CareChoice Nursing Homes celebrate creativity in older people with an Arts Festival

April 30, 2012 - PRLog -- It’s a time to encourage sensory activities, enhancing lives and encouraging creativity.  And so it is with the community of residents and staff at CareChoice Nursing Home’s in Montenotte and Ballynoe, that have today launched their own 2012 Bealtaine Arts Festival which will take place at the homes during May.  

With a mix of creative writing, pottery & art classes, story-telling sessions, dancing lessons and musical interludes, the Homes have lined up a truly relevant and stimulating package of events throughout the Festival.  From paint to putty, polkas to foxtrots, pen to paper with a story or just simply a loving card, a story well told or a song remembered, this Festival will be one to remember.  It will turn every-day living into a celebration at every opportunity.

The Arts Festival demonstrates yet again that a move to a nursing Home is merely a ‘change of address’ for older people as their social life and creativity continues apace, and in some cases, is brought to light for the first time!

Paying a special visit to CareChoice Nursing Homes during May will be Ann Burns, Integrated Energy Therapist who will coordinate pottery demonstrations and encourage all residents to try the lost art of pottery-making, the mess, the shapes, the fulfilment of seeing a piece at the end of the effort and the fun that can ensue.

Creative writing classes and story-telling will also be held in the bright and sunny activity rooms when residents can relate or listen to stories of yesteryear, delivered by experienced storytellers or shanachaís as they were called. Poet Paul Casey will encourage residents to tell their own stories and try their hand a writing a poem. These activities are designed to enhance the experience for all involved and inspire residents to become actively involved in continuous learning which is known to enhance emotional and psychological development in advancing years.

Other events taking place throughout May will invite residents, together with their families and friends, to step up and take part in leisurely activities including dance classes coordinated by Jo Nichols, a locally renowned dance instructor.  The CareChoice Arts Festival will close with an open music session with Jimmy Crowley (a central figure in the Irish folk scene since the enthusiastic reception of his debut album The Boys of Fairhill in 1977).    

According to Clodagh Whelan, Director of Recreation at CareChoice Nursing Homes; “The happiness of each and every resident is our core objective at CareChoice and this can only be achieved through enhancing their quality of life, all day, every day.  We have an innovative programme of activities each day and the Arts Festival is an extension of this. Whether you are a painter, a potter, a writer or a dancer there is something for everyone. We also have many musical and art events in which families and friends can enjoy with their loved one. I believe the move to a Nursing Home should simply be a change of address and our residents lives and their hobbies can continue albeit with some adaptions. Just like older people in the local community CareChoice residents will be active participants in the Age and Opportunity Bealtaine Festival this May. A special thank you to our sponsors Harrington’s Pharmacy, Ballincollig who have made this year’s Arts Festival possible here at CareChoice Montenotte and Ballynoe.”

Bealtaine was established by Age and Opportunity in 1996 and has sense proved to being a huge success in terms of participation from older aged people. Care Choice Nursing Home’s have been coordinating events for Bealtaine for many years and this year’s Festival is sure to further nurture the creativity of its older people through a plethora of social events.
www.carechoice.ie