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

Home news

Feb 26, 2021

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

Care UK’s Carpathia Grange, on Southampton Road, hosted their own 1960s party which aimed to rediscover residents’ favourite foods throughout the decades.

The party was complete with food from the era, including cheese and pineapple on a stick and black forest gateau. Residents and team members got into the spirit of the era by dressing up in 1960s-style clothing, complete with bright colours and psychedelic patterns, and the 1960s playlist got everyone’s feet tapping.

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.

Pooja Dhoot, Home Manager at Carpathia Grange, 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.

“Everyone had a wonderful time chatting about their favourite foods, and it was wonderful to hear about everyone’s fond memories of the 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 three-storey care home, which provides residential, dementia and nursing care, features 62 ensuite bedrooms, and 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, hair salon and café.

For more information, please email Customer Relations Manager, Nikki Toomer, at nicola.toomer@careuk.com, or call 0238 098 8733.

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