A Trip Down Memory Lane at Salford RLFC
Langtree Care Home residents were kindly gifted tickets to watch Salford RLFC take on Doncaster RLFC at the CorpAcq Stadium earlier this month.
Residents Tom McCoy and John 'Ron' Hacker headed to the stadium alongside Lifestyle & Enrichment Coordinator Chris Hayes, soaking up the matchday atmosphere and enjoying a day out in the community.
For Tom, who grew up in Salford, the trip was particularly special. A regular at Salford games in the 1960s when the club played at The Willows, he had not attended a match in more than 40 years. The outing gave him the chance to revisit fond memories of watching his team play on Friday nights with friends and to see how much the game has changed over the years.
Salford moved from The Willows to their current home, the CorpAcq Stadium, in 2012, making the visit a completely new experience for Tom despite his long connection with the club.
Whilst the result wasn't quite what the home supporters had hoped for, spirits remained high throughout the afternoon, with Tom and Ron thoroughly enjoying being amongst the crowd.
"I started going with a couple of mates in 1960 when I was about 18. It was unbelievable to go back and watch them again after all these years, superb. It was great to go with Chris too, as he's very knowledgeable about rugby, so he was able to tell me about all the rule changes. It was a great day and it was great to reminisce."
Ron, an Army veteran, is also a keen sports and fitness enthusiast and regularly uses the Boston Active Fitness Suite at Langtree. The outing gave him the opportunity to enjoy a live sporting event while spending quality time with fellow resident Tom.
Chris, a passionate rugby fan and player himself, joined the Langtree team earlier this year and has been keen to introduce more sporting opportunities for residents. In April, he hosted a Good Friday rugby watch party at the home, which proved popular with residents and their loved ones.
Chris' addition to the Langtree team forms part of Millennium Care's ongoing commitment to tackling MIiCH (Male Isolation in Care Homes). Research has shown that men are often in the minority within care settings and can struggle to engage with activities that have traditionally been more female-focused.
Sport has proven to be a valuable way of bringing residents together through shared interests, encouraging conversation, reminiscence and meaningful social connections.
"The trip was really successful in terms of what we're trying to achieve through MIiCH. Seeing Tom and Ron enjoying each other's company and bonding over a sport they both enjoy was fantastic. It was great to watch them spend time together outside their usual routine, sharing memories and experiences throughout the day. It brought me a real sense of pride and showed just how valuable these opportunities can be for the residents."
The focus on creating meaningful experiences for male residents extends beyond organised trips and events. Langtree, Millennium Care's newest home, was designed with MIiCH in mind and features a gentleman's lounge and the Boston Active Fitness Suite, providing spaces where residents can pursue their interests and build friendships.
Langtree Care Home is a specialist dementia home at Standish Care Village, providing dementia, residential and respite care in a unique and purpose-built environment.
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