DONATIONS of old coins are being requested by a care home to help jog the memories of older people.

Staff at Perry Manor Care Home hope the pounds, shillings and pence could help their residents remember their earlier years and spark conversations about the memories.

Tiffany Thompson, lead lifestyle co-ordinator, said: “The idea for this scheme came about after talking to residents.

"To be able to see and hold the old currency once again will offer residents a fantastic opportunity to reminisce, hopefully sparking long forgotten memories, which can be especially beneficial for people living with dementia.

James Wright, customer relations manager for Care UK, said: “We are always finding new activities for residents to take part in and we want to build an old coin collection, so that residents can enjoy counting out the coinage to the value of goods.

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Professor Dawn Brooker, director of the University of Worcester Association for Dementia Studies, said: “This scheme is a really good idea and I’ve never heard of something like this being done before in the UK.

“Anything stimulating conversation in the over 55s is wonderful and these coins can provide a great way to get the residents to talk about their past, about what they could buy with the money when they were children.

“If someone struggles with their short term memory, possibly with dementia, their confidence can be gained by using their long term memory, holding conversations with their friends.

“We all like to talk about the past as humans, and well done Perry Manor on starting this initiative.”

Perry Manor team members are happy to collect the coins from people living in Worcester and surrounding areas, or coins can be dropped in to the home at Charles Hastings Way, Worcester.

The old coins were used before decimalisation in February 1971 to streamline the process of handling money.

Anyone who wants to donate old coins can contact James Wright on 07824 151 536, or by emailing james.wright@careuk.com