A Cwmbran care home has installed a vintage railway carriage experience for residents to enjoy and bring back memories.
Hafod, a housing, support and care provider, has introduced immersive “Jolly Journey” experiences at Cwmbran House Care Home and Woodcroft Care Home in Cardiff.
The installation recreates the feeling of travelling in a vintage railway carriage, complete with moving landscapes, authentic sounds and sensory details. Large screens act as carriage windows, showing scenes such as children waving or football pitches passing by, all intended to feel familiar and encourage conversation.
Jaqualine, a resident at the Cwmbran home, described the experience as “like stepping back into my younger days,” after it sparked memories of travelling for work during the 1950s.
Joni Castle-Canavan, Operational Lead for Care at Hafod, said: “A good care home is about much more than the physical environment. It’s about creating somewhere people feel comfortable, able to be themselves and enjoy meaningful moments with those around them.
‘Sparked by memories’
“For people living with dementia, or other cognitive impairments, familiar sights, sounds and experiences can provide a powerful connection to memories and identity. We have seen some really encouraging responses to the Jolly Journeys so far, from residents becoming calmer and more engaged to conversations being sparked by memories from many years ago.
“What has been particularly lovely is seeing colleagues and visitors become part of those experiences too. It gives everyone an opportunity to connect with residents through their memories and interests.”
The railway carriages have been created by a company called Little Islands, whose Founder and Managing Director, Richard Benson, said: “The seaside was an early inspiration, reflecting the happy memories many people associate with holidays and trips to the coast. This thinking eventually developed into the Jolly Journey concept.
“The philosophy behind the experience is simple. The everything should be as real as possible.
“From the appearance of the carriage to the sights and sounds experienced during the journey, every detail is designed to stimulate multiple senses and evoke positive memories, while also providing a distraction from feelings of anxiety, sadness or distress.”