Visiting Artist Brings Beach To Care Home Residents Amidst Lockdown
A visiting artist has brought the seaside to The Hall care home in Thornton-le-Dale, where residents were missing their visits to the beach during lockdown.
After residents told staff they missed visiting the seaside, care home staff asked local artist, June Appleton, whose mother and mother-in-law both live at The Hall, to paint a seascape for the garden to give the feel of being at the beach. Under normal circumstances, June is a regular visitor to The Hall, engaging the residents in a range of arts and crafts activities.
June also provided some sea-themed artworks to display inside the home’s new orangery. One of the paintings is of a donkey, which the residents have named ‘Joy’.
To complete the experience, residents have been treated to fish and chips to top off their afternoon ‘trip to the seaside.
June said: “Because a trip to the beach isn’t possible at this time, the next best thing was to bring the seaside to the Hall. In addition to the outdoor seascape, we have used the new orangery to display some of my seaside related paintings to continue the theme and to help residents reflect on pleasant memories.
“Since my mother and mother-in-law moved into The Hall a year ago, I have been involved as visiting artist. Because of my activities with the residents from crafts, special events days and being part of the village Hub and junior school activities, I’d like to think I was part of the unofficial team, and I have become fond of the residents. So, it is with sadness that I am now on the other side of the window when we have a phone visit, and watch with eagerness, the activities on Facebook.”
Diane Hagan, home manager at The Hall, said: “The residents mentioned at one of our meetings that they were really missing trips to the beach, so we racked our brains to come up with a way to bring the beach to them.
“The seascape looks fantastic and the residents have loved our lockdown alternative! Hopefully it won’t be too long until we can take them for a real trip to the seaside.”
