Let it be – Beatles mania sweeps Chester care home

Home news

Mar 22, 2021

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

Care UK’s Deewater Grange, on Chester Road, took part in Beatles mania-inspired activities as part of their 1960s celebrations.

On the day, residents were treated to a 1960s-themed menu, including a special black and white cake decorated with the Beatles’ iconic logo, cheese and pineapple sticks and prawn cocktails, and created a reminiscence board featuring old pictures of John, Paul, George and Ringo throughout the 1960s. This gave residents an opportunity to discuss their favourite songs from the Liverpool-born band and share memories from their younger years.

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

Sally Cooper, Home Manager at Deewater Grange, said: “We had a fantastic day stepping back in time to revisit the 1960s.

“In true swinging sixties style, we played some of the decade’s biggest tunes and served an array of cakes and treats from that era, which provided a great opportunity for residents to share their own memories of that time.

“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.

“Everyone had a wonderful time chatting about their favourite foods, and it was wonderful to hear about everyone’s fond memories of the 1960s, from the birth of rock’n’roll to the rise of the Beatles.”

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.”

Deewater Grange is a state-of-the-art care home which provides full-time residential, dementia and nursing care. The home has been designed to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives, while also promoting independence, and incorporates space for hobby and leisure activities. The layout of the building is configured into a series of individual suites, each having a dedicated lounge/dining room to help facilitate the creation of close-knit communities.

For more information about Deewater Grange, please contact the Customer Relations Manager Donna Brown at donna.brown@careuk.com, or call 01244 455176.

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