Long lost hobbies

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Photo gallery

Residents at Silversprings spent time revisiting the much-loved hobby of painting, with new friend, 7-year-old Robert, from Myland Primary School.

The team at Milner House surprised Frank, a lifelong horse lover, with a visit from Rosie.

Resident Doris was delighted to share her favourite poems with her daughter Rosemary, and granddaughter Lizzie, as part of Long Lost Hobbies.

Residents at Trymview Hall have been enjoying gardening sessions.

Residents at Sway Place read to children.

At Sandfields, residents have been sharing their best knitting tips and tricks with members of the team.

Team members at Kentford Manor planned a flower arranging workshop with resident Caryl, a former florist for the WI.

With some help from the community, residents at Brook Court created three blankets out of the squares knitted by participants.

Residents at Highmarket House welcomed children from Hillview Primary School into the home to try hobbies like calligraphy, sewing and knitting.

Residents at Parker Meadows have been teaching team members to knit blankets and scarves.

Knitting has been so popular with team members and residents that a weekly club has now been formed.

Jimmy at Bickerton House teaches Nyah how to play snooker.

Residents at Knebworth sharing their long lost hobbies with primary school children.

Blossomfield Grange resident Sylvia teachers her great grandson, Jack, how to plant seeds.

Blossomfield Grange resident Sylvia enjoys drawing with her great grandson.

Residents at Perry Manor get stuck in for an afternoon of gardening, from flower arranging to vegetable growing in the home’s garden.

Flower arranging at Perry Manor.

The team at Cranford Grange recreated residents' favourite childhood games

Edgbaston Manor resident Eve, a former singer, revisits her singing skills with the other residents and team members.

Smyth Lodge's residents created cross-stitched patchworks to show their grandchildren

Metchley Manor's residents have been painting the home’s garden and sharing their skills with their grandchildren.

Residents at Sherwood Grange show off their needlework skills.

Painting workshops bring back memories at Sherwood Grange.

86-year-old Brenda from Cavell Court wanted to encourage more children to sing in choirs.

Why we’re looking to the past for a new pastime at Care UK

Regardless of age, hobbies play an important part in all of our lives. Whether it’s to pass the time, destress, or remain mentally productive, having a hobby provides endless opportunities to enrich our lives.

With technology ever evolving, the opportunity to enjoy something new is constantly being created – but with more hobbies on offer to explore, the risk of losing much-loved pastimes increases. From woodworking to flower arranging and embroidery, these favourite hobbies from the past risk being lost in the digital age to video games and other forms of online entertainment.

To stop these hobbies from being forgotten, residents in Care UK homes across the country have been stepping back in time to revisit their favourite pastimes and calling on younger generations to see if hobbies from their past are still enjoyed today. From conversations with grandchildren to virtual workshops with schools and youth groups, residents are exploring how hobbies have evolved from their time as a youngster.

For those living with dementia, revisiting a past hobby can help bring back memories, as well as providing an enjoyable way to connect with others through a familiar activity that once brought joy.

These positive feelings gained from stimulating memories through the chosen hobby can help decrease stress, reduce agitation, and provide a feeling of success and confidence if the hobby is something they are still able to do. Revisiting this hobby can also create an opportunity to have a meaningful conversation, where fond memories and successes can be discussed.

On top of physical benefits, from increased motor skills to improved coordination, hobbies such as drawing or knitting can also boost cognitive function and even reduce the rate of development for a range of memory conditions, including Alzheimer’s.

Other hobbies, such as gardening, walking or jigsaw puzzles, also offer the added benefit of providing a fantastic opportunity for social connection – by bringing together groups of people around one common activity – so we would like to encourage everyone to share their favourite hobby and try a new way to pass the time.

Discover more about the benefits of hobbies

Take at look at how we're reviving lost hobbies...

See the full gallery

Why take part in reminiscence activities?

Reminiscence activities can be extremely beneficial for older people, particularly those living with dementia, as long-term memory typically remains stronger than the short-term. Drawing on strong memories helps to boost confidence and provides an opportunity to re-live happy times, which can prompt conversation and evoke the associated emotions.

Reminiscence activities you can do at home

If you’re caring for a loved one living with dementia, or simply fancy a trip down memory lane, here are some popular hobbies you can recreate at home:

If cooking was a much-loved hobby, why not cook a familiar meal together, engaging all the senses, which may prompt fond and comforting memories from the past.
Hobbies such as drawing, pottery, knitting and other crafts can spark remembrance through the power of touch. Handling objects such as paintbrushes, squeezing yarn or playing with fabrics can evoke strong memories which may bring up memories of significant life events.
If birdwatching or being in the great outdoors was a favourite pastime, why not listen to relaxing outdoor sounds that may trigger happy memories, such as the sounds of birds and nature.
Gardening has long been a much-loved hobby but may be hard to recreate if your love one is less mobile. Planting flowers or growing herbs in a planter or reading a gardening magazine may evoke those green-fingered memories!
Music can help those living with dementia by encouraging reminiscing and evoking emotions, as well as helping them to express their feelings and exercise. Why not put on our playlist below and see what your loved one thinks?

Don’t worry if activities don’t always bring back memories, the goal of revisiting the hobby isn’t to remember, but to enjoy time together and provide an opportunity to discuss happy memories that may come up while doing so.

Why not read more about our approach to dementia care.

Download our 'Easy as ABC' guide

Written by Care UK experts, our free guide is packed full of tips and advice on ways to help an older loved to stay active and engaged, with hobbies, interests and activities.

Download now

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