The difference one person can make to the purpose, value and self-esteem of another

I want to tell you about John who lives in the Housing 21 Extra Care Home, the Extra Care complex where I live. John is in his middle 60s and has dementia, lives alone and is virtually non-verbal. When he first came to live at New Courts, he was very disoriented, very afraid. But with the help of his devoted staff carer, he gradually got settled, came down and drank coffee, still remaining non-verbal, but more settled in the home. And then one day he came down with paints and an easel and copies of some of his work which were absolutely astounding. He was a professional artist and had sold many pictures. And now, through the initiative of one very ordinary, hardly changed carer, he teaches (INAUDIBLE) Many of the other residents to paint. The difference in his self-esteem and what he’s given to the residents in his painting class, is beyond words. And all because one carer took the trouble to find out who he really was, not just a sad man with dementia, but an artist. Every time I see him and the other residents painting together, I feel so proud of the one, young carer.