Summer Social Prompts Dorset Community To Take To The Dancefloor
Three Dorset care homes joined forces with a church to lay on a free-of-charge fun afternoon for older people in the community.
The tea dance at St Marks Church in Talbot Village, Bournemouth, attracted 64 people for a mix of companionship, dining and music.
Staff from Colten Care’s newly opened Bourne View care home in Poole organised the event in partnership with the church and care-at-home agency Home Instead.
They were joined by the domiciliary care charity Prama who run a carers’ group in the area.
Residents from two other Colten Care homes – Avon Cliff in Bournemouth and The Aldbury, a dedicated dementia care home in Poole – also attended.
Guests sampled food and drink supplied by Colten Care while singer Cassie Lawrence got toes tapping with a repertoire of 1940s vintage songs.
Helen Ball and her mother Jean Mewis, who live in Talbot Village, enjoyed the afternoon.
Helen said: “We really appreciate Bourne View care home involving the local community in events like this and mum certainly had fun learning a few new dance steps.”
Donia O’Connor, a Senior Companionship Team Leader at Colten Care, said: “Everyone was up dancing and there was a real community feel.”
Guests were offered an invite for a complementary follow-up lunch and get-together at a Colten Care home of their choice.
They also received vouchers for free cream teas, in-home salon appointments and minibus trips.
Following the success of the afternoon, Bourne View is hosting another community tea dance on Friday 30th August and will offer free minibus transport, enabling as many people as possible to attend.
