Ryland View Care Home Residents Enjoy Heartwarming Day at Black Country Museum
16 October 2024
As part of Ryland View Care Home’s BHappie concept, staff organised a special trip to the Black Country Museum, fulfilling one of the biggest requests on the residents’ wishing tree. Five residents—George, Sheila, Gloria, Gary, and Jo—along with care home staff, spent a day exploring the rich history and charm of the museum.
For George, the visit was particularly special. Having worked at the museum for 10 years, he found himself reminiscing fondly. “This has been fantastic,” George shared. “To come back to the place I used to work for and see it all again has brought me so much happiness. I have really enjoyed it. I can’t thank the staff enough for organizing this!” He even reconnected with a familiar face, making the day even more memorable.
The residents enjoyed lunch together at the Women’s Institute café, where they dined on delicious fish and chips and jacket potatoes, keeping with the day’s traditional theme. The nostalgia continued throughout the visit. Sheila and Gloria particularly enjoyed their time in the nursery, where they delighted in looking after baby dolls. “Aww, look at these babies,” Sheila lovingly exclaimed, “Come to Nanny, I will look after you.”
Gary embraced the museum’s historical charm, trying on Peaky Blinders-style hats and savoring a pork pie from the local shop. Jo, meanwhile, was in her element, singing songs and exploring the various shops. Her playful spirit shone through as she shared a cheeky confession with the local priest at the church: “I used to miss school to go out instead!”
The staff members—Sarah, Jess, Tom, Tracey, and Laura—were thrilled to witness the joy and engagement among the residents. Jess, Ryland View’s admin, said, “Making their wishes come true and seeing how much joy it brought to our residents made it all worth it. Even for those with dementia, this day was therapeutic, allowing them to remember items, shops, and accessories from different eras. It was truly a remarkable day.”
Sarah from the activities team added, “Seeing their faces as we walked around the different places was truly magical—a magical day indeed!”
Gloria’s laughter filled the air as she humorously exclaimed every time the red bus passed by, “We’ve missed the busy, hurry ha ha!”
