Residents at Redcot, our Haslemere-based residential care home, are ‘Fix’in’ to’ having a ‘Spur-tacular’ time, welcoming family, friends, visitors and members of the local community in joining them for a free ‘Yee-Ha’, Wild West afternoon.
“On Thursday 23rd July, from 12:30 p.m. until 3 p.m., Redcot and its beautiful gardens will be transformed into a Western ranch, even JR Ewing, Bret Maverick or Roy Rogers would be proud of,” said Latasha Jarrett, the Registered Manager at the care home.
Redcot’s Country and Western free community afternoon will be a truly Cowboy Boot tapping and thigh slapping event. “There will be line dancing, Karaoke, a delicious, authentic Wild West BBQ, refreshments, a variety of games and, of course, great company,” added Jenny Ryder, one of Redcot’s Activity Coordinators.
“The residents love all our community events but have really taken a ‘Moonshine’ to the Country and Western theme and are looking forward to enjoying the afternoon with all the guests,” continued Latasha. “The residents have been reminiscing and talking about the Wild West, their favourite Cowboy films, horse riding and line dancing – and as always – their knowledge and trivia facts always astound me.
“One resident told me that the iconic and legendary Stetson Cowboy Hat wasn’t actually standard, everyday frontier wear. In fact, Cowboys, or Cowhands as they were originally known, often wore bowler hats or simple flat caps and that the famous expression, ‘Above Board’, originated from card games where players kept their hands on the table, so everyone knew they weren’t cheating.
“Another resident said that two of the most notorious and infamous Wild West outlaws – Billy the Kid and Jesse James – came from lifestyles that you wouldn’t expect. Bill the Kid, whose real name was Henry McCarty, was born in New York and, after moving west to Kansas and New Mexico didn’t turn to a life of crime until his mother passed away when he was 15 and, Jesse James was the son of a Baptist Minister. So, yet again, I’ve learnt something new and interesting.”
“We’d love to see guests come along in their Western Cowboy and Cowgirl best to help get everyone into the Wild West spirit,” continued Jenny. “The residents have already begun to think about their outfits for the community event and have even discussed traditional Cowboy Boots as they are, allegedly, the thing to wear as they provide ankle and foot support whilst toe-scuffing and heel tapping.
“We always put the health, safety and wellbeing of the residents at the heart of all we do, and have a full, varied and wide calendar of meaningful activities for them to enjoy,” added Latasha. “Line dancing is a good, low-impact aerobic exercise that significantly enhances cardiovascular health, balance and memory and, as this form of dancing doesn’t require a partner, it can help to improve the residents’ coordination.”
“The other benefits to the residents of taking part in the line dancing sessions are plentiful. The activity can help with their cognitive health as memorising step sequences and syncing movements to the music can improve long-term memory; the footwork can help with posture, hip, knee and ankle flexibility and strengthening and being such a fun activity, taking part will release mood-boosting endorphins as well,” continued Jenny.
“The residents all have sharp and great senses of humour and, as ever, the Western jokes have started. The latest ‘Cowboy Wise-crack’ is ‘Why did the Outlaw carry a pencil? In case he had to draw” – which I must admit, had us all giggling.”
To book your free place at Redcot’s Country and Western Community Afternoon, which includes Karaoke, games, a delicious BBQ, refreshments and line dancing, please call the care home on 01428 644 637 and a member of the care team will be ready to help you. Alternatively, please email Latasha via [email protected]
“Everyone at Redcot is looking forward to saying ‘Howdy’ and welcoming family, friends and our local community to our Country and Western Community Afternoon to, as the Cowboys used to say, ‘Pull up a chair and sit a spell’. It’s going to be barrels of fun, laughter, music, singing and dancing and a great way for everyone to enjoy a lovely summer afternoon together,” concluded Latasha.
Find out more about Redcot care home by calling 01428 644 637 or emailing [email protected].