Thousands join Care UK celebrations for Care Home Open Day

Home news

Jun 23, 2016

Thousands of people joined Care UK’s celebrations at the end of last week when over 100 of its care homes across the UK organised fun activities and lively entertainment for Care Home Open Day (Friday 17th June). 

Care homes up and down the country invited local people along for a free family-friendly event in support of Care Home Open Day – an annual nationwide initiative to create lasting relationships between care homes and its local communities, and across the generations.

Every home team planned its very own unique and fun celebration with input from residents and their friends and families. Some events were inspired by the Queen’s 90th birthday year, with street parties, celebratory afternoon teas, royal-themed cake competitions, 1940’s dances and screenings of the Coronation. Others hosted their very own carnival party in honour of the Rio 2016 Olympics, and guests and residents enjoyed activities including armchair Olympics, sports day-style races, Brazilian food and even a limbo competition.

Punch and Judy shows, magicians, balloon modelling, stilt walkers and face painters entertained the younger members of the community at some homes; whilst live music and dancing, featuring everything from school choirs to ukulele bands, helped the parties to go with a swing. Many homes also welcomed guests of the four (or more) legged varieties, with donkeys, snakes, spiders, ponies and dogs all joining in the celebrations.  

Some homes even had double celebrations. Care Home Open Day events were combined with second anniversary parties at Perry Manor and Sandfields, a grand launch at Sherwood Grange and at Scarlet house an official unveiling of a wall hanging created by the residents.  

Care Home Open Day is all about connecting people and enriching the lives of residents through building on relationships with local people and community groups. This year we wanted to show our support and commitment for this initiative by making it our biggest and best contribution to Care Home Open Day yet.