Memories of maintaining milk trucks at the North Staffs Dairy are being kept alive for our resident, Barry Webb, 83, thanks to a specialist kit to help him reminisce.

Barry is transported back to his years as a mechanic at the Cooperative dairy in Sneyd Green in the 1980s with a ‘Scentscape’.

Designed to recreate the smells of Barry’s career the kit includes scents of engine oil, sawdust and car polish. It even includes a soundtrack which plays sound effects of someone working on a car engine.

A photograph of the Cooperative dairy hangs in Barry’s room at Barrowhill Hall and our team researched Barry’s life story with him and his family and discovered his love of vehicles went back even further.

Prior to working at the dairy he spent his days working with his dad, who owned a mechanic business repairing and servicing cars.

Barry’s son, Andrew, says, “Dad loves cars! He loved working with them and fixing them. He used to love visiting any scrap yard he could find and his favourite car was a Saab. It’s brilliant the staff at Barrowhill Hall are able to bring so much joy to him by recreating his memories through his favourite smells.”

The combination of using smell and sound together, gives Barry access to memories that may otherwise be difficult to reach.

Ruth Hoult, activities coordinator at the home explains,

“Smell is very evocative and it can be used to evoke memories, which is great for our residents living with dementia and memory loss. As well as recalling memories, sensory experiences help to improve communication as it encourages conversation. Smell can also create a warm feeling of familiarity for our residents and that can be very comforting.

“We always want to support our residents with their hobbies. We know Barry loves cars and so this sensory kit is perfect for him. When he uses it, it really brings his memories of fixing and working on cars to life. It certainly got him talking about car mechanics!”

When Barry uses the sensory kit he says, “I love the smell of engine oil and car polish!” He talks about his time as a mechanic and he tells the staff and other residents how to maintain their cars.

Ruth says, “It’s great hearing Barry’s stories and on a practical note I now know how to fix my car if I get an oil leak!”

Paul Williams, 79, lives with us at Barrowhill Hall and our staff were impressed to learn that in his younger days he’d had a short spell as a professional footballer for Shrewsbury Town!

Paul ended his short time with Shrewsbury Town to become a civil servant but when he later moved to Uttoxeter, his passion for football found him back on the pitch. He played centre forward, this time at amateur level, for Uttoxeter All Stars and Uttoxeter Amateurs and he continued to play for both teams for over five years.

Paul’s two sons Mark and Darren Williams used to watch him play his Sunday matches.

Mark says, “Dad loves football, it’s been a huge part of his life both as a player and as a fan.”

Darren says, “He used to love going to watch games – his passion is Hereford United.  He went to most home games and he has a framed shirt signed by the team hanging in his room at Barrowhill Hall.

“While he can no longer go to the matches the home makes an effort to put football games on the TV for him.”

Whilst Paul may have swapped the stadiums for the residents’ lounge, Ruth Hoult our activities coordinator, makes sure football is one of the activities Paul can enjoy with his fellow residents.

She says,

“The thing I love about my job is making sure the residents are happy and can continue to do what they love. We get to know all our residents as individuals and we find out what they enjoy doing and also what they don’t like!

“Paul is not as mobile as he’d like to be these days, but we play seated games.  It keeps him connected to what he loves.”

Maintaining skills and hobbies, like football, is beneficial for residents’ mental health, from improving confidence, self-esteem and cognition to supporting social interaction, general happiness and improved mood. However, the physical benefits are also equally important. Sports and exercise for residents living with dementia improves strength, maintains strong muscles and flexible joints as well as improving cardiovascular health.

Our care home manager Dania Meadows says,

“The main thing for residents is stimulation and our activities team here work tirelessly to provide that, in a whole range of ways. Our games are a lot of fun but most importantly they maintain the health and wellbeing of our residents.

“Our resident’s lives should be full of meaning and purpose and we help to make that happen by ensuring the things that are important to them, are important to us.”