A specialist dementia nursing home in Nottinghamshire has imparted dating advice to the local community ahead of Valentine’s Day – sharing the secrets of finding ‘true, lasting love’.
Wren Hall, based in Selston, asked its family members to share their success of creating lasting relationships, from navigating life together to building a loving family home. Unsurprisingly, this resulted in vast insights spanning generations, which they hoped would help hopeless romantics find happiness during the season of love.
Touching on the importance of reconciliation, Peter Mansell, a family member at Wren Hall, said: “I think the biggest piece of advice I could give to someone is to never take an argument to bed.” Jeffrey Fielding, a relative of a family member, shared: “You have to take the highs with the lows as you’ll inevitably have good days and bad. Most importantly, cherish the time you have and the memories you share. Sharing similar interests is key, you should create something together as you go through life. If you love one another, you’ll survive.”
The initiative aimed to share life experiences with the community, foster connections, and showcase the ‘power of love’. Happiness plays a crucial role in promoting positive well-being in older generations, from enhancing mental and physical health to emotional support.
Other pieces of advice came from Margaret and Brain Ridsdale, a family member and relative from Wren Hall, who revealed their blueprint to a successful relationship, saying: “Always do stuff together, go on holiday as much as you can, and surround yourselves with a good family.”
Penny Haney, a staff member at Wren Hall, said: “Listening to the stories shared was truly heart-warming. Their advice is a reminder of the true impact love can have, especially for those you have experienced it for many years and into later life. From the importance of communication to the value of patience and understanding, the advice offered from our family members reminds us that love has no age limit.”
Rated ‘Outstanding’ by CQC, Wren Hall strives to provide a homely and friendly environment to help those living with dementia to achieve optimum independence. Part of this includes referring to those who reside in the home as ‘family members’ rather than residents
