Mandurah Silverchain's new memory lane

With the help of year three students from Foundation Christian College, the respite centre designed both items to help support the growing number of dementia clients taking advantage of the facility.

 “What we had was this blank canvas and an increase in the number of clients with dementia attending the centre,” activities coordinator Mandy Holmshaw said.

“We noticed a lot of the clients with dementia would get restless after lunch and needed activities that were therapeutic and stimulating.

 “[With the corridor] they can reminisce about childhood memories with the music boxes, puzzle solving will support their cognition and they will be supported to regain skills they have lost such as tying shoelaces or tying a tie.”

Once finished, the centre realised the corridor wasn’t quite complete and decided to make the memory window.

It was created from a combination of ideas from both the Foundation Christian College students and the Silverchain clients as part of an ongoing intergenerational program.

These ideas were then brought to life on the facility’s wall by Wild Twig Art Studios artist Carol Hazel.

“It’s a conversation starter,” Ms Holmshaw said.

“We have a variety of different things painted on it; Super Mario from the children and a house and garden from the clients.

“Studies show their communication is a problem because of the age gap and hopefully this will help.

“We want them to come together and build up a friendship.”

The students have not only helped the social centre with the memory window but each month they also participate in activities with our clients such as cupcake making, quizzes and games.

“It’s really special to see the students interacting with our clients,” Ms Holmshaw said.

“At Christmas we have a party and sing carols and last year they did a nativity play together.

“Some of the students also keep in touch with the clients after they move on to their next year at school.”