Going the extra mile at Archers Court

From Senior Carer to Deputy Manager, Jackie’s journey at Archers Court has inspired many – and now, she’s gone the extra mile by learning the unique sign language, Makaton! We spoke to Jackie about her inclusive skill, and how it’s made a difference to both her professional and personal life.

Jackie, who joined Archers Court in 2019, began her Makaton journey after her grandson, Jay, became non-verbal. “Jay lives with autism and has difficulties expressing his thoughts, feelings and emotions. I decided to complete a course in Makaton so I could support him in a way that works for him, and be the grandma he deserves!”

According to The Makaton Charity, Makaton is ‘a unique communication programme that uses symbols (pictures), signs (gestures) and speech to enable people to communicate.’ This method of communication is now used by over 100,000 children and adults nationwide, and is becoming increasingly popular in the UK.

Jackie completed her course in Makaton three years ago at a local SEN school, which also uses the language programme with their students. Since then, Jackie has been able to use her new skill in both personal and professional environments, including with residents at Archers Court.

“There are so many benefits to learning Makaton” said Jackie, who has been teaching her colleagues the basics in the language. “The signs are simple, easy to understand and can make a huge difference to someone who cannot verbally communicate. We use Makaton frequently in the home, and some of the residents have picked up a few signs themselves!”

The Sunderland care home, which is entirely dedicated to providing specialist dementia care, recently welcomed students from Farringdon Academy to perform their Christmas choir – but with a twist! Whilst the children sang their favourite songs, they used Makaton to make the experience more inclusive for residents. “Our people really enjoyed the addition of Makaton in the choir” said Sharon, Home Manager at Archers Court. “It meant residents who have hearing impairments could still enjoy the experience and join in the fun!”

The language, which was invented in the 1970s, can also be beneficial for people for people living with dementia. Alzheimer’s Society recommends visual prompts, such as symbols and pictures, to communicate with loved ones who may no longer be able to talk or understand speech, making Makaton a good option when finding ways to support someone living with dementia.

When asked why people should learn Makaton, Jackie told us how learning the unique sign language helped her build an even stronger relationship with her grandson. “Being non-verbal, Jay struggles to communicate – but with Makaton, he’s able to use simple signs to express his feelings!”

Jackie went on to talk about the power of combining music and sign language for her family. “Jay has always loved music, so when I completed my course in Makaton, I decided to sign and sing at the same time, and his face lit up immediately – he loved it! He’s now learning Makaton himself, which is already making a huge difference to how he communicates with us. I’m so grateful to the SEN school for offering the Makaton course and changing our lives.”

Now, thanks to Jackie’s determination, not only is she able to offer a different way to communicate with residents, but she’s able to support her grandson in the best way possible. Thank you so much to Jackie for talking to us about Makaton!

From support with communication to helping with everyday tasks, the talented and knowledgeable team at Archers Court Care Home can help your loved one thrive. If you’re looking for a dementia-specialist care home in Sunderland, why not get in touch? Call 0191 528 2526 or hit the link below!