Gainsborough care home resident taken back to Lincolnshire Museum
A Gainsborough care home has launched a new partnership giving residents the chance to revisit places from their past and explore new attractions across the region.
The new partnership with accessible tour provider Myley started with a trip to Lincolnshire Museum that saw 82-year-old resident David Sewell return to a place he hadn't visited in years.
David joined fellow residents from Foxby Hill Care Home on the day trip, one of the first outings organised under the home's new partnership.
For David, it was more than a day out, the museum was somewhere he used to visit regularly with his wife and their children.
David said: “I used to come here with my wife and our children, so it brought back lots of happy memories.
“It was lovely looking around the museum again and I especially enjoyed the scones with jam and cream in the café.”
David has lived in Gainsborough all his life and spent his career as a pattern maker engineer, giving him a particular appreciation for the museum's collection of industrial and commercial exhibits alongside its more personal, local history displays.
The museum, which charts the culture of Lincolnshire from 1750 to the present day, holds around 250,000 objects across its commercial, domestic, agricultural, industrial and community life collections - including an authentic World War One tank. It was one of the destinations residents had specifically asked to visit once the Myley partnership launched.
Staff say the impact has been immediate with residents already asking when the next outing will be, and those who have taken part are encouraging others at the home to sign up.
Andrea Bull, deputy manager at Foxby Hill Care Home, said: “We're always looking for new ways to enrich the lives of our residents, and partnering with Myley has opened up so many exciting opportunities.
“Seeing David and the other residents enjoying themselves and sharing stories from their past made the day incredibly special, the conversation continued long after we returned home.”
The Lincolnshire Museum visit is the first of a growing programme of outings planned through the partnership, with more trips to local attractions planned in the coming months.
Matt Hamblin, commercial director at Myley, said: “Everyone deserves the opportunity to continue exploring, socialising and making new memories, regardless of age or mobility.
“We're delighted to be working with Foxby Hill Care Home to help residents enjoy meaningful days out and stay connected with the places and communities they love.”
Foxby Hill Care Home offers personalised residential and dementia care within 47 bedrooms set in mature, leafy grounds and an activities programme tailored to individual interests.