At Bernard Sunley, our Woking-based residential, nursing and dementia care home, the care team hosted a Culture Day. The residents had an interactive and educational day learning about the different beliefs, traditions and customs of a range of international countries.
“A number of Bernard Sunley’s care team were born in different countries,” said Andy Cumper, the Registered Manager at the care home. “Knowing how interested the residents are in learning about different and diverse cultures, heritages and customs, we thought it would be a great idea to host our very own Culture Day for them.”
“We are a multi-cultural care home family,” added Monika Ahmed, Bernard Sunley’s Activities Coordinator. “We have care team members from all over the world including India, Poland, Pakistan, The Philippines, Romania, Nepal and Lithuania. We are a ready-made global experience for the residents.”
The Care Team dressed in their national dress, cooked and baked delicious cuisines for their home countries and displayed some of their personal souvenirs, keepsakes and mementos.
“We also had a wonderful entertainer – Claire Trusson – who performed a wide range of different songs from around the world, which all the residents thoroughly enjoyed,” continued Monika.
The Care Team also introduced the residents to a lovely selection and variety of different dishes and treats from where they grew up. “The international spread was amazing,” added Andy. “Our Nepalese Care Team members, Ambika and Nirmala Gurung, served up delicious Momo and Achar Sauce – and Chicken Choila. Momo is Nepal’s most popular dish. It’s a steamed or fried dumpling with either a minced meat or vegetables filling encased in a thin dough wrapper. Ambika told the residents that they are similar to Tibetan Dumplings but are usually rounder and served with the tasty, Nepalese spiced tomato-based chutney called Achar.”
“The residents also sampled a whole array of international cuisine, including Romanian sausages, pickles and stew courtesy of Mioara Ujica, one of our Health Care Assistants at the care home, Philippine vegetable spring rolls which our Deputy Manager, Ester Manlubatan prepared, traditional Pakistani Samosas thanks to Mehvish Quasim, a Domestic Assistant at Bernard Sunley and sweet Polish treats from Agnieszka Szpakowska, one of our Shift Leaders and Cassava and Puto, scrumptious Philippine cakes lovingly made by Excel Casia, Bernard Sunley’s Nurse Support Assistant,” continued Monika. “I am originally from Lithuania, but as my Husband has Bangladeshi roots, I brought in Naan Breads, Chicken Tikka bites and Lamb Kebabs for the residents to enjoy.”
“The United Kingdom was also represented in traditional style at the global celebration,” added Andy. “To accompany afternoon tea, the residents enjoyed Jaffa Cakes which were created in the UK in 1927 by McVitie’s and, for their evening meal, what else could it be but one of the most time-honoured British meals – a good old roast beef dinner.
“The Culture Day was a huge success. Everyone at Bernard Sunley came together as one big international family to celebrate, experience and embrace different cultures, traditional dress, food, history and music. It really was a multicultural festival which everyone thoroughly enjoyed,” concluded Andy.
Find out more about Bernard Sunley care home by calling 01483 764 300 or emailing enquiries@fote.org.uk.