Blackpool mural calms care home residents and sparks reminiscence

A care home in Lancashire has brought sunny Blackpool to their residents by installing a mural of the seaside town in their lounge.

A large-scale image of a sunny summer day in Blackpool occupies a full wall in the lounge at Townfield & Coach House in Great Harwood.

Co-owner John Timmins said: “We are always improving the living environment at our care homes. Our plan is to take guidance from the research of University of Stirling to design the home in a more dementia friendly way. By using colour-coded décor and furnishings, we can help our residents to distinguish between different areas and to feel at home in spaces they use regularly.

“We chose a Blackpool seafront image for our wallpaper as many of our residents are of the generation that visited the seaside resort on their annual holidays.”

He has found the reaction to the ‘Blackpool wall' has been fantastic. “Already we're finding the wallpaper is a great talking point. It's helping our staff to really engage residents in sharing their memories of visiting Blackpool.

“There's lots going on in the picture - from families playing together and donkeys on the beach, to the pier and the iconic Blackpool Tower - which helps it to also work as a calming distraction tool our staff can use if any residents become agitated, he said.

Scott Dawson Advertising based in Burnley designed, printed and installed the Blackpool seafront wallpaper earlier this month.

Its managing director Murray Dawson said: “I'm pleased with how the ‘Blackpool lounge' looks and that it's making a difference to these residents' lives.”

Townfield Care operates Townfield & Coach House, a specialist dementia care home in Great Harwood, Sherwood House, a small residential home for the elderly in Rishton, and an expanding home care service throughout Hyndburn, Ribble Valley and Rossendale.

click here for more details or to contact Townfield Coach House Care Ltd (Great Harwood)