Forbes House helps resident take trip down memory lane!
At Enhance Healthcare, we believe that person-centred care is about creating meaningful moments and opportunities that enrich the lives of our residents. The new Activities Team at Forbes House have taken this to heart, spending time getting to know each resident and learning what brings them joy.
Since joining Forbes House, Jordyn and Olivia have brought a fresh energy and creativity to the Activities Team making it a top priority to build meaningful connections with residents, finding out what makes them smile, what memories they treasure, and what experiences might still be on their wish list.
One such resident they’ve been getting to know is Bill, who has been living at Forbes House since May 2023 after being diagnosed with dementia. Bill’s daughter, Anne, shared how important his childhood home in Tollcross, Glasgow was to him. Although the family later moved to Irvine, Bill always spoke fondly of his early years, especially the memories of climbing over the park gates during the war when the blackout was in effect. “It was always dark in the park,” Anne recalled him saying. “No lights there so they were safe!”
With support from Jordyn and Olivia, and a bit of careful planning, a special trip was arranged to help Bill revisit the place that meant so much to him.
On a bright and sunny Monday morning, Bill, Anne, and his niece Tracey set off from Forbes House to Tollcross Park in Forbes’ own minibus, accompanied by the Activities Team. From the moment they arrived, it was clear how much the visit meant to Bill. Their walk began at the old Bandstand and Greenhouse, where the family took some lovely photos together. Bill seemed energised, eager to continue exploring the park that had been such a big part of his youth.
As they reached the front gates, Anne shared more of Bill’s stories from his childhood, memories that felt even more vivid now that they were standing in the places he once knew so well. They even stopped to admire the flats across from the park where Bill grew up, which still had the original tiled hallways he remembered so well.
After their nostalgic walk, the group stopped for lunch at the nearby Sports Centre, which overlooked the area where Bill had grown up. As they shared a meal together, Jordyn and Olivia had the chance to listen to more stories from Anne and Tracey about Bill’s life, gaining valuable insights into the man behind the memories. Bill, content with his lentil soup and roll, seemed right at home, surrounded by familiar faces and places. For the team, this was a meaningful opportunity to get to know Bill even better, helping them continue to support him in a truly personalised and engaging way.
“It was incredible to see Bill getting the chance to revisit a place that clearly means so much to him,” said Jordyn and Olivia. “We feel really lucky to be able to help make these moments happen, it’s what this role is all about.”
At Enhance Healthcare, we understand that meaningful activities, especially those tied to personal history, can bring great joy and connection for people living with dementia. These memory-based experiences are part of our wider approach to delivering compassionate, individualised care for all our residents over all our care homes.
Forbes House, our purpose-built care home in the beautiful seaside town of Ayr, continues to offer outstanding care for both younger and older adults. With a passionate new Activities Team leading the way, we're proud to support days like this, and we'll keep finding new ways to help our residents stay connected to the lives, places, and memories they love the most.
