A trip down memory lane unlocks military reminiscences
A chance conversation about an abandoned village provided the key to unlocking decades-old military memories for Grovelands resident, Dave, who lives with dementia.
Military memories, unlocked
Despite having had an armed forces career spanning 22 years, carers at Grovelands dementia, respite and residential care home in Yeovil previously knew very little about Dave’s military background. However, when one of his care team mentioned Tyneham Village in Dorset, that all changed.
It turns out that Dave was stationed at the nearby Middle Wallop airfield in Hampshire during his aviation training, and was able to vividly recall flying over the village.
Requisitioned for military training in 1943, and still used for military training by the MOD to this day, the evacuated residents of Tyneham Village were never able to return, and public access is restricted to certain days and times.
Despite this, Dave was able to describe the village with such clarity and enthusiasm that the home’s Activity Team were inspired to arrange a trip in his honour.
Precious memories from a special time
Dave’s memories connected with Middle Wallop stem from a very special period in his life, as it was there that he married his wife, Jackie, and where they lived for a while before their daughter Cerys was born.
The couple had met in Germany whilst they were both serving in the armed forces, and were also stationed together in Northern Ireland and Hong Kong, where Dave was very proud of having learned to surf!
Whilst comparatively few people are able to visit Tyneham, Dave’s memories of the village are tied up with a very special period in his career and his family life, all of which were brought back to him thanks to a chance mention of the place name.
A trip down memory lane
Having made the necessary arrangements, a party of Grovelands residents were able to visit Tyneham Village earlier this summer, learning about the village where time stands still, and reigniting powerful and treasured memories for Dave.
Understanding individuals, enriching lives
Karen Cheshire, Registered Manager at Grovelands, says:
“It was a real privilege to enable Dave to return to a place which clearly means so much to him, and to watch him share his knowledge and enthusiasm for Tyneham Village with his carers and fellow residents.
“We continue to be amazed and inspired by the power of revisiting a lived experience for someone who lives with dementia. Hobbies and interests have an incredible ability to ‘unlock’ a bit of the person that dementia masks in daily life, which is why we are so passionate about person-centred care which enables us to better understand and empower those we care for.
“We strive to keep listening and learning about people’s lives and take every opportunity to provide meaningful activities for our residents to enjoy and be enriched by.”
Discover individually-tailored care at Grovelands
Offering bespoke dementia, respite and residential care, Grovelands in Yeovil prides itself on caring for the health and wellbeing of the whole person. Find out more about Grovelands care home, or contact our expert enquiries team for information about care and support options near you.
