FOUR Seasons Health Care Group care homes are going for gold as they celebrate the Paris Olympics with people in their communities at themed sports days.
Residents at 50 Four Seasons Health Care and Brighterkind care homes throughout the UK are taking part in their own garden games and medal ceremonies while supporting Team GB in their quest for medals in Paris.
In the lead-up to the Games, residents created flags and bunting in their arts and crafts activities and Olympic torches to pass around their communities.
At Hillside Lodge in Berwick-upon-Tweed, more than 70 local schools, charities, businesses and community groups were involved in a month-long torch relay, following an invitation to take part from the care home on social media.
The care homes’ Magic Moments coordinators have devised a series of activities designed for residents of all abilities to take part in, including ‘oeuf et cuillère’ races, armchair archery, balloon beach volleyball, tabletop hockey and even wheelchair breakdancing.
Leanne-May Walsh, who heads up the Magic Moments activities programme for the care home group, said: “Our fun-filled fortnight will culminate with closing ceremony parties so we can celebrate everyone’s participation with a French feast and a glass or two of fizz.”
Reminiscence sessions have been triggering memories from previous Olympics, with some favourite moments being Mary Peters winning the gold for pentathlon at Munich 1972, David Wilkie’s gold-winning 200-metre breaststroke at Montreal 1976, and Tessa Sanderson’s gold medal for javelin at Los Angeles 1984.