Going forGold

Sunbury Nursing Homes

National Association for Provider of Activities for Older People

Going for Gold Challenge July 2012

For the last few years Sunbury Nursing Homes has enthusiastically taken up the NAPAannual challenge (Music in the Air, Food Glorious Food). This year, the challenge hasbeen inspired by the London Olympic Games and is entitled ‘Going for Gold’. The chal-lenge was set for the first week of July and our activity co-ordinators, care assistantsand staff set to work, let their imaginations run wild and devised an exciting programfor the week.

Throughout the week Olympic themed activitiestook place across all departments. The activitiesvaried in size and content with group challenges inthe Conservatory and Sitting Rooms as well as in-dividual games in residents’ rooms, and even astaff competition. We kicked off the week with anOlympic afternoon with themed music, assortedgames and tea. On Tuesday members of staff, andtheir relatives, delighted residents with a displayof Traditional Nepalese Dancing in which some ofour residents were very keen to participate.

On Wednesday we held a Sports Afternoon withteam competitions for large groups of residents inthe Conservatory, as well as adapting the activitiesto meet individual needs and preferences so thatresidents who stayed in their own rooms were alsoinvolved. These games continued throughout theHome on Thursday. On Friday afternoon, to cele-brate what was a successful and enjoyable week,an awards ceremony was held which recognisedthe efforts of staff and residents with medals andprizes.

Going for Gold!

The Sports Afternoon was originally planned as an outdoor eventbut due to the infamous wet weather (British Summertime!) ithad to be skilfully adapted to an indoor setting. Residents weredivided into two teams, each with a captain and team sash, andeveryone got warmed up with some action songs. This was fol-lowed by team races which included armchair versions of Egg &Spoon and Pass the Balloon. Following the races were events likeBean Bag Throwing and Team Volley Ball using a large ‘punch bal-loon’ as the ball and bunting as a net. At the end the score sheetwas added up and medals presented to the winning team.

Sports Afternoon

Residents really enjoyed theteam games and had fun aswell as a sense of achieve-ment. However, the residentsweren’t the only ones whogot into the spirit of theraces and games; staff alsoheld their own skipping andhula hoop competitions.There was a wonderful, joy-ous atmosphere during theSports Afternoon and a lot oflaughter was heard through-out the Home!

Goingfor

Gold

Olympic Torch WalkOne of the highlights of the week was our Olympic Torch Walk. Alison, one of our seniorcarers, made our own Olympic Torch and our walk was started by her toddler granddaugh-ter Ella who passed the torch to resident Ken Dancer.

Our aim was to have the torchpassed to as many residents aspossible over the week. Some resi-dents were able to walk holdingthe torch and others carried itwhile being escorted by care staffin their wheelchairs, and thosewho were unable to leave theirrooms were included by just hold-ing the torch.

As each resident carried the torch, theirname, and their photo, was added to ourTorch Walk Poster. Altogether 85% of ourresidents were involved in the walk as wellas staff members (activities, care, nurses,maintenance, cook, receptionist...), rela-tives, our gardener and even the postman!

Nepalese DancingAll our five departments took part in an afternoon of dance exercise accompanied by a dis-play of traditional Nepalese dancing performed by some of our own care staff and theirrelatives. The dancers began their display looking beautiful in their traditional dress andthe audience clapped, tapped their feet, some even wiggled their hips in time to the music.Half way through the display, the dancers went around the room showing their hand andarm movements to residents to encourage them to join in and mirror their actions; somewere shy but many were delighted and enjoyed swaying their arms. At the end of the dis-play all were encouraged to join the dancers on the floor and even our care staff were ea-ger to join in the fun and exercise.

After such a fantastic week of fun, we felt it necessary to reward some of the hard workand effort put in by our care staff as well as our residents.

A small awards ceremony was held and Anna, one of our senior carers, gave out choco-late medals and prizes to carers and residents who had excelled in the organisation of theweek or those who had actively participated in events every day.

Residents and staff alike got heavily involved in activities all week and had a wonderfultime. Sunbury Nursing Homes were ‘Going for Gold’ and we think they got it!

Awards Ceremony

Inter DepartmentalCompetition

1st: Weir House2nd: Carmel & Marion3rd: Storrington4th: Norman & Johanna

Carers Contribution toIndividual Activities:

Ann RobinsBanna Jobarteh

Departmental Prizes forMost Involved Resident

Marion & Carmel: Mrs FryNorman : Mrs RobinsJohanna: Mrs SummersStorrington: Mrs RamseyWeir House: Mr Patriarca

Prize Winners

Conservatory Prizes

Miss BevisMrs LongMrs Cribb

Mrs Ludbrook

Staff Fitness

Hoola Hoop: Laxmi RaiSkipping: Julie NIcoll

Activity Co-ordinator, Julie Nicoll andGoing for Gold Organiser, Lisa Worley

A Selection of Sunbury Nursing HomesTorch Bearers