Residents at Four Seasons and brighterkind care homes are celebrating after winning awards for their artistic creations in a competition to mark the National Activities Providers Association’s (NAPA), National Day of Arts in Care Homes.
The competition was organised with ‘Creative Mojo’ who provide bespoke art kits to all 50 Four Seasons Health Care and brighterkind care homes across the UK. Themed projects this year have included Easter Wreaths, the Cinco de Mayo Carnival, The Olympic Games, Summer Beach Huts and Harvest Festival. October’s project will be creating colourful peacocks to celebrate Diwali.
The Magic Moments teams at the care homes submitted artworks created during the year, in award categories including ‘Most Colourful Care Home‘, ‘Most Motivated Resident’, ‘Outstanding Contribution to Art’ and ‘The More the Merrier’, which recognises a home who encourages lots of residents to get involved in art activities, with projects for all abilities.
Resident, June, who lives at Emberbrook Care Home in Surrey, said: “I always look forward to our art activities and have learnt to mix paint colours to create the perfect shade. I enjoy guiding my fellow residents if they need some help and I’m always the first to go through the latest Creative Mojo box when it arrives, to see what we’ll be working on next.”
Leanne-May Walsh, National Wellbeing and Activities Manager at Four Seasons Heath Care Group, said: “Arts and crafts form an important part of our Magic Moments activities programme and our residents and team members love unleashing their creativity to produce some truly fantastic art. Our residents have revealed some amazing hidden talents, and many have been encouraged to revisit a past interest in art or try picking up a paintbrush for the first time and have really surprised themselves with how much they’ve enjoyed being involved.
“It doesn’t matter how talented an artist someone is, encouraging people to create something of their own or contribute to a group mural provides a sense of purpose and achievement. And getting everyone together to enjoy some creativity over a cuppa and conversation, with some favourite music playing in the background is a such fun and sociable way to spend a morning. We invite family and friends from the local community to join us at our art and crafts sessions and getting children from local schools and nurseries involved always makes for a heartwarming intergenerational activity which our residents love.
“All our care homes will receive participation art award certificates and winning entries will be reproduced as postcards for residents to send to family and friends.”
Operating under the Four Seasons Health Care and brighterkind brands, Four Seasons Health Care Group has 50 care homes across the UK, caring for nearly 3,000 people. The group provides long-term and respite residential and nursing care for older people and are an award-winning, sector leader with an innovative approach to specialist dementia care.
