Care Residents Capture Covid Snapshot with Memory Box

July 19th 2021 – or ‘Freedom Day’, as many have termed the relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions in England – will go down in history as a key turning point in the Coronavirus pandemic and to mark the occasion, residents at Belong Atherton care village have placed the final seal on their very own memory box, a record of their experiences of the past 18 months.
Featured inside the ‘Moment in Time’ box are testing kits, PPE, newspaper clippings and photographs, as are the personal pictures, poems and memories of residents. In a light-hearted contribution, toilet tissue has also been included to remember one of the earliest stories to emerge from global pandemic news.
The project, completed in conjunction with National Activity Providers Association, National Care Forum, and Beacon Consultancy, aims to afford the Mealhouse Lane care village residents and tenants the opportunity to reminisce – a proven approach supporting people living with dementia.
Speaking of her involvement, Kath Harrison, 85, resident at Belong Atherton, said: “It’s lovely to think of all memories over the last 18 months and the box is a great way to remind ourselves of the challenges we’ve had to face but also remember all the good things to have come out of the pandemic.”
Jo Woods, experience coordinator at Belong Atherton, added: "We got involved to use the challenges of Covid as a positive experience for our customers. Encouraging them to reflect on the past 18 months helps them to recall other moments in their lives, as well as bring them a sense of purpose in creating a treasure trove of memories.”

Pictured: Kath Harrison, resident at Belong Atherton, with the care village's memory box.