FOND MEMORIES of life as a flight attendant have been relived by a Reading care home resident living with dementia during a staged ‘flight’, thanks to the creativity and assistance of care home staff and a pilot.

Staff at Shinfield View constructed a mock airplane in the care home’s lounge that was ‘flown’ by Kathy McDonald, a British Airways pilot.

The experience was designed to give resident, Jean Parsons, the opportunity to relive her memories of being a British Airways flight attendant, a role she served in for 30 years.

To make the experience as immersive as possible for those participating, Kathy wore her professional pilot’s uniform and Jean was dressed as a member of cabin crew.

The mock plane featured a life-size printed image of a cockpit and horizon. Its cabin included six passenger seats arranged two by two, complete with an aisle and large printed windows featuring a sunny blue sky for passengers to look out at. The passengers on the flight were made up of Jean’s fellow residents.

After completing her inflight checks and communicating with the control tower, Kathy took the residents on a flight from Berkshire to Australia. Prior to take off Jean gave passengers a safety demonstration. Care home staff had also prepared a drinks trolley complete with refreshments for Jean to serve once the seat belt signs were off.

Staff at the care home were inspired to stage the event after learning more from Jean about her impressive 30-year career as a flight attendant with British Airways. Her career saw her work on Boeing 747s and Concorde. She would regularly work long-haul flights to Australia and New Zealand.

Speaking to staff, Jean told care home staff that her greatest source of joy as a flight attendant was seeing the excitement on the faces of children who had never been on a plane before.

Highlights from her career included meeting members of the royal family, including the late Queen Mother.

Events manager of Shinfield View Laura McSoley said: “Upon hearing from Jean about her experiences as a flight attendant for British Airways, everyone was keen to put together an activity that could bring back some fond memories for Jean, as well as providing a lot of fun for our residents. Hearing her stories and being able to take her on a trip down memory lane was such a delight for everyone involved.

“It was very uplifting to see how much Jean enjoyed using the refreshments trolley to serve drinks to her friends and how nostalgic it made her to show them how the safety equipment worked. It was clear to everyone that she was a natural!

“All the staff at Shinfield View are thrilled to have been able to provide Jean with a unique and memorable experience, and we are grateful to Kathy for sharing her expertise and making this activity possible. At Shinfield View, we are committed to providing tailored care that celebrates the individuality of each resident. This activity is a wonderful example of how we strive to do just that.”

The team at Shinfield View, part of the award-winning Berkley Care Group, is a luxury all-inclusive care home rated ‘Outstanding’ by The Care Quality Commission. It is committed to providing bespoke care that caters to the unique needs and interests of each resident.