Care home workers lift residents' spirits with lockdown dance to Amarillo song

Care workers in care homes in the UK are finding life a lot easier since they began dancing to the hit song '(Is This The Way) to Amarillo?' during the coronavirus pandemic.

The song, originally sung by Tony Christie, is proving to be the perfect morale booster for care home workers during lockdown. Care staff have been copying comic Peter Kay's funny march - made famous in his 2005 video for the classic song.

Staff at The Old Vicarage care home in Bolton donned rainbow hats while holding aloft inflatable rainbows as they marched with two residents around the grounds of the care home.

They may not be going very far - never mind all the way to Amarillo- but the routine gave them some welcome light relief.

Comedian Peter Kay will be seen with Tony Christie (who sang the original 1971 song) as he recreates their 2005 version of the song for Comic Relief and Children In Need on BBC 1's 'Big Night In' programme at 7pm on Thursday 23 April.

Peter Kay invited care workers, other key workers and the general public to send fun video clips to be broadcast during the show. The comic has since tweeted his thanks to those who sent him videos.

Care staff at Elizabeth Fleming Care Home in Sunderland had a laugh making their own funny video with masked staff seen marching down a corridor during their shift.

Care workers at Dawson Lodge care home in Southampton came up with a dance routine to lift their spirits as well as residents.

Led by the care home's deputy manager Sarah Cheatle, they started dancing in the garden and seem to be looking for the road to Amarillo as they shimmied their way through the care home.

Mitchelle Perry, manager of Anchor’s Dawson Lodge, which is rated outstanding by the Care Quality Commission, said: “The dance routine for The Road to Amarillo video was totally spontaneous though, and five of my team just decided to get up and dance to entertain the residents.

"We post an uplifting video once a week on Facebook to lift everyone’s spirits and show families what fun activities we organise for our residents.

“We organise daily meaningful activities for our residents as we know it boosts their physical and mental wellbeing.

“I’d like to thank the five members of my team who took part: my Deputy Sarah Cheatle, Team Leaders Jodie Beazley and Caroline Dudman, Care Assistants Ella Pilgrim and Adriana Mociornita.”

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