Celebrating social care: person-centred care
27 Apr 2026
3 min read
As we dedicate April to #CelebratingSocialCare, we’ve been gathering good news stories from across the sector. Read our latest update.
Steeton Court Nursing Home takes part in 'Playlist for Life' initiative
Steeton Court Nursing Home is proud to be part of ‘Playlist for Life’, a pioneering music and dementia project designed to harness the power of personal soundtracks to improve the wellbeing of its residents.
The initiative was introduced to Steeton Court via the Bradford Care Association.
Playlist for Life is a UK-based music and dementia charity. Their work is built on decades of research showing that personal music—the specific songs that form the soundtrack of a person’s life—can reduce anxiety, improve mood, and make daily tasks more manageable. For those living with dementia, these familiar melodies can evoke deep-seated memories, providing a unique breakthrough that helps families and carers connect with their loved ones.
As part of the programme, residents complete specialist questionnaires designed to unearth their ‘musical triggers’. These prompts encourage residents to recall songs that remind them of their youth, their favourite holidays, or the sounds of their home towns. Once these musical histories are captured, the home ensures that every resident has their own dedicated digital music collection, making their personal soundtrack easily accessible at any time through the home's media equipment.
Kirstie Beard, Activity Coordinator at Steeton Court, said:
Music is a powerful tool for anyone, but for those living with dementia, it can be a vital lifeline to their past. While it can sometimes be difficult to recall a specific memory on the spot, hearing a certain melody can unlock doors that have been closed for years. We have seen a wonderful response already; the project has brought back memories of dancing at local venues, parents performing in the Steeton Male Voice Choir, and the evocative songs of the post-war era and VE Day. It is incredibly moving to see a resident light up when they hear a song their grandparents sang to them as a child. While music-based activities are always popular here, this project feels deeply personal and especially meaningful for our residents and their families.
Gibraltar Nursing Home residents make chocolates from home’s no-bake recipe book
The residents at Gibraltar Nursing Home recently made chocolate and marzipan covered cherries from the home’s very own no-bake recipe book.
The book was created by a member of the team, who gathered recipes from both family members and the team to create something truly unique to the home. All recipes were carefully chosen to be microwave-friendly, ensuring that everyone could take part using the kitchenettes across the home’s households. Blank pages were also included at the back of the book so other family members could add in their own special recipes if they wished to.
A number of the residents fondly remembered marzipan from their childhood and commented on how rare it had been in that time and a special treat.
The care home is in the process of creating a second volume of their no-bake recipe book with a larger focus on traditional sweets.
Bridget shared:
The art form of making sweets isn’t as common now. I wanted this new book to include desserts from the past, to try and evoke feelings of familiarity.
What makes a room feel like home
When someone is moving into a care home, it is natural to pause and wonder about the practicalities. “Will my room feel like mine? Can I arrange it the way I’d like? Will there be space for the things that matter to me?”
Hilary, a resident at Catherine House shares the details of what makes her room feel like home.
Hilary has lived at Catherine House for five years. She and her partner, Heather, have spent years creating a life side by side, visiting places they love, collecting art, tending plants and much of that story now sits within the room she calls her own.
She shares her insights:
The things in my room are a collection of places and memories that we have shared together in the past. Local places like Stourhead and Glastonbury that we used to regularly visit, especially when we had our two West Highland Terriers. There are pictures of the godchildren, other family members and my parents.
Art features quite strongly; two paintings from a local artist, which came from exhibitions we visited and two painted by my partner. There are postcards brought back from exhibitions Heather has visited which have allowed us to talk about places and events that are too difficult for me to see personally.
We have plants and recently competed with one another to grow the most spectacular Amaryllis. Hilary’s won but it made for a fun pre-Christmas activity.
Outside the window I have a number of bird feeders which attract daily visits from squirrels, blue tits, sparrows and robins.
We’ve also placed two raised plant beds in which we’re able to grow a succession of tulips and daffodils, supplemented by flowering plants throughout the year. This gives us an excuse to shop at the local market’s plant stall!
Christmas decorations, dream catchers and other light catching ornaments are changed seasonally and usually we manage to have fresh flowers, especially tulips.
Having these personal items around makes me feel part of what has gone before and related to all sorts of things I have been and continue to be part of. Having my own choice of duvet covers, blankets and curtains makes me feel warmer and recognises my independent choices.
Find out more about how to join in with #CelebratingSocialCare this April.
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