Sweet treat for residents as Hartismere Place opens village shop

Home news

Oct 05, 2017

Residents at Hartismere Place have taken a trip down memory lane following the opening of an old-fashioned village shop.

Hartismere Place, enlisted the help of 96 year-old resident Barbara Caller, to officially open the fun, new nostalgic store, The Chandlery Cabin. Stocked with traditional confectionery, books, and stationery - the shop even has its own vintage-style shop counter and weighing scales.

The name was chosen by Barbara’s grandchildren in memory of their grandfather, Lawrence, who was also a resident at Hartismere Place, and a keen boat enthusiast.

Hartismere Place residents work at the shop to encourage reminiscence as part of an ongoing project to continue to build upon the dementia-friendly environment at the care home. The familiar surroundings are designed to spark fond memories, encourage reminisce, and create an enjoyable environment for family and friends visiting the care home.

Angela Hodge, customer relations manager at Hartismere Place, said: “We are delighted to have opened the doors to our very own village shop, with its traditional look and feel, it has created a buzz around the care home and it is fast becoming a hub of activity.

“What’s more, residents are really benefiting from the responsibility of running their own store, as well as having the independence to purchase their own essentials and sweet treats.

“It has also been a valuable reminiscence project. Capturing and preserving memories can trigger an emotional response that can effectively help someone living with dementia by creating a sense of familiarity and comfort, while feeling that they remain engaged with the outside world.

“I’d like to thank our lifestyle co-ordinator, Loraine Precey for her hard work on creating this space for the residents who helped her come up with this fantastic idea.”

To further mark the opening of the new shop, the Care UK team at Hartismere Place arranged a vintage tea party for residents and the community with live music from local group, Beaten Track.