Student spends gap year performing at Bridgwater care home

Maria Jimenez, an A-level student, spends her days entertaining residents at the Avalon Nursing Hom with impromptu guitar-accompanied karaoke sessions and pop classics.

Having recently completed her studies at Richard Huish College, the 18-year-old is taking time off ahead of university to hone new skills that she believes will be useful in other areas of life and her career.

Ms Jimenez has been inspired to take on this position by her mother, Karen Jimenez, a team leader of healthcare assistants at Avalon.

Renowned for her singing and guitar skills, she graces the home's residents and her co-workers with her performances.

Ms Jimenez said: "I chose to work at Avalon as I had an interest in looking after people, particularly in the psychological aspect, which had already led me to take Psychology for my A-levels."

Maria Jimenez is taking time off before university to entertain dementia patients (Image: Camelot Care)

Describing herself as a creative personality, she continues: "But I have always been a creative person, growing up with the arts and also being a musician myself, and when Mum told me there was a vacancy for an activities assistant at Avalon, I thought that doing this would give me valuable insights into what I’d really like to do with my future."

Maria believes her musically inclined background empowers her to bring unique activities to Avalon.

"I hope I can be someone who can help Avalon’s residents live their best lives through the activities our co-ordinator Lisa and I plan and deliver, and I also hope to be able to contribute some new ideas that the residents will love," said Maria Jimenez.

Well-renowned dementia care providers, Camelot Care, who also manage homes in Plymouth, Wellington, and Yeovil, run Avalon nursing home.

This initiative of Ms Jimenez's forms a part of Avalon’s elaborate activity program aimed at resident satisfaction.