Flower power! Newmarket care home residents revisit favourite hobbies

Residents at a care home in Newmarket have been revisiting their favourite hobbies and shared their skills with the younger generation. 

Residents at Care UK’s Kentford Manor, on Jeddah Way, have been stepping back in time to enjoy a flower arranging workshop as part of a nationwide initiative – Long Lost Hobbies. 

The ‘Long Lost Hobbies’ initiative sees residents in Care UK homes across the country share their favourite hobbies and try new pastimes with younger generations after a national survey found 77% of adults say technology for traditional skills being lost, including flower arranging, knitting and woodworking.

To ensure the hobbies of older generations are not forgotten, residents at Kentford Manor have been getting to the knitty-gritty and unwinding what makes their favourite pastime so enjoyable. 

With resident Caryl, a former florist for the WI, keen to share her passion, team members at Kentford Manor planned a flower arranging workshop, with the help of 11-year-old, Pippa, the Deputy Manager Claire’s daughter. Caryl taught the residents about the different flowers and how to make them last longer, before demonstrating how to make the perfect bouquet. 

Lijo Varghese, General Manager at Kentford Manor, said: “It has been wonderful to see residents bonding with Pippa during their flower arranging workshop.  

“In today’s digital age, the risk of losing much-loved pastimes increases with every new update or app – so it’s been fantastic to revisit hobbies from the past as part of Care UK’s Long Lost Hobbies initiative. Drawing on strong memories helps to boost confidence and provides an opportunity to re-live happy times, which can prompt conversation and fond emotions.

“Seeing Caryl revisit her favourite pastime with the other residents and Pippa has been heart-warming to see and has clearly inspired the younger generation to take up floristry!”

Designed to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives, while also promoting independence, Kentford Manor, incorporates space for hobby and leisure activities. The building has been configured to help facilitate the creation of close-knit communities and encourage social interaction among the residents.

For top tips on how you and your loved ones can revisit forgotten pastimes, please visit: careuk.com/long-lost-hobbies.

To find out more about Kentford Manor, please call Christine Ellesley, Home Admissions Advisor on 01638 779594, email Christine.Ellesley@careuk.com or visit careuk.com /kentford-manor.