Over 100 Care UK homes getting creative this week

Home news

Jun 27, 2019

Care UK is opening the doors to its care homes to celebrate Care Home Open Day this week.

The 119 homes taking part are spread across the county, from Poole to Aberdeen, so there is plenty of opportunity for people around the UK to get involved.

Care Home Open Day is a countrywide initiative to create lasting relationships between care homes and their local communities. This year’s theme celebrates the role of arts within care, which is important in encouraging residents’ self-expression, and helps to create meaningful experiences.

As part of the Care Home Open Day celebrations, a nationwide competition has been launched across Care UK homes, with each of the 119 homes creating a work of art in the lead up to the big day, which will be unveiled at the events. 

No two open days will be the same, but all homes will be showcasing the residents’ creativity and artistic abilities, and providing a warm welcome to the communities joining them. 

Highmarket House, in Banbury, is inviting local people to take part in a knitting workshop, with entertainment from a ukulele group. Sandfields, in Cheltenham, has created an exhibition of residents’ photographic work, and a local art teacher will be leading a session to create a giant piece of artwork. 

Across Suffolk, Care UK homes have organised art-themed parties to celebrate the open day, with entertainment, activities and creative fun for all. Prince George House will be celebrating the day with ‘art in the community’ workshops, live musical entertainment, along with a pizza bar and cake decorating. At Asterbury Place, guests can look forward to a 1950s-inspired celebration, including live entertainment from Elvis.

In Edinburgh, visitors are invited to hone their artistic skills during arts and crafts sessions at Lauder Lodge, or pop into Murrayside, where guests will have the opportunity to create their own jewellery during a special workshop. At Cairdean House, there’ll be fun for all the family, with a host of games, including ‘hook-a-duck’, and guests can try their luck at a tombola and raffle.

The team at Appleby House, in Epsom, will be unveiling its ‘pillars of the community’ project and hosting a still life painting class. The Potteries, in Poole, will be hosting a pottery class where local people are invited to come and make their own clay pot. 

Andrew Knight, CEO at Care UK, said: “Care Home Open Day is one of our favourite days of the year as it gives us a fantastic opportunity to show people what life is really like in our care homes. This special day is about creating links between residents and their local communities, breaking down the myths around care homes, and enriching people’s lives by bringing them closer together.

“Care UK care homes are thriving hubs of activity, and we’ve fully embraced this year’s art theme to show first-hand how the arts, whether that is music, painting or even pottery, can bring happiness and joy to care home residents and local people alike.

“We are passionate about creating strong relationships with our neighbours, and I know each and every care home has put its all into creating a fantastic event for the whole community to enjoy. We’re looking forward to opening our doors for what is set to be a really fun and exciting day for the team, residents, and local people alike.”

To find out more about Care UK’s contribution to Care Home Open Day, please go to careuk.com/carehomeopenday

Most of the events are taking place this Friday or Saturday.