WHAT’S NEW? CARE UK RESIDENTS AND STAFF
ROLL UP FOR CIRCUS DAY Representatives from ten Care UK homes and dozens of local people stepped right up to experience the first ever Care UK circus day.
Guests arrived in their best fancy dress, with one resident’s granddaughter taking home the prize for ‘best costume’, with her colourful clown costume. Residents from the other care homes were also encouraged to makeover their circus tents and Priors House, in Leamington Spa, took the prize for ‘best tent.’
Prizes were also handed out throughout the day for the best balloon model, homemade cake and best resident involvement. Shetland ponies trotted by to join in the fun, and residents and the local community were able to meet and feed them at the petting area.
Clare Mudge, Home Manager at Care UK’s Ambleside, said: “We’re really proud of the happy environment that has been created at Ambleside, and our door is always open to welcoming the local community and other homes.
The team at Ambleside care home in Stratford-upon-Avon worked with colleagues from nine other homes to stage one of the most ambitious care home events seen in the region. It was set up to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of the circus while giving residents a day filled with amazing experiences. Guests were treated to a magical day with stilt walkers, acrobats and jugglers entertaining the crowd, while the residents and visitors had the opportunity to master their balloon modelling and circus skills at a workshop.
RESIDENTS KNIT AND NATTER
FOR NEONATAL HOSPITAL UNIT A group of elderly ladies and gentlemen have spent weeks knitting hats for the neonatal department at the Princess Anne Hospital in Southampton.
The neonatal intensive care unit at Princess Anne Hospital is one of the largest neonatal units in the country, providing specialist care to around 900 babies a year from across the south and the channel islands.
Every week, the group of care home residents meet for the Knitter Natter session at Woodlands House, Southampton, with their knitting needles, yarn and a determined purpose to work together on the project. It is also a great social interaction session, giving the residents a chance to have a good gossip and chat!
Over 150 hats have been creatively made with attention and care to be presented to the hospital ready for the small infants.
The multicoloured hats are lovingly hand-knitted to make sure they are the correct size for premature babies. Some of the knitted hats have a section or gap to ensure any tubes or equipment can still be used without the hat causing an obstruction.
It is clear to see that the residents have benefitted from this hobby – for some, it is the first time they have knitted whilst others are rediscovering an old interest.
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“Holding a circus-themed event was the perfect way to entertain residents, their families and the local community and we hope they enjoyed the fantastic day as much as we did.”
Ambleside is a state-of-the-art care home which provides full-time residential, dementia and nursing care, as well as short-term respite care. Designed to enable its residents to live enjoyable and fulfilling lives, the care home has its very own cinema and hair salon, and there is plenty of space both in and outdoors for relaxation and recreation.
www.careuk.com/ambleside
Some experts have praised knitting for the rhythmic, repetitive motion and relaxation it brings to the mind and body. The simple sit-down task is also famous for stimulating the whole brain at once including the frontal, parietal, temporal and occipital lobe which handles sensory and visual information and stores memories.
Jane Edwards, a carer at Woodlands House who runs the knitting sessions, said:
“I find patterns that the residents will like, and I sit with them and we all knit together while having a chat and a giggle. Some of our residents struggle with their eyesight and movement in their hands so I made the knitting task very simple and achievable.
“Our residents love to participate because it gives them a goal to know they are making a difference to little ones who need a nice warm hat and that is an encouraging thought.”
www.hartfordcare.co.uk/west-cliff-hall www.tomorrowscare.co.uk
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