Care homes in Yorkshire to hold their own Olympic Games

Residents at care homes in South Yorkshire will be competing against each other in their own Olympic Games.

The Sheffield Care Home Games held at the Don Valley Stadium on Thursday 26 July are being organised by Activity Sheffield, Sheffield City Council and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

The event, where more than 100 carers and residents take part in activities including bowling, skittles, mini-golf, target throwing, dominos, bar skittles and dancing, is held annually.

Richmond Heights Care Home, a care home in Intake, Sheffield, part of Craegmoor, is entering a team of three residents, aged between 74 and 84, three carers, a nurse and the daughter of one of the competitors.

The home is designing an Olympic Flag to represent the team at the games.

Linda Reynolds, activities co-ordinator at Richmond Heights, said: “The ladies representing us this year are very competitive and they will be doing their utmost to win a medal.

“The whole home has embraced the competition and is getting into the Olympic spirit in advance of the actual Games and the participants have been practising hard.

“Just because someone lives in a care home it doesn’t mean that they can’t lead an active and fulfilling life and we pride ourselves on enabling residents to pursue activities both inside and outside the home.”

Craegmoor is part of the Priory group of Companies. The Priory Group has 48 care homes for older people across the UK.

Image: left to right Sandra Galloway, nurse, 74-year-old Mary Hutchinson, resident and Linda Reynolds, activities co-ordinator