Care home and students join forces to keep old recipes alive

A Care UK survey at the Carpathia Grange, Southampton Road, revealed that 65 per cent of people have stopped using hand-me-down recipes.

Yet, 43 per cent are eager to conserve them.

To ensure their traditional recipes continue to be enjoyed in Hythe, Carpathia Grange residents put on their aprons and teamed up with students from Hythe Primary School.

Their mission was to display the flavourful worth of historical food favourites from years gone by.

The multi-generational team baked and garnished cakes, providing a delicious, nostalgic throwback to the elderly residents' own yesteryears.

To stop these precious recipes from vanishing, Care UK rolled out a free recipe book, 'Recipes to Remember'.

It showcases delectable dishes provided by care home occupants throughout the UK.

The book encompasses the residents’ favourite foods, varying from World War Two mainstay meals to whimsical desserts from the 1970s.

There are also recipe modifications created to support seniors by Care UK's chefs.

Vaughan Baker joined pupils from Hythe Primary (Image: Supplied)

Resident Vaughan Baker, aged 99, said: "I had a wonderful time with the pupils and it was such a fun morning."

Moira Wilde, 87, added: "I really enjoyed explaining the joys of baking to the children and teaching them how to decorate cakes."

Pooja Dhoot, home manager at Carpathia Grange, said: "Spring is in the air – and so too are the smells of some incredibly tasty home-baked recipes adored by residents and their families for generations.

"Just like a photograph, a family recipe can be a way to revisit the past and reminisce on a cherished memory or loved one.

"How something tastes or smells can be a powerful tool for triggering memories and positive feelings, especially for those living with dementia, which is why we’re delighted to be taking part in Care UK’s Recipes to remember campaign.

"It’s been wonderful seeing the residents revisit some of their favourite foods from across the decades with pupils from Hythe Primary School.

"It’s clear from how well the resident’s recipes were enjoyed that there’s still a hunger for foods from the past today."