Aberdeen Care Homes embrace spooky spirit with Halloween celebrations
A trio of Aberdeen Care Homes have 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.
Cowdray Club invited residents’ families along for a Halloween-themed lunch that was packed with bright colours, including orange and red Jack-O’-Lantern roasted peppers carved with fun faces and filled with pumpkin risotto.
With roasted butternut squash and sweet potato soup to start, “shredded” chicken fajitas for the main course, and a cheese board and fruit bowl decorated with “ghost face” marshmallows for dessert, residents and their families were given a frightful feast to celebrate the day.
Staff at Jesmond also 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 - which awaits the outcome of an Aberdeen City Council planning decision this week to implement a six-figure upgrade - 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.
The activities not only provided a festive treat but helped stimulate residents' senses and create lasting memories with their families.
Mo Clark, 75, of Jesmond care home said: “I had a great time at the show with my friends and staff. Everyone was in great spirits and it was brilliant fun having the puppet show. We had such a laugh getting my witch’s hat on and joining in.”
The Aberdeen homes are all part of Renaissance Care group that currently owns and operates 17 homes across Scotland, including the local Torry and Riverside care homes in Aberdeen and Wyndwell in Peterhead. The Group is known for its focus on care alongside its fun and creative events that engage residents and focus on bettering their health and wellbeing, as well as encouraging fun and physical activity.
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.
“It’s so important to us to make a big show of the various holidays and events throughout the year – helping to create happy memories for residents and their families. At Renaissance, our focus on care is number one, but we always try to go the extra mile for our residents and everything we do is lead by them, letting them celebrate all the important moments however they choose to.”
