“Make memories while you’re young” is one of the key pieces of advice that Suffolk care homes residents passed on to the younger generation in a special project.
Residents at Care UK’s Davers Court and Glastonbury Court in Bury St Edmunds and Mildenhall Lodge in Mildenhall took part in an intergenerational project called Wisdom Booths.
As a part of the initiative, care home residents across the country share their advice with younger generations.
Residents at Davers Court spent time making poppies with the children from Moreton Hall Pre-School, which were then exchanged for pieces of advice.
The pearls of wisdom included 93-year-old resident Sheila’s advice to “make memories while you’re young”.
Other valuable words of wisdom shared included 89-year-old Mary’s advice to “do unto others as you would do to yourself” and 90-year-old Chris’ advice to “always tell the truth”.
Meanwhile, Glastonbury Court on Glastonbury Road will be welcoming the local RAF Cadets, allowing residents to share their experiences again on various topics.
One of the Mildenhall Lodge residents, 74-year-old Vanessa, shared the three things to learn when starting any job: “which rules you should keep, which rules are silly and can be broken, and which rules you can bend”.
Sally Shadbolt, the home manager at Davers Court, said: “Intergenerational activities are a huge part of life here at Davers Court, and it was fantastic to be joined by Moreton Hall Pre-School pupils to discuss the advice that residents would give to their younger selves.
"Intergenerational relationships have shown to be incredibly fulfilling, as they give younger and older generations a chance to learn from one another. “These connections can be especially helpful for older people, as they can provide a sense of purpose and spark discussions about their childhood.”
Deepa Reju, the home manager at Mildenhall Lodge, added: “It has been wonderful to hear the residents’ advice to the younger generation, and we look forward to putting it into action!”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here