ARU Research Report 2019

The Up Project 35 Teaching staff described how they had come to understand the care home environment, and particularly dementia, but reflected that others should familiarise themselves with their context to support their confidence and ability to lead others. Selecting Appropriate Activities The form of activities in an IGP will vary by the ages and abilities of those engaging with them. In the Up project, dementia friendly activities and applications were researched and sourced. Other activities, such as arts and crafts, were process based and centred on taking part, rather than on concrete outcomes. Such has been essential for allowing the children to engage with older adults with dementia and impairment. While activities reflected seasonal and school activities, they too were selected by the children, allowing them ownership of the experience. Activities occurred within a set area of the care home in the Up project, allowing the living environment and those who did not wish to take part to remain respected. Inclusivity of Dementia The Up project demonstrates that with the right support and right activities children can share meaningful engagement with people with dementia. While there may be incidents where the inclusion of people with dementia is not suitable, this project illustrates that both parties can flourish through shared activities and that children are able to negotiate these interactions positively, even in the presence of unusual or unpredictable behaviour. Older adults with dementia might need additional support to engage in activities, which a care home may need to accommodate.