A food trip down memory lane ended with prawn cocktails, Spam fritters and Black Forest Gateau for residents of a Bromsgrove care home.

Care UK’s Chandler Court, on Recreation Road, hosted a special 1970s-inspired event which aimed to rediscover residents’ favourite foods throughout the decades.

Residents enjoyed a 1970s-themed menu specially prepared by the home’s chef, including prawn cocktail, oxtail soup, chicken Kiev, spam fritters and gateau to top it off. The team dressed in classic 70s attire - including those famous flared jeans - and hosted a disco and quiz in the Chandler Arms, the home’s pub. Residents also created a special ‘flower power’ art display for the occasion.

The ‘Food for Thought’ initiative sees Care UK homes across the country take part in activities which encourage memory-sharing and the use of food as a tool for reminiscence.

Dawn Covill, Home Manager at Chandler Court, said: “We had a fantastic afternoon stepping back in time to revisit the 1970s. We enjoyed some of the best foods this decade has to offer and hosted a fantastic quiz, which provided a great opportunity for residents to share their own memories of the era.

“Reminiscence activities have many advantages for older people, especially those living with dementia, as it can support memory recall and encourage conversation, both of which can help the person to feel valued and remind them of their identity.

“Residents certainly enjoyed re-discovering some of their favourite foods from the past, and the activity has even inspired some new menu suggestions and requests. Our chefs are looking forward to recreating these on our menus and in the coming weeks for everyone to enjoy.”

As part of the project, Care UK has also teamed up with BBC’s Back in Time for… presenter and historian, Dr Polly Russell, to create a special tasting menu for residents to enjoy. Designed to be used as a sensory tool to encourage reminiscence in older people, the menu features iconic foods from the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s, and has been used as part of an interactive storytelling session, hosted by Dr Polly, to encourage reminiscence.

Chandler Court provides full-time residential, dementia and nursing care, as well as short-term respite care, and has its own cinema, café and hair salon.

For more information about nutrition for older people, download the ‘Eating as we age’ guide at: careuk.com/care-homes/eating-as-we-age