A replica train passenger car is giving nursing home residents the excitement of a countryside ride, without leaving the premises.
The Gateway Care Home in the city of Bradford, England, spent about three months constructing its own dining car, complete with scenic views and a ticket office. Gateway Express riders are treated to a first-class meal on a table decorated with linen napkins and cherry blossoms.
Organizer Arthur Gallagher said the idea came after residents made recent trips to the Keighley Worth Valley Railway.
“This is something they really enjoy and look forward to every time we visit, so we decided we wanted to bring the railway here and build our own life-size carriage so they can enjoy trips all-year round,” he told the Telegraph & Argus.
There is a station platform and dining booths are perched next to TV screens with countryside footage that give the appearance of a real train trip. It’s also handicapped-accessible. In the past, some residents could not participate in Keighley Worth Valley Railway trips because of those limitations, said Administrator Nikki Bryar.
“It’s so important for our residents. They can sit there and reminisce while having a chat and a bite to eat,” Bryar said. “It’s been like a new lease of life for some.”
From the May 1, 2019 Issue of McKnight's Long-Term Care News
