Friends of the Elderly Malvern, is opening up its breath-taking gardens to the local community as part of its celebrations to mark this year’s Care Home Open Week. “To support this year’s Care Home Open Week, from Monday 15th June until Sunday 21st June, between 10a.m. and 4 p.m., Friends of the Elderly Malvern’s picturesque and colourful gardens will be open for family, friends and the local community to visit and enjoy – free of charge,” said Jo Bennett, the General Manager of the care homes.
However, that’s not all. “As Care Home Week takes place during this year’s World Cup Football Tournament and, it’s the 60th Anniversary of England winning the iconic Jules Rimet Trophy, we thought it would be a ‘Footie-tastic’ idea to host daily, fully inclusive and accessible football-themed activities for visitors, residents and Malvern Day Care clients to enjoy throughout the week,” added Dawn Jones, the Activities Coordinator at Davenham.
“Our beautiful gardens, lawns and grounds, which cover nearly four acres, contain an amazing array of shrubs, perennials and flowers – plus over 50 species of trees including Giant Redwoods, the Giant Sequoia and the Ginkgo Biloba,” continued Dawn. “The setting will be the ‘Pitch Perfect’ place for our ‘Find The Football Hunt’ competition where we’ll be hiding a ‘Soccer Stash’ of different footballs around the grounds and, when visitors discover a hidden ball, they can exchange it for a great prize by answering a secret, but easy, question.”
“We’ll also have other activities taking place throughout the week including arts and crafts, decorating Gingerbread Men in different football kits, a range of football games in the gardens and Foosball tables for fun footie games too,” added Jo.
“As part of our weeklong celebrations, we will once again, be opening our historic iron gates and inviting the local community come along and take an enjoyable stroll around our glorious gardens,” said Maricel Biringquez, the Unit Manager at Davenham and Bradbury Court.
One of the main attractions which is always a talking point for visitors, is the care home’s famous well. “Our well has two names,” added Dawn. “It’s known as the famous Davenham Well but also as St. John’s Well. It’s exceptionally eye-catching as it has a unique ornamental bronze well head, spout and basin. Visitors will not be able to miss it as it’s located at the front of Davenham Residential Care Home.”
“The residents and Malvern Day Care clients are really looking forward to celebrating Care Home Open Week and all the different World Cup activities, the Open Gardens and meeting the visitors,” continued Dawn.
“Meeting, chatting and engaging with new people and catching up with family and friends offers significant physical, mental and emotional benefits to the residents and day care clients. Socialising can improve heart health, boost cognitive functions and lower depression and connecting with others can also lower blood pressure, reduce cholesterol and sharpen memories.”
“Every day from Monday 15th June until Sunday 21st June, visitors will also have the opportunity to visit our free Refreshment Station,” added Selena Whittaker, the Activities Coordinator at Perrins House. “They will be able to enjoy tasty homemade cakes, state their thirsts with refreshing drinks and pick up a range of information about the care homes and day care service.”
“Everyone at Friends of the Elderly Malvern – the residents, the care team and Malvern Day Care clients – are really looking forward to welcoming our local community and new and existing friends through our gates for what we know will be a wonderful, ‘Goal-den’ week for us all,” concluded Jo.
Find out more about Friends of the Elderly Malvern by calling 01905 388 720 or emailing [email protected].