This year’s National Day of Arts in Care Homes centred around the theme of Home, celebrating the role of the arts in encouraging a sense of belonging, comfort and community within care settings.
At Country Court residents participated in a wide range of activities transforming the care homes into vibrant, nurturing spaces, offering individuals opportunities for creative expression, connection and joy.
At Camberwell Lodge Care & Nursing Home in Southwark, residents participated in an outdoor project with Camberwell Art College. Students joined residents to create a beautiful mural for the garden incorporating the theme of the Camberwell blue butterfly.
At Fairfield Manor Care & Nursing Home in Hitchin, residents had a fun day recreating famous works of art by dressing up and using props they found around their home.
“We had a lot of fun creating our works of art.” Home Manager Ioana Puscas explained. “Residents Guy, Jean, Kathleen, Alan and Marian were such good sports. The Wellbeing Team led the activity and decided to create four paintings of famous portraits, including The Girl with the Pearl earring by Vermeer, American Gothic by Grant Wood, a Van Gogh self-portrait and Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci. Team lead Nicky painted the backgrounds and residents certainly looked the part for each portrait.”
At Lyncroft Care Home staff and residents spent all summer knitting and crocheting in a record-breaking Yarn Bomb initiative as part of the annual Wisbech Rose Fair. They also used their creations for their entry into Country Court in Bloom the company’s annual gardening competition. With the help of the pupils of Anthony Curton Primary School and the local community, the resident gardeners created a bright and colourful entrance, using different materials. The display at the entrance to Lyncroft Care Home included Country Court Bumble Bees and over a thousand colourful yarn flowers.
Commenting on their efforts Wellbeing Coordinator Sarah Perkins said “The residents enjoyed sorting and organising these items over the last few months, as well as watering pots, and supervising the project from start to finish, we started this back in April. Doreen, our resident "Bee Keeper," has been involved with positioning the bees. Special thank you to all the children who coloured in over 200 bees. The Bee is the Country Court in Bloom Mascot. And we decided to think outside the box and use him as a big part of this project.”
Explaining how the arts play a vital role in residents’ wellbeing, Steve Gardner Head of Wellbeing and Training at Country Court said “People’s wellbeing is so much more than their physical health. Wellbeing unites the social, emotional, spiritual, environmental and intellectual aspects of a person’s life. By taking this holistic approach, the ‘Arts’ start to play an important role within care, enhancing people’s emotional wellbeing to combat stress and anxiety”.
At Country Court artistic endeavours are not restricted to painting and drawing, all aspects of the arts, encompassing music, drama, cooking, dancing, and sewing are incorporated into weekly activities.
Laura Wall, Regional Wellbeing Lead explains. “In my role, I see how the arts have a positive impact on the resident’s emotional well-being every day. The arts bring joy and the ability to communicate feelings even when we can no longer communicate with words. We can use arts-based activities to create a state of reminiscence which is why it is such a powerful tool within a care setting and fundamental in our day-to-day activities within our homes”.
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