‘Always be kind’ – St Ives care home residents share pearls of wisdom with local nursery

Residents at a care home in St Ives have been passing on their advice to the younger generation as part of a nationwide initiative.

Residents at Care UK’s Field Lodge, on London Road, have been sharing advice on an array of topics with children from Meadow Lane Nursery as part of a new intergenerational project – Wisdom Booths.

The Wisdom Booths initiative sees Care UK homes across the UK share their advice with younger generations after a national survey found 88% of people in the UK are grateful for what they’ve been told by their elders and 56% will always rely on them for advice, regardless of how old they are.

The pearls of wisdom at Field Lodge included 98-year-old resident Doris’s advice that “if you can’t say anything nice then don’t say anything at all”, which was supported by John, aged 87, who said you should “always be kind”.

Linda Martinez, Home Manager at Field Lodge, added: “Intergenerational activities are a huge part of life here at Field Lodge, and it was fantastic to be joined by Meadow Lane Nursery to discuss the advice that residents would give their younger selves.

"Intergenerational relationships have shown to be incredibly fulfilling, as they give younger and older generations a chance to learn from one another. These connections can be especially helpful for older people as they can provide a sense of purpose and spark discussions about their childhood. 

"We'd like to say a huge thanks to Meadow Lane Nursery for participating, and we look forward to welcoming them into the home again very soon!"

For more information about Care UK’s ‘Wisdom Booths’ initiative, visit: careuk.com/wisdom-booths.

Field Lodge is a modern, purpose-built care home providing 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 home has a choice of lounges and dining rooms, along with facilities such as an activity room, cinema and hair salon. 

For more information about Field Lodge, contact Home Manager Linda Martinez on Linda.Martinez@careuk.com or call 01480 499840.

For general information, visit careuk.com/field-lodge.