Abbeyfield guest lecture uplifts future nurses

Inspiring future nurses through expert dementia care

Third year nursing students at the University of Winchester were recently delighted to welcome guest lecturer Alice Dunning, Manager of Abbeyfield Winnersh, who enhanced their studying of dementia care and gave expert guidance around dealing with the challenging behaviours of people living with the condition.

The guest lecture was organised by Claire Hollywell, a senior lecturer for nursing apprenticeships at the university’s School for Nursing, Midwifery and Social Care. Claire first came across Alice’s posts on LinkedIn and was impressed by the sense of freedom and creativity that the residents at Abbeyfield Winnersh have, which she felt is often missing from traditional care settings.

Claire explained that, “Many of our students have worked in acute environments where the focus is on calming or controlling, so I knew Alice’s person-centred approach at Winnersh would inspire them to think differently. Her innovative work offered a powerful alternative – one that celebrates imagination, autonomy, and personhood.”

Real-world care strategies

Alice previously managed Pratt House where she oversaw the upgrade of the Care Quality Commission rating from requires improvement to good in 2024. She subsequently moved to Abbeyfield Winnersh and cemented its good rating earlier this year, with her strong leadership particularly highlighted in the official report.

During her session with the students, Alice explained the attitude of Abbeyfield Winnersh to positive risk-taking and person-centred care, while also sharing the techniques she and her team use to effectively handle challenging situations brought on by behavioural issues.

The purpose-built nature of Abbeyfield Winnersh also attracted the students as it uses warm and bright décor alongside reminiscence aids such as old-style streetlamps and memory boxes. The home features circular corridors which make it almost impossible to get lost and generate a familiar space perfectly suited for people living with dementia.