Right at Home Bedford uncover Client 'hidden histories' for Local Community History Month
Our homecare Clients tell us about their favourite memories
Published: 31/05/2023
Providing personalised dementia care in Bedford
Our CareGivers provides dedicated support to Mrs E twice a week. They collaborate closely with her family to develop a personalised care plan tailored to her specific needs related to dementia. In addition to preparing fresh meals, our Caregivers offer companionship during evening hours. They sometimes take their own food as this encourages Mrs E to eat. They enjoy engaging in conversation about family life, and generally put the world to rights!
At Right at Home Bedford we aim to ensure that there is a perfect match between our CareGivers and Clients. For instance, Mrs E loves to read books and she and her CareGiver often discuss the books that they have read in the past and recommend books to each other.
“Mrs E loves books, we love talking about classics we've read and recommending each other books. Her son loves it and if we're having a spirited conversation he comes into the living room to sit and chat and Mrs E often remarks that she loves sitting there with the 2 of us, loves the social inclusion.”
Apart from their mutual passion for books, Mrs. E and her Caregiver also share a love for music. Mrs. E has a loves listening to Tom Jones and soul classics from the 60s. They often engage in these dance sessions and make up their own dances as Mrs. E leads while the family plays music. Mrs. E enjoys this inclusive experience and her daughter loves seeing her mother dancing and smiling.
How does talking about memories help people with dementia?
There are many benefits of discussing memories for individuals with dementia. Due to the specific impact on the brain's memory retrieval function, people with dementia tend to recall events from many years ago more easily than recent ones. Engaging in conversations about past memories gives people living with dementia confidence as it allows them to converse more easily, and moreover when sharing happy memories and good feelings enjoyable it has a positive effect on mood.
During our conversations about Mrs. E's past, we came across some captivating wartime stories, one of which sheds light on Bedford's wartime history:
Mrs E | Client receives homecare in Biddenham"My brother was already in the Territorial Army when the war started, he used to go the local barracks in Biggleswade to train and he fell in love with all the machinery, so when he got called up he was immediately shipped to Salisbury Plains where he got to fire the really big guns! and he quickly made seargent. Back at home, my mother took in two refugees, a mother and her 2 year old daughter. They lived with us for almost 2 years; we played together, we did lessons, and she called me silly nicknames. Her father eventually found them a house somewhere safe and they moved away. With petrol being rationed we couldn't visit, and that broke my heart terribly. The war had a funny way of tearing us apart and bringing us closer together, all at the same time. "
Respite or Live-in Dementia care services in Bedford
Our team of specially trained CareGivers can provide dementia care to you or your loved one in the comfort of your own home. Our services range from respite care to 24 hour dementia care at home. Caring for people with dementia in the familiar surroundings of their own home provide a real impact on stabilising symptoms. Our care plans includes maintaining a healthy diet, exercise and cognitive stimulation.
We aim to ease the weight of responsibility on our Client’s families and appreciate that caring for a loved one is not easy. We try and lift spirits for the whole family where we can! Offering respite care for many of our clients, we provide reassurance to families, knowing their loved ones are in safe hands, well-cared for, and comfortable.
Right at Home Bedford supports a Client with homecare in Bedford with a variety of Personal Care and Medication needs four times a day. We have built a strong relationship with the whole family including her husband who has shared fascinating stories about Bedford during the war.
“I remember my mother telling me all about the poor lads in the summer of 1914. Bedford had an influx of 14,000 highland Scottish soldiers who were due to go to France to fight in the first world war the following year. When they first arrived they were lodged under canvas in Bedford Park, but that winter was bitter and they were billeted out of Bedford park and mostly into houses on Castle Road. Because that winter was so severe, they ending up wrecking those houses, burning doors and skiring boards just to keep warm. Then if they hadn’t been through enough, they got an invasion of measles and about half of them succumbed during that winter, with the remaining shipped out to war in the spring of 1915 ”
Husband of client receiving homecare in Kempston
Personalised homecare in Bedford
At Right at Home Bedford we take pride in developing Care Plans that capture the unique support needs, wishes, and preferences of our Clients. Our comprehensive Care Plans not only encompass their current requirements but also explore into their childhood, adulthood, as well as their interests and hobbies. By doing this, we ensure that our homecare service is truly person centred around each individual, delivering the highest quality of homecare possible.
Our Hidden Histories campaign was the perfect opportunity to bring up wonderful childhood memories. One of our Clients Mrs A enjoys listening and dancing to calypso music. When her family and Caregiver play the music, her hips sway, and her face lights up with a smile. This simple act often triggers a flood of childhood memories. Mrs. A enjoys sharing stories from her past, like reminiscing about making coconut oil or other moments from her youth.
We also have the pleasure of caring for Mr. D he loves to listen to music on his Alexa. He enjoys sharing his favourite music with his CareGiver and even writes down ones for his Carer to listen to. He often reviews music with his CareGivers.
At Right at Home Bedford, we believe in creating warm and friendly relationships with our Clients. Our CareGivers enjoy taking part in the hobbies that their Clients love, and creating opportunities for them to relive treasured memories.
Here are some other notable memories that our Clients shared with us
Mrs K | Client receives Homecare in Riseley"“I remember I had a doll with a china head. I dropped it, but my dad mended it for me. It was during the war, and my dad thought it would be funny to paint the new face!""
Mr S | Client receives homecare in Putnoe""I had a foldable wooden castle.""
Mrs C | Client receives homecare in Wixams"“My mum and dad bought me a pair of blue and yellow roller skates which I loved.""
Mr J | Client receives homecare in Clapham"“I used to have a wind up clockwork car back in the late 40s that I still remember""
Bedford Town through the years
We are a local homecare provider based in Kempston. Our team all live in the town which allows us to deliver safe, reliable homecare across Bedford.
Our clients have seen Bedford change over the years and recall vivid memories of the town
"My favourite thing to do was to go to the movies and live music in Bedford back in the 60's. I saw Lonnie Donegan, The Shadows at the The Granada Theater on St Peters Street. I've always been miffed that I missed the Rolling Stones playing there. The theatre was unfortunately torn down and Lidl is there now instead. I also vividly remember going to see the hammer horror version of Dracula starring Christopher Lee at the Empire Cinema on Midland Road"
Mr J | Client received homecare in Clapham
Homecare in Bedford
If you would like to learn more about the services we offer give us a call on 01234 481 330:
Some of the services that we offer include:
- Dementia Care
- Live-in care
- Overnight homecare
Contact us to learn more about the services we offer
