In this partnership, Year 9 drama students were trained in basics of dementia, understanding dialysis and best practice communication strategies, through drama, to support patients living with dementia and undergoing dialysis treatment.
The intention of the project was threefold. Firstly, to create intergenerational connections between older adult patients who missed their families after shielding for two years, and young people who missed their families for similar reasons. Secondly, to improve the wellbeing of both communities in the hospital and the school by using drama to share and celebrate one another’s stories, to value identities lost in the fear of the pandemic and inspire one another with creative interactions. Thirdly, to help secondary and undergraduate students think about careers in social prescription through offering expert advice, taster training from a Consultant Nurse and applied theatre strategies from an applied theatre practitioner.
