We help to make national open day a big hit with the public

Company news

Jul 01, 2013

On Friday June 21, Care UK’s homes and day centres joined hundreds of others around the country opening their doors for the first National Care Home Open Day, and in Suffolk we took the opportunity to join in the celebrations. Blyford and Stradbroke Court in Lowestoft and The Dell in Beccles joined in with the celebrations by entertaining residents and wellbeing centre members and visitors with a host of activities, games, music and delicious food.

At The Dell care home and wellbeing centre, visitors were able to take part in a host of activities including flower arranging, hand nail art and competitions such as name the bear and guess the weight of the cake.

Entertainment was provided by the Beccles Community Choir and a barbecue, provided by our kitchen team, was held in the grounds.

Deputy Manager Chloe Swarbrick said: “It was a wonderful open day with visitors getting just a taste of the fun things we get up to and how we help residents maintain their independence and interests.”

The Blyford home and wellbeing centre opened its doors at 10am after colleagues and residents had decorated the day centre and entrance hall with banners, flags and piñatas. Health and Social Care students from the Benjamin Britten High School also attended and enjoyed helping with the celebrations.

In the afternoon, following a banquet of traditional English food, local singers group Friends in Harmony got people up and dancing with music from the swinging 60s and 70s, followed by a performance from Irish musician May Barnes.

Amanda Smith, Acting Wellbeing Centre Manager at Blyford, said: “It has been lovely to celebrate, share and raise awareness of Blyford. Residents and visitors have had great fun!”

At Stradbroke Court, Lowestoft, Manager Nicki Fountain said: “We had a wonderful time. It was a great day of western-themed fun with people in costume and a country and western theme party with cowboy food.

“The residents had a wonderful time and I think we showed visitors that life in residential care can be a great deal of fun.”

As well as showing visitors around we also gave away copies of the brand new book As Easy As ABC: Care UK’s Top 100 Hints and Tips for Activity Based Care. You can download your copy from www.careuk.com.