Dining through the decades – Kidderminster care home takes a trip down memory lane

Home news

Feb 15, 2021

Residents at a care home in Kidderminster have taken a trip down memory lane as part of a nationwide initiative to rediscover their favourite foods from the past.

Care UK’s Brook Court, on Oldnall Road, organised activities to encourage reminiscence, with residents invited to share their favourite bakes and best recipes.

Ahead of the event, the home asked residents what their ‘signature dishes’ were in their younger years – whether that’s the one they were best known for, or always brought to family gatherings or WI meetings. Most residents remembered desserts, including black forest gateau and pavlova, and were encouraged to share their top recipes.

After a vote, residents agreed to taste test 88-year-old Marie Powers’s raspberry and cinnamon torte, which was recreated by the home’s chef and proved to be an instant hit with team members and residents alike.

The ‘Food for Thought’ initiative sees Care UK homes across the country take part in activities which encourage memory sharing and the use of food as a tool for reminiscence.

Gillian Pratt, Home Manager at Brook Court, said: “We had a fantastic day stepping back in time to revisit the residents’ favourite recipes.

“Discussing their ‘signature dishes’ provided a great opportunity for residents to share memories of their younger years – all while being treated to Marie’s wonderful raspberry and cinnamon torte!

“Reminiscence activities have many advantages for older people, especially those living with dementia, as it can support memory recall and encourage conversation, both of which can help the person to feel valued and remind them of their identity.

“Residents certainly enjoyed re-discovering some of their favourite foods from the past, and the activity has even inspired some new menu suggestions and requests. Our chefs are looking forward to recreating more of these on our menus and in the coming weeks for everyone to enjoy.”

As part of the project, Care UK has also teamed up with BBC’s Back in Time for… presenter and historian, Dr Polly Russell, to create a special tasting menu for residents to enjoy. Designed to be used a sensory tool to encourage reminiscence in older people, the menu features iconic foods from the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s, and has been used as part of an interactive storytelling session, hosted by Dr Polly, to encourage reminiscence.

Dr Polly commented: “I am delighted to have partnered with Care UK for this project. There really is something incredibly special about the way food can evoke memories and emotions. Just one flavour or smell can prompt a different memory and emotion for each individual, which is why food can be such a powerful tool for memory recall.”

Brook Court is a state-of-the-art care home which provides full-time residential, nursing, dementia care, as well as short-term respite care. The care home, which features 67 en-suite bedrooms, has been designed to enable its residents to live active and fulfilled lives, while also promoting independence. The care home incorporates space for hobby and leisure activities and includes its own cinema, hairdressing salon and café.

To find out more about Brook Court, email Customer Relations Manager, Kay Mayes, on Kay.Mayes@careuk.com, or call on 01562 814 715.

To find out more about Care UK’s partnership with Dr Polly Russell, and for more top tips on how you and your loved ones can get involved at home, visit careuk.com/food-for-thought