A WREXHAM woman whose life was changed by a care home resident has been inspired to set up an inter-generational playgroup.

Rebecca-Jane Jones runs The Memory Maker Café - a baby and toddler playgroup run inside of care homes.

The Leader:

It sees traditional toddler and baby classes, which include art and crafts, music and sensory play, run from inside care homes in Wrexham. 

She said: “The Memory Maker Café stems from dream I had in the back of my mind for years, ever since I started to work in care 11 years ago. I met a wonderful lady in a care home called Emmie, she had no family and all friends had passed – even her son at a young age.

"One day, when I had been working there for around four months, I asked her when the last time she’d left the care home to go out and about was. Her reply over two years ago. I was shocked, so I asked my manager if I could take Emmie out for the day to a café. I was given permission to do so on my day off.

"We went to Alyn Waters’ café. It was amazing, she was so happy and when children walked in her face was priceless – something money can’t buy. The feeling I had seeing her interact with children the way she did changed my look on life instantly."

Rebecca said that when she was planning to have a child in 2015, she was told by doctors that she would need IVF to conceive.

"About two weeks after we'd booked our appointment with the consultant, Emmie told me I was pregnant," Rebecca said. "I laughed and said 'Emmie, I need help to get pregnant'. She told me I didn’t and said 'No you don’t, you’re pregnant now, with a baby boy!'

"I just laughed it off. But 3 weeks later I found out I was pregnant and didn’t need IVF. I was in shock but she was right and was also right about it being a boy. Emmie was so excited to meet my son and I’m so thankful that she was able have cuddles and spend some days with him before she passed away.

"I will never forget how Emmie changed my life, so I wanted to help others in care homes or in their own home that don’t have family, or whose family are really busy with work and home life, which I do understand."

Rebecca started by doing pop-up children's playgroups in care homes around Wrexham.

"It was amazing," Rebecca said. "Then Covid hit and changed all my plans. The relationships between children and the elderly which had been amazing to see were ripped away by Covid.

"Fast forward to 2024 - it started back up again after my third son was born, and now I’m here to stay and help fight against loneliness, Alzheimer’s, dementia and just spread joy into elderly people's lives. They are able to have fun and do crafts with children running around and newborns to hold. 

"When we finish at a care home and if only one child and parent carry on visiting the care home - I have done my job."

The Leader:

Hayley Williams, from Llay, said: "The pleasure my mum gets from Rebecca’s Memory Maker visits to her care home is just beautiful to see.

"It's amazing to witness firsthand the effect the babies and little ones have on the elderly. My mum's smile lights up the room when she sees them. I really do hope they continue."

The Leader:

Anna Morris, also from Llay, added: "I love taking my son Xander to the Memory Maker Café. As soon as I heard about it I knew it would be the perfect playgroup to attend as I knew how lovely it is for care home residents to interact with children and babies.

"Xander loves being held and sang to by the residents. You can tell by the smiles on the residents' faces that they love spending time with him. We look forward to coming every week."

Sam Jamieson, who works at Rhosyn Melyn care home in Wrexham, said: "Our residents get so much enjoyment from making memories with the babies. They interact well and it brings back so many memories from when they had children. 

"The smile on our residents' faces when they see the children is priceless."