Some years ago I helped set up a therapy (Occupational Therapy) department at RAF Sussexdown. It was a much enjoyed consultancy project. I found it facsincating working in military based care homes, similarly for the Royal Hospital Chelsea running a series of courses for staff. When I started care home work many of the residents were veterans from the First World War. It was an honour to hear them share their lives and stories.
The RAF Home was set in the rolling West Sussex hills in Storrington. Every year an event was held and I was invited to a couple of these. This memorable annual event involved parachuting edam cheeses an aircraft which created a hilarious and unexpected scene, as they landed and rolled down the undulating hills. This symbolised the food drops (tinned food) to the British by the Dutch during the War. It was known as the ‘Edam busters’ and it celebrated Dutch Day and it became a true happening, which Dame Vera Lynn attended regularly for 30 years with other VIP’s. The event grew over time with a programme of activities until eventually complete air shows were staged for the residents. It was greatly exciting when we all lined up and the planes flew over dropping the cheeses and Dame Vera arrived in a helicopter
Dame Vera was natural and easy to speak to and I remember her daughter coming with her and they spoke to many of the residents and staff. I remember Vera Lynne’s kind open face and joyful spirit. She had great dignity. The signature song ‘We’ll Meet Again’ was played, of course! Meeting again is a powerful theme during this Coronavirus pandemic in care homes which have suffered so much.
I cycle with a couple of nursing friends at the weekend and we discuss things about the lockdown and its effects, as we tackle to Surrey Hills! One of them told us that her son Bruce had created a pod to help people meet again safely in care homes. A wonderful idea. The Homes using this Pod experienced highly charged emotional re-unions. It is called the ‘safe time project’ and is one of the great care home innovations arising from this pandemic. With a combination of old infrastructure and established world travel with the busiest airport in the world, a casual factor in the spread of the pandemic we are likely to experience others. Hopefully, we will be more prepared for others, unless we change our habits.
Keeping older people connected with families and memories is fundamental to the mental wellbeing of both. Another great innovation is m4radio.com developed over the last few weeks. It is an internet-enabled station playing music for people with dementia and connecting them through song to past relationships, memories, and emotions that only music can reach.