MEMORY books packed with photographs and stories about the exciting and busy lives of residents have been compiled at Court House Nursing Home in Malvern.

The books have been put together with the help of residents and their families and are part of a reminiscences project, encouraging elderly residents with dementia to talk about their lives.

Posters, old newspapers, photographs and advertisements have been used to create a display at the nursing home in Barnards Green to help residents recall the past.

"Some of our residents have very clear memories of the past and when they see photos and other familiar things, it gets them talking," said Kal Jagpal, who works at the nursing home. She said many of the residents have the most amazing pasts and had done so many interesting things during their lives.

"One of our residents was an important scientist and until we started this project, no one knew. It's good for us to be reminded," added Mrs Jagpal.

She said another resident had once been a matron in a nursing home and another had worked as a milkman all his life.

"It helps us to see our residents as individuals and give them the care and respect that they deserve," said Mrs Jagpal.

She added that sometimes letting dementia sufferers live in the past where they were happy was better than constantly bringing them back to the present.

She said the reminiscences project was part of the nursing home's very positive attitude to dementia.

"It helps give residents quality of life.

"Everyone likes to look back and talk about people and places they remember, their achievements and happy times," she said.