Over a six-month period, students from Suffolk New College in Ipswich paid weekly visits to the residents at Mill Lane, a nursing home, which is run by Healthcare Homes, East Anglia’s leading independent care company.  Together, the older and younger people discussed their lives and the differences between yesterday and today.  

The group was joined by residents from Healthcare Homes’ other homes in Felixstowe, Maynell House and Foxgrove.

Mill Lane manager, Lorraine Barker said: “The residents and students talked about all sorts of things, including music and the war – and how some of the gentlemen used to wear dresses until they were three!  They looked at photos when the residents were young and had tasting sessions of old and new sweets.

“All the residents and the students really enjoyed sharing their memories.  A lot of people think the elderly are over-the-hill and that young people are problematic, but this project proved that isn’t the case.” Lorraine said the residents of the three homes enjoyed the project so much that they are going to carry on meeting at Mill Lane once a week.

Suffolk County Council, which created the project, is now preparing a Book of Memories for the care homes that took part, including photographs and residents’ accounts.

Parent company, Healthcare Homes manages 23 homes in total as well as Manorcourt Homecare and daycare centres.

For more information on Mill Lane nursing and retirement home, call Lorraine Barker on 01394 279509 or visit www.healthcarehomes.co.uk