The dining room was packed as residents and young people came together to create their own personalised memory boxes, sharing ideas, stories and plenty of laughter along the way.

Memory boxes can be particularly meaningful for older people, providing a personal collection of photographs, keepsakes and familiar objects that represent important people, places and experiences from their lives. They can help encourage reminiscence and conversation, provide comfort and reinforce a person’s sense of identity. For people living with dementia, familiar objects can also provide valuable prompts for sharing memories and stories with family members, carers and friends.

For ageing residents living in a care setting, memory boxes can have a positive impact on emotional wellbeing and connection. Moving into a care home can bring significant changes to a person’s surroundings and daily life, and having familiar, meaningful items nearby can provide reassurance and a sense of continuity. Exploring these objects can stimulate conversation, encourage social interaction and give residents opportunities to share their life experiences, helping care teams and younger generations learn more about the individual behind the care they provide.

The evening was a great success, with the sound of chatter and laughter filling Bemerton Lodge throughout the session.

Rebecca Kilgour, Home Manager at Bemerton Lodge, said: 

It was such a lovely evening and wonderful to see our dining room so full of conversation, creativity and laughter. Our residents really enjoyed spending time with the young people and working together on their memory boxes.

We are incredibly grateful to St Osmund’s Youth Group for giving their time and bringing so much enthusiasm and kindness into our home. Opportunities like this are so important because they bring different generations together, create new friendships and help our residents remain connected with their local community.

Intergenerational activities can be particularly valuable in care homes, helping residents maintain strong connections with their wider community while encouraging conversation, creativity and a sense of belonging. For younger visitors, they provide an opportunity to hear residents’ stories and build friendships across generations.

A huge thank you to everyone from St Osmund’s Youth Group for bringing so much enthusiasm, kindness and fun to Bemerton Lodge. Their help, smiles and fantastic company helped make it a memorable evening for everyone involved.

At Bemerton Lodge, making memory boxes turned into something even more special, making new memories together.