Dining through the decades – Dorset care homes take a trip down memory lane

Home news

Apr 27, 2021

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

Care UK’s Ferndown Manor, in Ferndown, and The Potteries, in Poole, hosted special dinner parties inspired by different eras which aimed to rediscover resident’s favourite foods throughout the decades.

Ferndown Manor hosted a 1960s inspired dinner party which featured a buffet-style lunch with Prawn cocktail, Coronation chicken and poached salmon followed by Baked Alaska and a tea dance with tunes from the swinging sixties that got everyone’s feet tapping and quiz to test resident’s knowledge of the era.

Residents and team members at The Potteries chose to take a step even further back to the 1950s. Their special celebration included foods from the era, with homemade Spam on crackers, pineapple upside-down cake and fruit kebabs, as well as resident’s favourite songs from the time.

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.

Jan Cresdee, Home Manager at Ferndown Manor, said: “We had a wonderful time dining through the decades and reminiscing about our favourite foods from the past.

“Reminiscence activities have many positive effects for older people, particularly those living with dementia. Re-connecting with the past can improve mood, encourage communication and provide a topic and stimulus for residents to engage with.”

Zita Turner, Home Manager at The Potteries, added: “Everyone had a wonderful time chatting about their favourite foods, and it was fantastic to hear about everyone’s fond memories of the 1950s and 1960s.”

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 as 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.”

The Potteries and Ferndown Manor are state-of-the-art care homes which provide full-time residential, nursing and dementia care, as well as short-term respite care. Designed to enable residents to live enjoyable and fulfilling lives, the care homes have their very own cinemas and hair salons, and there is plenty of space, both indoors and out, for relaxation and recreation.

To find out more about the care homes, please contact Customer Relations Manager, Caroline Hearne, at caroline.hearne@careuk.com at The Potteries, or phone 01202 069 835, or email Customer Relations Manager, Robin Hill on robin.hill@careuk.com or call 01202 06 9371 at Ferndown Manor.

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

If you’re looking for more information about nutrition for older people, download our guide to ‘Eating as we age’ here: careuk.com/care-homes/eating-as-we-age