: “Sharing our dementia colouring books gave the children and residents something simple and enjoyable to do together, and the interactions we saw were incredibly positive.
“Intergenerational work like this is so important. It helps create genuine connections between younger and older generations, while giving children an opportunity to learn about dementia in a positive and age-appropriate way.”
Following the success of Hamberley’s first book, David created a second colouring book, ‘Grandad’s Missing Red Toolbox’, for older children.
Both books are now available for families to use at Hamberley Care Homes across the UK, and residents and relatives have welcomed them.
Resident Pat Bingham, aged 81, said: “It’s such a clever idea and very well done.
“It was lovely to spend time colouring in with the children, and I was impressed with how the book is written to help them understand dementia and how it affects people.”
Inspired by his personal experience as a child, when his grandfather lived with dementia, David hopes the books will be a useful tool for families and create meaningful moments between children and people living with dementia.
He said: “By encouraging these conversations from an early age, we can help reduce some of the fear and stigma that can still surround dementia and show that people living with dementia remain valued members of our families and communities".
