INTERGENERATIONAL FUN AT BRIDGWATER CARE HOME

Visits from children at Bridgwater’s Little Montessori House nursery are proving to have a rejuvenating effect on the residents of the town’s Avalon Nursing Home.

Staff from both settings are liaising to organise a series of visits, the second of which was well timed to provide for some intergenerational craft activities focusing on Halloween.

The youngsters and residents worked busily together decorating pumpkins, and the children were excited to give names to their creations.

Avalon’s activities co-ordinator, Lisa Priddice, said: “These visits are proving incredibly popular.

“Seeing and engaging with the children really lifts everyone’s spirits and the home is bright and vibrant from the minute they arrive.

“Our ladies and gents love watching them play and interacting with one another.

“And they love to join in with the fun too, whenever they can, with activities like the recent Halloween pumpkin decorating session we arranged.

“Siobhan and Petra of Little Montessori House feel – as we do – that visits like this are a really lovely opportunity for young and old to appreciate each other’s company, and we’re hoping to welcome the little ones here on a regular basis.

“There’s always great excitement among our residents in the run-up to a Montessori visit – the residents love all the planning and preparation we do before the little ones arrive, and they’re simply delighted when they see them come running into the lounge.

“It’s evident that the visits are great for building the children’s confidence too.”

Little Montessori House educates children from 18 months upwards, according to Montessori guidelines, with both managers – Petra Townsend and Siobhan Orr – being independently assessed as ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted. See www.littlemontessorihouse.co.uk

Avalon Nursing Home is run by award-winning dementia care providers Camelot Care who have other homes in Plymouth, Wellington and Yeovil. More details at www.camelotcare.co.uk