World Cup inspires 'virtual' Mexican wave across care homes

Hundreds of UK care homes are joining forces with care services on the other side of the world and also South Africa, looking to create the largest virtual Mexican wave in history to celebrate the World Cup in Brazil, at the same time as marking National Care Home Open Day (NCHOD) on June 20.

The wave will begin in Australia, from where care homes will then send video of their waves to homes in the South of England when the wave will then start spreading north across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Film and photos will be exhibited on the NCHOD Twitter feed, where visitors will be able to watch the wave travel across the globe and join the fun using hashtags #nchod and #carewave

Ambassador Gloria Hunniford is delighted that so many care homes will be getting involved, commenting: “The Mexican wave taking place this year is a wonderful opportunity for care homes across the world to join together in promoting the importance of care homes to their local communities in all nations, including the UK.

“The World Cup is a huge event that grips all four home nations, including the thousands of residents in care homes across the UK. I strongly encourage people to visit their local care home and join in with the World Cup fever and learn more about the great care that goes on in their community.”

On the June 20 event itself she comments: “The National Care Home Open Day is a great opportunity for people to see for themselves the quality of the care services in their neighbourhoods.

“Care homes and their residents are an important but sometimes overlooked part of our society. The National Care Home Open Day will help strengthen the relationships between care home residents, staff and their next door neighbours. It may even encourage a few people to think about volunteering to do something during the rest of the year to support and befriend residents in local care homes.

“Last year’s National Care Home Open Day was a great success, and this year we are taking it to a whole new level with older people and care homes from across the world getting involved and showing their support for the care sector.”