Happy Halloween – Care Homes Share Their “Ghoulish” Celebrations with The Carer
Care home residents and staff had a ‘spook’tacular time (pun intended) as they celebrated Halloween with themed activities, decorations and fancy dress!
T’was the season of ghost stories, pumpkin carving and costume parties but, Halloween fun isn’t just for youngsters; people of all ages enjoy this seasonal event, and we are delighted here at THE CARER to share your spooky ghoulish and trick or treat celebrations!
Much to residents’ delight, Glebefields head chef Bose Jacob had prepared lots of cupcakes, biscuits and cookies in advance so that residents could not only sample the wares, but have a go at creating and decorating their own with icing, fondant, edible baubles and glitter.
Residents at The Terrace in Richmond, North Yorkshire came together to have a ‘gourd’ time to prepare their Halloween pumpkins. Colleagues helped residents to carve their own designs – including the creation of Patrick the pumpkin – and residents shared stories and laughed about how “cold and slimy” the insides of the pumpkins were.
The activity, and the touch of the pumpkins, brought back important memories for some. One resident recalled: “I remember making pumpkin soup out of the insides when I was younger!” and another reminisced about the pumpkin jam he and his wife would make from the insides when carving pumpkins.
Several residents remembered carving turnips in place of pumpkins during their childhood. One said: “I remember carving the turnip, not pumpkin, and we would use the insides for the following day’s main meal. It was lovely!”
Visits from children at Bridgwater’s Little Montessori House nursery proved to have a rejuvenating effect on the residents of the town’s Avalon Nursing Home.
Staff from both settings are liaising to organise a series of visits, the second of which was well timed to provide for some intergenerational craft activities focusing on Halloween.
The youngsters and residents worked busily together decorating pumpkins, and the children were excited to give names to their creations.
Avalon’s activities co-ordinator, Lisa Priddice, said: “These visits are proving incredibly popular.
“Seeing and engaging with the children really lifts everyone’s spirits and the home is bright and vibrant from the minute they arrive.
“Our ladies and gents love watching them play and interacting with one another.
“And they love to join in with the fun too, whenever they can, with activities like the recent Halloween pumpkin decorating session we arranged.
Barchester’s Field House care home, in Church Stretton, was a den of ghoulish activity as the home’s spooky Halloween afternoon party got in to full swing.
Residents and staff got in to the spirit of things by decorating the home and dressing up to great all the children knocking at the Field House door! Resident; ’Peter the Pumpkin’ greeted everyone inviting them in to join his fellow residents create spooky masks, colour pictures and try apple bobbing.
Home Manager Paula cackled: “Our staff and residents love any excuse for a party! The home looks fantastic with all the decorations and our head chef did us proud with lots of spooky treats – we’ve all had a brilliant time.”
To mark the spookiest time of the year, residents and staff members at RMBI Care Co. Home Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh Court, in Wokingham, got into the spirit with an array of Halloween themed activities.
To kick off the eerie events, residents enjoyed a fun-filled pumpkin carving workshop, which was run by Sharon Fletcher, one of the Home’s Activities Coordinators. Residents had the opportunity to carve their very own pumpkins and see who could make the scariest face!
Sharon Fletcher said: “Our residents and staff had a brilliant time celebrating Halloween this year. The variety of activities really helps to keep our residents stimulated and supports their health and wellbeing, and our staff had just as much fun dressing up! We can’t wait for next Halloween to come around now!”
A trio of Aberdeen Care Homes embraced the seasonal spooky spirit with a series of Halloween activities.
Renaissance Care’s Cowdray Club, Jesmond and Persley Castle care homes were all given a magical makeover as residents, staff, and families came together for Halloween-themed games, fancy-dress, entertainment and food.
Staff at Jesmond showcased their creativity and enthusiasm with a hilarious puppet show which families and friends were invited to join, creating a vibrant and inclusive atmosphere for all.
Meanwhile, residents and staff at Persley Castle enjoyed traditional games, music and dancing with balloons decorating the main living room. Staff also got involved in the action, dressing up in costume as cats, with residents also donning devil horns and colourful capes.
Phillip Stuart, manager at Cowdray, said: “Halloween is always a fun time of the year for us at Renaissance. We see our residents as our own extended family and having so many of their own family members come along and take part in the fun really brings everyone closer together and makes our homes feel part of the community.
