At Mill View, we continually ask residents what they would like to see. We have a fully functioning vintage corner shop, a cinema and a library – all inspired by our residents.Most recently, our residents said they wanted more spaces to spend time with friends and family, so we offered a range of options: a vintage tea shop, a cafe or a 1950s diner. Residents chose a diner, and after 18 months of fundraising, planning and construction, we opened the Pitstop in May – with an Elvis impersonator in attendance. The diner features bright booth tables, an old rotary telephone, jukebox, milkshake machines and a display of period advertisement signs. All these projects provide valuable spaces for our residents to reminisce; they can continue to do the things they used to love, such as watching a film or meeting friends for lunch. These areas also work well for reminiscence therapy, which uses nostalgic surroundings to help stimulate memories and conversations for those living with dementia. The familiarity helps to put residents at ease, so they can focus on talking about happy memories.
Back to the future: why my care home opened a 1950s-style diner
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