Celebrating Stories Through Our Summer of Reminiscence

As the nights start drawing in, our Summer of Reminiscence comes to a close and we're reflecting on the wonderful moments we've shared across our care homes and the response to these beautiful stories. From Bill's taste of the Philippines at Shawcross Care Home to Jean's Blackpool memories at Cumbernauld, from Linda and Peter's French café experience at Highfield Hall to seaside celebrations at Ladyville Lodge, each story has reminded us why person-centred care is so important.

When our chef Dane cooked Filipino curry for Bill, when we brought sand and deckchairs to Olive, when Peter wore his beret while tasting French cheese, we were honouring the lives our residents have lived. We were showing how their experiences and stories matter.

Research shows that reminiscence therapy can significantly improve mood while improving cognitive function and quality of life, particularly for people living with dementia. We saw this research come to life when John’s face lit up as he talked about playing football in the summer holidays and when Jean raised her mocktail with a “cheers”. We saw it when Bill, who lives with dementia, said "Masarap"(which means delicious in Filipino) after taking a bite into the curry he first tried in the Philippines all those years ago.

Summer of Reminiscence perfectly demonstrates our values in action. We showed how we are there for each other, supporting not just our residents but their families and each other as a team. We were authentic in honouring each person's unique story. We chose to be positive and light-hearted, creating joy through recreated experiences and most importantly, we created relationships by connecting past experiences with the present, bringing people together through shared stories and celebrations.

As we look toward Autumn and beyond here at Each Other Care, we're committed to continuing this approach. Finding new ways to celebrate the incredible lives within our care, creating meaningful moments that matter and always remembering that the best care comes from understanding the whole person.

To read the full stories from our Summer of Reminiscence and see more of these special moments in action, follow us on Facebook here.