Smell of engine oil, sawdust and polish keeps Barry’s magic memories alive
‘SCENTSCAPE’ KIT TRANSPORTS 83-YEAR-OLD BACK TO DAYS WORKING AS A MECHANIC
of maintaining milk trucks are being kept alive for a care home resident living near Ashbourne, thanks to specialist kit brought in to help him reminisce.
Barry Web, 83, is being transported back to his years as a mechanic at the Cooperative dairy in Sneyd Green in the 1980s thanks to staff at Barrowhill Hall residential and nursing home in Rocester.
The home, which specialises in caring for those with memory loss and dementia, sourced a ‘Scentscape’ kit to recreate the smells of Barry’s career. The kit includes scents of engine oil, sawdust and car polish, and it even includes a soundtrack which plays sound effects of someone working on a car engine.
A photograph of the Cooperative dairy hangs in Barry’s room at Barrowhill Hall. The team researched Barry’s life story with him and his family, and discovered his love of vehicles went back even further to his days working with his dad, who owned a mechanic business repairing and servicing cars.
Barry’s son, Andrew, said: “Dad loves cars. He loved working with them and fixing them.
“He used to love visiting any scrapyard he could find, and his favourite car was a Saab.
“It’s brilliant the staff at Barrowhill Hall are able to bring so much joy to him by recreating his memories through his favourite smells.”
The combination of using smell and sound together gives Barry access to memories that may otherwise be difficult to reach.
Mel Conway, activities coordinator at the home, said: “Smell is very evocative and it can be used to evoke memories, which is great for our residents living with dementia and memory loss.
“As well as recalling memories, sensory experiences help to improve communication as it encourages conversation. Smell can also create a warm feeling of familiarity for our residents and that can be very comforting.
“We always want to support our residents with their hobbies. We know Barry loves cars and so this sensory kit is perfect for him. When he uses it, it REMEMORIES ally brings his memories of fixing and working on cars to life. It certainly got him talking about car mechanics.
“When Barry uses the sensory kit he says, ‘I love the smell of engine oil and car polish.’
“He talks about his time as a mechanic and he tells the staff and other residents how to maintain their cars.
“It’s great hearing Barry’s stories, and on a practical note I now know how to fix my car if I get an oil leak!”
We know Barry loves cars and so this sensory kit is perfect for him.it brings his memories of working on cars to life.