St Olaf care home in Nairn, run by Meallmore Ltd, was celebrating the season despite the weather this weekend at their summer fundraiser.
The annual event, which invites residents, their families and the local community to join together for a day of fun and frivolity, was made extra special by performances from the Nairn Little Theatre and a surprise visit from Bubbles the Clown and Mrs Clown. Music was provided by John Matherson MBE on the fiddle, Peem Stevenson on accordion and George Hutchison on drums, with songs by Howlin Gaels and Sandra Mills.
Residents were joined by children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, with all generations entertained by a ceilidh band, face-painting and magic tricks, while enjoying an impressive selection of freshly baked cakes, courtesy of St Olaf Chefs, Noel Perez and Damian Kelly.
The gardens at St Olaf were transformed into a spectacular outdoor gallery, with beautiful displays of art and colour provided by local businesses. These included beautiful ‘silk story flags’, loaned from the Nairn Book and Arts Festival; bunting made by the local Green Hive Charity; and scrap metal sculptures by Eve Graham of Eve’s Scrap Art.
To top off the event, birthday girl Marion Martin, who turned 88 on the day, had a special visit from Miss Cherry and Miss Florrie, the florist from the Nairn Little Theatre.
The event raised a total of £510 for the home and local charities. The £400 raised from the raffle and lucky squares game is being split between Alzheimer Scotland, Nairn beach wheelchairs, Trike Nairn, Therapets and The Little Theatre, while the remaining £110 will go to the home’s resident’s fund.
St Olaf General Manager, Kath Allan said: “It was fantastic to see St Olaf looking so magical, filled with colour and happy painted faces. There were smiles all round, with everyone commenting on what a wonderful time they were having. Our brilliant entertainers did such a great job, lifting spirits outside – despite the weather – and also spending time inside with residents who couldn’t come outside.
“Thank you to everyone who made the day such a special one, and especially to our performers and local businesses who provided prizes and props.”
Meallmore Regional Director, Carol-Anne Foote added: “We are always looking for ways to bring together local communities and our care homes. St Olaf have created a really special event, bringing together lots of different generations to all have a lovely time – and the joyful pictures speak for themselves.
“By creating such opportunities, we can make sure that our homes have a positive influence on the communities which they are a part of, as well as building trust amongst locals on how we care for some of the most vulnerable elderly people in their area.”
St Olaf Care Home, located on Cawdor Road, is run by one of Scotland’s most trusted providers of elderly and specialist care, Meallmore Ltd and provides excellent standards of care for its residents, including those living with mobility issues and dementia.
