On February 11th, as part of our Community Engagement programme, a group of IADT students, accompanied by three lecturers from Psychology, Art and Computing, were warmly welcomes at St. Joseph's Dementia Care home in Shankill. St. Joseph's is part of the St. John of Gods Hospital Group (SJOG).

Welcomed into a vibrant, art-filled community space, students immediately experienced the home's person-centred ethos - one which focuses on the individual, recognising what each resident can continue to participate, enjoy and contribute.

The visit began with an insightful introduction to dementia - what is is, how if affects people and how best to communicate with someone living with dementia. Through open discussion and questions, students gained a deeper understanding of the lived experience of those with the condition.

Siobhan Grant, Nicola Yau and Niamh Moore of SJOG guided us through their ethos of dignity, hospitality and compassion in their approach to dementia care. Through interactive exercises and games, students were encouraged to challenge their perceptions and develop empathy for those living with dementia. These experiences were brought to life by the dedication and generosity of the SJOG team.

The purpose of the visit was to give students a meaningful insight into living with dementia, helping to inform and inspire future collaborative projects with St. Joseph's.

The day highlighted the powerful role creativity and psychology can play in supporting health and wellbeing.

We extend our sincere thanks to the team at SJOG for this inspiring visit, and to our students and lecturers for their thoughtful engagement in this important work.

More to come as this collaboration develops.