Care home art session for school pupils during half term

SCHOOL half term holidays saw Tyneside pupils visiting care home residents to take part in an art and craft session.

The children of carers at Willowdene Care Home, on Victoria Road West, in Hebburn, near Newcastle, created pictures with the elderly residents during the break.

Carers Jade Taylor and Ayesha Jones brought their children to the home’s dementia suite for the arts and crafts session.

Jade’s children, nine-year-old Jamie and four-year-old Alisha Brown, and Ayesha’s children, five-year-old Gracie and three-year-old Hollie Jones, all took part.

They coloured in, glittered and glued pictures while chatting to residents about living at the home.

Jamie spent time with resident Jessie Hannah, 92, asking her questions such as “do you have a lovely room here” and “what music do you like”. Afterwards they swapped pictures.

Jamie said: “I have enjoyed today, coming to the see the residents. I loved talking to Jessie, she’s really nice.”

Jessie said: “It was lovely talking to Jamie. He is a very polite and interesting boy. His picture is great.”

Michael Beaney, home manager at Willowdene Care Home, said: “It is so thoughtful of Jade and Ayesha to think of the residents during the half term holiday and to bring their children to the home.

“They are all lovely kids and the residents enjoyed meeting them and creating pictures with them.

“Intergenerational activities can be really beneficial for both young and elderly participants, as the arts and crafts session demonstrated. Both the children and our residents had big smiles on their faces at the end of the day.”