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Teenager inspired to pursue role in care after rewarding experience at Marchwood home

A teenager who worked at the Marchwood care home where her great-grandmother lived has been inspired to consider working in the sector after a rewarding first taste of care.

Matilda Cranston started the role as a volunteer last year before continuing her studies and is keen to return to Oaklands Rest Home this year.

The 17-year-old helped organise and run activities and explained how her passion for creative arts and helping people living with dementia meant the whole experience was incredibly rewarding.

“I really enjoyed it. I loved chatting to the residents and getting to know them. We reminisced together, discussing their passions in life, and we even found we had some shared taste in music!” she said.

“I found the whole experience very rewarding because I could help the residents and they taught me a lot too. I always loved seeing them get so much from the activities.”

Matilda previously helped care for her grandfather who lived with vascular dementia before he passed away in 2020.

Her great-grandmother, Beryl, was a former resident at Oaklands and the care she received there was part of the reason Matilda wanted to give something back.

“Nanny Beryl was certainly an influence,” she added.

“The staff at Oaklands treated her and our family with care and compassion and were dedicated to giving her quality of life and dignity.

“I would love to return in the summer if I can as I really did enjoy the experience and everyone is so welcoming.
 “I have thought about working in activities as I am very passionate about the creative arts and helping people living with dementia so would like to pursue something along this line in the future.”

Care home manager at Oaklands Rest Home, Nicola Ray, explained that Matilda quickly became a valuable member of the team and hopes to see her follow a path into care on a full time basis in the future.

She said: “We were extremely pleased to receive a request from Matilda to join our team. From the very first day, it was evident that this was an area in which she had a great understanding, especially the benefits of activities for our residents.

“She gave 100%, took the time to get to know our residents and helped the team to deliver activities that they enjoyed.

“One to one activities were a key part of her experience and one that Matilda grasped with both hands, delivering person centred, holistic care using the knowledge she had gathered.

“Activities in care are second nature to Matilda and she has an amazing career ahead of her if this is a path she follows.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Springup PR .