Dementia can be compared to a bookshelf where your most recent memories are placed at the top, and occasionally these memories might slip away.

Katie, who studies at Riverdale Primary School close to Lisburn, has been receiving instruction from some exceptionally special educators.

The 11-year-old student has been studying dementia alongside fellow pupils at their school, under the guidance of elderly individuals who live with the condition.

Students from Riverdale have been interacting with residents of St Paul's Court, a supported living facility managed by Praxis Care for individuals with mild dementia.

The pensioners from the home have also visited the primary school.

Sport.Bangjo.co.id News - I joined Katie and other Riverdale students on their return visit to St Paul's Court.

During their time there, the students learned about street games such as marbles and hopscotch that were enjoyed by previous generations during their childhood.

They have likewise received instruction on what dementia entails and how it feels to experience living with it.

What is dementia?

According to the NHS, dementia is characterized as a syndrome involving a continuous deterioration of cognitive functions in the brain.

Several distinct reasons lead to dementia, and there are various forms of the condition as well.

However, certain typical signs might involve memory lapses, challenges with speech, or troubles performing routine tasks.

Consequently, individuals suffering from dementia might find social settings challenging and could become less interested in interacting socially.

The symptoms may intensify with time.

All the inhabitants of St Paul's Court suffer from mild dementia or cognitive impairment.

What did the students learn regarding dementia?

"Memory loss and the disease impact more than just day-to-day living," Katie stated.

Imagine dementia as a bookshelf where your most recent memories are placed at the top, but occasionally these memories slip away.

However, students and locals have formed connections through reminiscences of childhood, despite their experiences often being quite distinct from one another.

Grace, who is 10 years old, mentioned that they have been talking about what their elementary school was like and learning more about each other — including favorite foods and colors.

The children have learned what living with dementia entails through their friendships.

"When it impacts you, you usually don’t forget much from your childhood, but occasionally you might forget something recent," explained Kirsten, who is also 11 years old.

Grace mentioned that she had learned how to assist individuals with dementia and emphasized the importance of being patient.

"They might simply require a little extra time to recall things," she mentioned.

As per Riverdale’s vice-principal Laura Totton, studying dementia means understanding both life and the surrounding community.

She stated that this is an issue which will affect children in the future, possibly through interactions with their extended family members, emphasizing the importance of educating them and involving the community to observe our activities at school.

I believe it's crucial for children to grasp that these residents were once their age too, allowing them to connect with them better.

What are the sentiments of the residents regarding their connection with the main elementary school students?

Both Maisie and Sadie live at St Paul's Court.

They have loved interacting with the children and recalling their own younger days.

Maisie mentioned her passion for music and singing, which she actively participated in. Additionally, she expressed her fondness for netball.

She has become friends with several of the students.

She mentioned, 'There were three or four of them perched on the chair next to me, and it was delightful.'

The folks are wonderful, and so are the children.

"It raises you up," Sadie stated.

You're reflecting on how you once were and everything associated with that.

I am excited about their arrival.

However, Sadie acknowledged that participating in boccia — a type of bowling game — with the kids had revealed her competitive nature.

"I may not be great at them yet, but I am improving gradually," she chuckled.

A curse word slips out sometimes!

What methods can be used to educate young kids about dementia?

Riverdale Primary welcomed Tracy Smyth from Praxis Care to educate students about dementia prior to their connection with residents at St Paul's Court.

She mentioned that educating the students required a method that was both sensitive and suitable for their age.

Mrs. Smyth employed a method from the Alzheimer's Society that instructed the children on becoming "Dementia Friends."

"A disease of the brain, just like any other illness," she stated.

Breaking it down into such terms and considering its impact on someone, the children truly absorbed all the information.

I think it helps alleviate the anxiety and nearly fearful feelings some children experience—since we tend to be afraid of things we're unfamiliar with.

For her, both personal and professional reasons fuel her drive.

She mentioned, 'My grandmother suffered from dementia, and being a younger child, I didn’t comprehend the reasons behind witnessing alterations in her condition. She was someone whom I deeply cared for.'

As a child, the sole conclusion I could reach was that it must have been my fault, that I had somehow erred.

I promised that no child would hold onto that misunderstanding or believe such about their grandparents.

• 'Even with dementia, you can still enjoy yourself.'

• 'I wish for global conversations about dementia.'

• Individuals affected by dementia enjoy a tram excursion.