Chinese New Year Comes to St Helens Hall

Residents and staff at St Helens Hall Care Home in Thatto Heath celebrated the start of the Chinese New Year – the year of the Rabbit.

In the build up to the event, the home’s activity coordinator Jackie Smith and her team worked with residents to create colourful Chinese lanterns to decorate the room.

On the day itself, the home’s chef Phil prepared a Chinese banquet with everything from prawn toast and Chinese dumplings to a selection of curries and noodle dishes.

Resident Bill Ackerley, 82, said: “I absolutely loved the day, especially the wonderful selection of Chinese food to choose from which reminded me of my younger days tucking into a Chinese meal at the end of a busy week.”

Resident Joan Bradshaw, 92, said: “My favourite meal was the Chinese chicken curry, what a treat.”
Maureen Bennett, 90, said: “It was good fun using the chopsticks although a little tricky. My solution was to use a fork and a chop stick in tandem!”

Pat Morgan, 83, said: “It was a lovely way to celebrate the Chinese New Year. It felt like being out with old friends.”

Jackie Smith, who has been Activities Co-ordinator for the Elephant Lane home for ten years, said: “We love coming up with interesting activities for our residents to take part in.

“Chinese New Year was a chance to make some lovely crafts together to decorate the room and for our brilliant chef Phil to make some delicious Chinese food. There were lots of memories from residents about Chinese meals they have loved over the years and we even played the sort of music you’d hear in a Chinese restaurant. It was great fun.”