This month at Goldenley Care Home, residents have been reminiscing about wartime Britain using a variety of items used in the 30s and 40s.
Lifestyle Coordinator, Faith regularly includes a reminiscence aspect to the activities she hosts, as encouraging people to share stories from the past helps to engage residents in insightful group discussion, which helps to build connections with others through shared experiences.
This month, as part of her commitment to reminiscence therapy, Faith decided to host a group session with some memorabilia from the Second World War. Many of the people living at Goldenley experienced the war in some way, from being evacuated to having family members who served in it, so everyone has their own unique story to tell.
The first item Faith passed around the group was an old ration book. These books were used during the war to ensure everyone had access to essential food and drink but also limited the amount people were allowed due to the shortage of supplies.
This item took residents back to 1930s Britain and encouraged people to share memories about the shortage of food. People in the group agreed that you had to be more inventive to make food taste nice as you were limited with the ingredients you could use. They also agreed that everyone was less wasteful, as you couldn’t simply buy the food you wanted, you had to wait until you received your next food coupons.
The next item that prompted stories to be shared was an old brass bedpan. Bedpans were used to heat up your bed so it was warm and cozy when you went to bed. Both Doris and Elsie took a liking to the item, as they both had memories of their mothers going around the house to heat their beds during the winter months.
Some old hair nets and photographs from the war were also passed around during the session, which helped residents to recall connected memories from the war. This included stories about being evacuated, which were quite emotional, as people didn’t know where they would be going, or which family they would be living with. Although most families were very accommodating, some people said the people they were placed with families that weren't so welcoming.
Although reminiscence sessions are hosted frequently at Goldenley, Faith said new stories are shared in each session which keeps them interesting and engaging for all. These stories also help the team and residents learn more about each other and over time, build connections and friendships through shared experiences.