Sand, Shells And Proper Fish And Chips At The Sanford House Summer Beach Party
With the days getting shorter and sunshine less frequent, residents at Sanford House wanted to give summer one final ‘hurrah’ before hanging up their sun hats and donning their winter woollies.
Giving Summer an Action-Packed Sendoff
To give summer a sendoff to remember, the residents decided they’d like to throw a ‘beach party’ to celebrate all the things they love most about it. The Wellbeing team set to work, putting the residents’ requests and ideas into action.
On the day of the party, the room was hung with bunting and beach balls and decorated with a tiki bar and vintage railway posters of Norfolk seaside destinations - all with the aim of evoking memories of holidays both home and abroad. Tables were filled with summer-themed puzzles and art work, with imagery and objects to inspire reminiscence. Multicoloured ocean suncatchers were set out to be made, sensory sand and shells were arranged and there was a selection of beach themed sweet treats.
Karaoke and The Perfect Fishy Lunch
The morning saw Sanford House administrator, Michael, sporting a bright Hawaiian shirt and getting the party started with his summertime playlist on the karaoke machine. Residents and staff sang and danced along as each song sparked a different memory for everyone. With energy levels peaking, the next port of call was the dining room where the Wellbeing team had arranged for the local fish and chip shop, ‘The Perfect Catch’, to provide real fish and chips (or a battered sausage). The fish and chip lunch was a treat for everyone but felt extra special for five residents who, when they’d been asked what wish they would most like be granted, had answered, “proper fish and chips”! The manager and team presented the food in cardboard boxes with catering newspaper for an authentic look, offering mushy peas, lemon and sauces too. One resident said, “Just the smell of these fish and chips brings back so many memories.”
Visit from the Rainbow Class Ends the Day on a High
Full and satisfied after lunch, everyone returned to the main lounge for more summer fun, which began with the arrival of children from the Rainbow Class at East Dereham Day Nursery. These children visit once a fortnight and especially love a party day. They got stuck in with the activities, offering residents make believe pompom ice-cream cones with weird and wonderful made up flavours, throwing beach balls together and lifting spirits, as they always do.
After the children had left, the team swept the sand off the floor and continued with some calmer summer-themed games. These included a picture clue round which prompted a lot of thinking and laughing, especially at one guess - ‘finger tree’ instead of palm tree (the picture clue was a hand and a tree) – which got everyone giggling.
The Sanford Summer Beach Party was finally over and everyone felt nicely tired, ready for a sound night’s sleep, and who knows, dreams of sandy childhood frolics or happy family holidays or sunny honeymoons – because who doesn’t like to be ‘beside the seaside, beside the seaside, beside the sea’!
Discover Sanford House Nursing Home in Norfolk
Sanford House Nursing Home provides residential, nursing and specialist dementia care in a bright and comfortable environment, surrounded by lovely gardens. The home offers care that is tailored to individual needs, interests and preferences, and a team who are committed to delivering the very best. If you would like to learn more about the types of care and services available from Caring Homes, please visit our website page. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions or would like to learn more.
