Primary school pupils have teamed up with care home residents for an exciting new project. The Forget-Me-Not Friends Programme is a unique collaboration between Morningside Care Home and Morningside Primary School, helping to create the next generation of Dementia Ambassadors by giving children the opportunity to learn lessons that cannot be taught from a textbook alone.
Programme Details
Developed and delivered by the staff and residents of Morningside Care Home, the eight-week programme has brought together residents, staff, teachers and pupils in a shared learning journey designed to promote understanding, challenge perceptions, and build meaningful relationships across generations.
The children have been actively encouraged to provide feedback and help shape the direction of the programme, which has been tailored to meet their natural curiosity and deliver an innovative intergenerational initiative. The programme aims to improve understanding of dementia, challenge stigma, and strengthen connections across generations.
Teacher's Perspective
Morningside Primary teacher Vicky Emmerson said: “As a teacher, it is always incredibly rewarding to see pupils so engaged, motivated, and eager to learn more. This experience has not only enhanced their learning but has also supported their personal and social development in a very special way. It has been an especially meaningful experience for the pupils in their final year of primary school, giving them lasting memories and important life skills that they will carry with them as they move on to the next stage of their education.”
Learning Topics
As part of the programme, pupils have explored topics including ageing, the brain, dementia awareness, communication, relationships, identity, life stories, and understanding behaviour through compassion. Through a blend of interactive learning, storytelling, discussion, and research-informed experiential activities, children have been encouraged to challenge misconceptions about dementia and care homes, develop empathy and understanding, and recognise that dementia is only one part of a person’s story.
Residents as Educators
A defining feature of the programme has been the central role played by residents themselves. Rather than being passive participants, residents become active educators, sharing stories of family life, careers, military service, community involvement, personal achievements, and significant life experiences. Through these conversations, pupils gain a deeper understanding that every person living with dementia has a unique identity, a rich history, and a lifetime of memories that continue to shape who they are.
Student Nurse's Experience
Student Nurse Bronagh Megahy said: “As a student nurse on placement in a care home, I recently attended the Forget Me Not Friends Junior Dementia Ambassador Programme at a local primary school. It was a truly inspiring experience. The children engaged wonderfully with our residents living with dementia, showing kindness, patience, and genuine interest. The residents clearly enjoyed the interaction and the opportunity to spend time with the children. Professionally, the programme gave me valuable insight into the benefits of intergenerational activities and the positive impact they can have on people living with dementia. Personally, as a mother, I loved seeing children learn about dementia in such a compassionate way and believe programmes like this should be available in schools across the UK. Overall, it is a fantastic initiative that promotes understanding, connection, and compassion between generations.”
Future Plans
Building upon the success of the programme, Morningside Care Home and Morningside Primary School are committed to continuing the initiative with future P7 pupils, ensuring that each new generation of young people has the opportunity to develop a greater understanding of dementia, ageing, compassion, and community through meaningful relationships with older people. As the programme moves into the next academic year, plans are also being developed to share the model more widely and offer opportunities for other local primary schools to become involved.
Care Home Manager's Comments
Morningside Senior Care Home Manager Christina Simmons added: “Being involved in shaping the Forget Me Not Friends Programme has been a truly inspirational experience and a privilege to be part of. If there is one thing I hope the children take away, it is that dementia does not define a person. It is only one chapter in someone’s story, not the whole book. Behind every diagnosis is a lifetime of memories, experiences, achievements, relationships, and love. If these young people grow up seeing the person before the diagnosis and recognising that every life is worth hearing, celebrating, and remembering, then together we will have created something truly special.”
