Hoppiness is a research project based around a seasonal programme of activities for people living in care homes that is all about growing hops, brewing, and beer.
Care home residents – including those living with dementia – look at, handle and talk about brewing and gardening memorabilia, plant and tend hop plants, sing and listen to music, visit a local brewery, take part in arts and crafts activities, harvest hops, and taste beer. Hops grown in the care home gardens are mixed with those from local hop growers and used by a local brewer to make a beer.
The project was co-designed by Guy Manchester (horticultural therapist and activity leader at Alive Activities) and researchers at the University of Bristol, working with older people, carers, volunteers, local brewers and hop growers in the Bristol Hops Collective. It was funded in 2023-2024 by the Brigstow Institute.
Why beer and hops?
Research shows us that activities such as gardening, music and singing, cooking and arts and crafts can have positive effects on people’s wellbeing and sense of connection with others.
In this project beer and hop growing have been a catalyst for free-flowing conversation with residents about celebrations, parties, gardening and nature, and many other everyday aspects of their social lives. Alcohol plays a part in the lives of many adults in the UK, and care home residents have less agency around food and drink: talk and reminiscence about beer and pub culture offers a way of exploring different parts of people’s lives and identities, without censorship.
What are the aims?
The research is helping us understand better what older people living in care homes enjoy and want to do with their time. It is helping build connections between care homes and communities and the natural world outside. It aims to challenge stigma and preconceptions about care homes, and about the people who live and work in them.
Who else has been involved?
We’d like to thank the residents and staff of Meadowcare, Beaufort Grange and Deerhurst care homes who have taken part in this project, as well as the volunteers from Alive Activities.
Local brewers supporting us were Left-Handed Giant and Wiper and True.
The Hoppiness Project team were: Camilla Adams (artist), Georgina Densley (Alive Activities), Rebecka Fleetwood-Smith (University of Bristol), Karen Gray (University of Bristol), Guy Manchester (Alive Activities), Martin Preston (University of Bristol), Alice Willatt (University of Oxford).
All original artwork is by Camilla Adams.
For more information, contact: Karen Gray or Alive Activities.