Heritage project encourages care home residents to share memories
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PEOPLE in care homes in Thurso are taking a stroll down memory lane with the help of the town's heritage society.
Residents at Pentland View and Bayview, like their counterparts all over the country, are facing restrictions on visitors because of the risk of spreading coronavirus.
So Alan McIvor, chairman of Thurso Heritage Society, came up with a novel way of trying to keep them entertained.
He has produced 15 laminated discussion sheets under the title Let's Talk About Our Memories. They feature questions on topics ranging from childhood and going to school to growing up and work, as well as remembering World War II from a local perspective and reminiscing about social events.
Mr McIvor explained how he thought of the idea.
"I noticed lots of posts on social media and read in the Caithness Courier and John O’Groat Journal that people from all over were helping the vulnerable and the elderly in some way. It’s really fantastic how the county is pulling together," he said.
"I noticed that restrictions were put on visitors for care homes. I thought something should be done for them if they can’t have regular access to their family when contact is limited."
Mr McIvor came up with the discussion sheets as an answer and the idea got the backing of the care homes.
The questions ask the residents if they remember using ration books during the war and in what shops, and if they recall vegetables being kept in baskets, potatoes and flour in sacks, butter wrapped in paper, milk collected from the dairy and the use of sawdust on the shop floors.
Other sheets have a mixture of pictures and old shop receipts showing prices for groceries from bygone days.
"I also did one on local events, including the Viewfirth folk festival, Halloween, sand-yacht racing at Dunnet, fishing competitions and the auction mart. Another sheet covers Dounreay, with images and questions on working on the site, Christmas parties and sports days.
"Halkirk Highland Games get mentioned and there is a selection of views around Caithness showing Sarclet, Whaligoe, Latheron, Berriedale and Stroma.
"There are 15 sheets in total, all printed on A3 paper, and I laminated them so they can be cleaned. The large-sized sheets will also help those who are visually impaired. So far the response has been good."
Mr McIvor added: "It’s a tiny gesture considering what’s going on, but perhaps it may lead to others coming up with ideas, especially when the staff will be under a great deal of pressure.
"I hope it will help the residents remember things by using images and asking questions and will lead to conversations once they get going. Any member of staff can use the sheets as a starting point to help open up a dialogue with the residents and get them to reminisce about their life."
He hopes the discussion sheets will be available in Thurso's Dunbar Hospital shortly. Mr McIvor is also planning to adjust the sheets so they could be used in schools once the coronavirus pandemic is over.
