Caring for and being around children
Date of news/blog: 17th February 2026Whether as a Mum, School Teacher or working as a Receptionist in a GP practice, Maureen Macnaughton has spent a lot of her life caring for and being around children.
She still does that today at Bramshott Grange by carrying a baby doll close to her. Doll therapy has proven positive effects for loved ones living with dementia, reducing anxieties and agitation, improving mood and encouraging communication.
Dementia has cruelly robbed Maureen of her speech, but she continues to actively take part in the activities on offer at Bramshott Grange whether that’s arts and crafts, enjoying and toe tapping to the regular musical live entertainment or going out on trips to local cafes, garden centres and the seaside.
Maureen was born in 1946, in Portsmouth Hampshire. She displayed her loving, nurturing side early in life by looking after her three younger siblings while their Mum went out to work.
She met her husband Ken when they were in their teens. Maureen trained to be a Teacher in London and Ken was a Bricklayer who loved playing football in his spare time.
They married in St. Mary’s Church Liss, Hampshire, in August 1968. They settled and made their home in Liss. Maureen became a Domestic Science Teacher (now known as Food Technology) and taught at Petersfield Secondary Modern School, Hampshire until her son, Ian was born in 1973. A daughter, Katie followed in 1976.
Maureen did several jobs whilst looking after the children before becoming a Receptionist at a local GP’s practice in Liss for nearly 30 years, a job Maureen thoroughly enjoyed.
Unfortunately, Ken passed away in 2022 and it was at this point that Ian and Katie started to consider residential care for their Mum.
Katie says: “We had always known about Bramshott as an area because Ian and I went to school in Liphook as teens and this was one of the homes that was recommended to us as being suitable for our Mum and local to our family.
‘The important thing is Mum liked it and Bramshott was perfect for her. She moved there in 2022.’
‘It’s like a five-star hotel, she joins in with the activities and all that Bramshott Grange has to offer which is lovely for us to see’