The Hillings, which is run by Healthcare Homes, East Anglia’s leading independent care company, was a player in ‘Key Memories, Recollections of My First Home'. 

The project, led by Cambridgeshire County Council and funded by the Heritage Lottery, was aimed at jogging the recollections of residents suffering from dementia.  Participants at The Hillings were given a memory box full of items like antique jewellery and china tea cups to trigger warm thoughts of the past. The Hillings also hosted a travelling exhibition which comprised a replica of a 1950s kitchenette, complete with an authentic kitchen/breakfast area.

Now, The Hillings Activities Co-ordinator, Janine Pike has been discussing the results of the project at a best practice seminar for the east of England.

The event, arranged by Renaissance East of England, gave participants the opportunity to generate further ideas about reminiscence projects in the region and to discuss funding methods for future schemes.

Janine said the day had been a success and added that she would definitely continue the reminiscence project at The Hillings.  “I am very passionate about it,” she said.  “If I could describe it in one word it would be ‘joyful’, because the residents are so happy when they remember more than they expect.  I had an individual session with one resident and it really made her day.”

The Hillings is graded as ‘Good’ and given two stars by the Care Quality Commission, the independent inspection body of health and social care in England.

Parent company, Healthcare Homes, which manages 23 homes as well as Manorcourt Homecare and daycare centres, has embraced a 50-point plan for dementia care, aimed at introducing a ‘person centered care’ approach to its work throughout the region. The company has a programme of further expansion planned for East Anglia.

For more information about The Hillings, call the Manager on 01480 214020 or visit www.healthcarehomes.co.uk