Ayrshire College and Alzheimer Scotland collaborate
Ayrshire College students have been working in partnership with Alzheimer Scotland to produce ‘conversation starter’, personalised memory leaflets.
The Access to Primary Education and Humanities students have been volunteering at the Kilmarnock Dementia Resource Centre for several weeks. It is hoped that these sessions allowed the students a better understanding of the impact that dementia has on someone’s life, while the clients benefitted from interacting with the students and reminiscing about certain subjects.
The centre aims to support people with dementia, their families, relatives and friends at any stage of the illness.
Primary Education and Humanities student Ronald McEwing said “I’ve really enjoyed the sessions at the centre. As well as the practical skills of working in the community, it has been an insight into those living with dementia and to be able to support them in some way, has been really rewarding.”
Social Science Lecturer at Ayrshire College, Alison Kennedy said “The partnership with the team at Alzheimer Scotland is now firmly established and has been extremely beneficial to the students at Ayrshire College. For many students this has been a great learning experience as they develop their understanding of dementia, something they may have first-hand experience of within their own families.”
Jim Baird, Locality Leader at Alzheimer Scotland said “this has been yet another great collaboration with Ayrshire College in Kilmarnock. The aim was to bring them together with people living with dementia and their carers to delve into their pasts, their families, their friends and their passions and capture this in an accessible leaflet.
"Over a number of weeks, the students spent time getting to know our clients and have been able to perfectly capture poignant memories, essential stories and great anecdotes, which can be used by family to reminisce, and as prompts for carers. The participants were really touched by the leaflets but more so by the genuine interest shown by the students.”
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