From ballet to Elvis - entertaining care home residents

We all enjoy good entertainment whatever our age, whether it’s laughing at a comedian, enjoying a sing-a-long and a cuddle with Elvis, or watching a performance from a local ballerina.

Entertainment is ageless and here's a selection of entertaining activities that take place in care homes around the UK for residents’ enjoyment.

Matthew Lombart is a 24-year-old musician who regularly performs in care homes across Kent, most recently at Harbledown Lodge Nursing Home and Whitelodge Nursing Home.

He decided to perform in care homes because he enjoys singing the classic songs from the 50s and 60s. He said: “These are periods in musical history that a lot of care home residents fondly remember and appreciate.

“Residents love hearing the old songs that I also grew up listening to, despite the fact that I am only 24-years-old. I love the songs of Elvis Presley, Jim Reeves, Johnny Cash, and Marty Robbins to name a few, and I find that care home audiences share my passion for such retro music.

“Often when I sing these classic songs, residents tell me how it brings them back to a very happy time in their lives associated with the music. They really appreciate listening to songs that they haven’t heard being played on the radio for years.”

Mr Lombart has given fundraising concerts for charities including Demelza House, Clic Sargent, Teenage Cancer Trust, and the Kent Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre.

He says the songs that residents enjoy most include ‘I’ll never find another you’, originally made famous by The Seekers. Johnny Cash’s ‘Ring of fire’ and Jim Reeves’ ‘I love you because’ and ‘Welcome to my world’. He also loves singing Gospel songs and his original compositions are very well received by the residents.

He said: “It is such a pleasure to do something I love and to see that the residents get as much joy from listening to the songs as I do from singing them.”

Chris Field is Elvis! He has been a professional Elvis tribute act for eight years and started out in care homes to get the experience he needed to become a successful performer.

He said: “Now I perform my own theatre shows but have never forgotten my roots. Covering London and the south east, I still perform for care homes and sheltered housing and some of my most enjoyable shows have been in care homes.”

Mr Field says shows for care home residents have a great atmosphere because everyone knows Elvis’s songs and they love singing along.

With his array of Elvis costumes from throughout the decades, he performs as the young Elvis of the 50s and the GI blues Elvis from the 60s.

Mr Field said: “Ladies love a uniform and the black leathers get residents and carers alike excited!” Chris also has many rhinestone suits in which he becomes Las Vegas Elvis which he says is “a great, uplifting occasion for everyone.”

Mr Field describes how the songs bring back memories for residents as they “just love Elvis” because he is from their era: “When Elvis appears in full guise excitement occurs! I always make my shows entertaining with jokes and banter and the old ladies love a kiss from Elvis!”

Mr Field also plays shows for adults with learning difficulties who are sometimes incredibly excited as they think he is the real Elvis – and for one night only, until Elvis leaves the building – he really is.

The songs enjoyed the most include Elvis’s biggest hits ‘Return to sender’, ‘It’s now or never’, ‘Love me tender’, ‘Can’t help falling in love, “and of course 'Jailhouse rock'”.

Mr Field performs regular shows at The Old Rectory care home in Dymchurch, Kent and recently performed In Mote Park, Kent at the Avante open day where 15 care homes all came together in the park to enjoy the entertainment.

He has also performed for large groups in BUPA, Sunrise Living and Avante care homes as well as for local hospices and their associate charities.

Mr Field is now doing a new care home show as Andy Williams where he performs all the classics including ‘Moon river’.

Andy Martin has been singing and playing guitar at care homes in Guildford, Alton, Andover, Winchester, Petersfield and Southampton since September 2011, after spending a few months volunteering.

He said: “The residents are encouraged to join in with the songs and I hand out shakers and bells for them to play.

"I always make a point of saying that there is no pressure to join in and if they fancy a snooze that's fine by me. The residents appreciate not being forced into anything and as a result most of them end up joining in.”

Mr Martin says the involvement of the care home worker or activities organiser can make the performance a big success.

If residents are a little apprehensive about a new performer coming in, and the staff participate and have fun, it helps put the residents at ease ensuring “the atmosphere is great and everyone has a great time.”

Mr Martin started out by playing quite a few wartime and 40s songs but soon realised that as the average age of residents is around 85, their heyday was in the 50s so he now plays more songs from that era.

Mr Martin said: “I read an article about dementia sufferers and music, and apparently it is songs from our courting years that we remember best, so I always try and include some romantic songs.

“I guess still the most popular songs are 'Daisy, Daisy', 'It's a long way to Tipperary' and 'My old man' but there are one or two that have surprised me like 'Now is the hour', 'Underneath the arches' and 'Those were the days' that seem to hit the spot.”

“To see the power of live music and the effect it has on residents, especially those suffering from dementia, is quite remarkable. To be able to spread a bit of fun and to add some sunshine, to what are often dark days, is hugely rewarding.

“Some days are full of pathos but others are full of humour and make it probably the best job I've ever had.”

Majesticare prides itself on an excellent delivery of quality care and service, within homely environments and puts on array of entertainment and activities for its residents.

Recently, Glebefields residents were asked to film an alternative version of Old Macdonald for a NAPA, (National Association for Providers of Activities for Older People) DVD.

The Lottery funded project, ‘Let Nature Feed Your Senses’ is run by Linking Environment And Farming and the Sensory Trust and arranged free sensory-rich farm visits for community groups to 75 farms across England, to enable visitors to get up close with life on farms.

The Glebefields residents enjoyed spending the afternoon seeing the animals and singing farm songs and they are all very excited about their upcoming celebrity status from appearing on the DVD.

At Majesticare’s Lawton Rise, dementia specialist home, 11-year-old Ellie, granddaughter of one of the residents put on special ballet and tap dance show especially for the residents. Her grandma was so proud of her and the residents’ faces were a joy to see as she evoked such pleasure with her lovely dancing and costumes.

Also at Lawton Rise, on St Patrick’s Day, the residents had a great time with both staff and residents enjoying the day in true Irish style. There was traditional Irish home cooking, Guinness and some good old Irish singing.

At Majesticare’s The Mount Care Home, Elvis comes to visit regularly and the residents love to sing along and even have a dance with him.

Erica Hart managing director of Majesticare said: “We want to ensure all residents are stimulated and look forward to special events and daily activities.

"Celebrating festivals and holidays in our homes is a very important way to ensure that residents can continue with all the traditions, hobbies and interests that they have enjoyed throughout their lives.”

Carebase, the group of private care homes specialising in nursing, residential and dementia care puts entertainment and activities at the top of its list, ensuring residents live life to the full each and every day.

Each home has its own activities coordinators who work with other members of the teams to make the residents’ days as fun, interesting and enjoyable as possible.

Recently several of the homes have enjoyed a celebrity gardening workshop, where Matthew Biggs, of TV and radio fame, visited the homes to impart his green-fingered knowledge. The residents loved having a celebrity in the home and thoroughly enjoyed learning about the plants and flowers he brought along.

All Carebase homes have lovely gardens and enjoying the outdoors and fresh air forms an important part of the week. There are gardening clubs at every home where residents can plant and tend to various plants, flowers, fruits and vegetables.

Residents also enjoy indoor activities including flower arranging; with this popular seasonal activity, residents use the flowers and greenery from the gardens to create bouquets and baskets that they can keep and enjoy in their rooms.

Cake baking and cooking are other pastimes that the residents enjoy and they use the fruit and vegetables grown on their own allotments.

Carebase arrange regular monthly visits to places of interest and recent trips have included the Imperial War Museum; Wisley Gardens to see the butterflies; a trip to the beach for fish and chips; and a local gardening centre to buy plants and flowers to grow at the home.

Carebase homes try and make the most of every occasion that gives a great excuse for a party, dinner or afternoon tea!

This year has been a great year to have fun at the care homes with parties for the Diamond Jubilee and the Olympics as well as supporting charity events including the Alzheimer’s Society’s Time for a Cuppa campaign and National Dementia Awareness Week. Any excuse for a delicious meal or a cake baking session!

During the summer months, every home hosts a summer fete and bbqs when the weather permits. There are also autumn vintage fairs that welcome TV stars like Christopher Payne from The Antiques Roadshow. Great celebrations are organised for Christmas and Easter.

Nicola Coveney, Carebase managing director said: "Carebase ensures that keeping its residents engaged, motivated and stimulated through entertainment and activities is high on the agenda at all of our care homes.

“The residents spend a lot of their time taking part in the full and varied activities schedules that are tailored for each and every person. “The more mobile are able to enjoy active pastimes and trips out, while those who are less mobile enjoy stimulating activities created to meet their ability.

“Meaningful activity for residents is very important to Carebase. Providing an enjoyable, happy and compassionate environment is something Carebase is very passionate about and invests heavily in."

To find out more about Matthew Lombart visit: www.carehome.co.uk/supplier.cfm/searchazref/65432194039. For more information on Chris Field, visit: www.carehome.co.uk/supplier.cfm/searchazref/53133 and to find out more about Andy Martin, visit: www.carehome.co.uk/supplier.cfm/searchazref/65432197681

Take a look at the www.carehome.co.uk/news section to see the events that take place at care homes across the UK, look at the Events Tab on the profile page of your local care home, or visit the following link for care home entertainers www.carehome.co.uk/suppliers_search_results.cfm/searchcategory/356