The people living at Aliwal Manor Care Home enjoy opportunities to get creative during planned arts and crafts sessions. Not only do they make for fun, communal activities, but also allow people to express themselves in a different way. Some find craft sessions to be therapeutic and relaxing, which in turn provides a boost to their wellbeing.
When Lifestyle Coordinator, Sarah was recently hosting an activity session, they came across a tablecloth they decorated at Christmas. This brought back memories of the fun they had making the tablecloth together, which was used throughout the Christmas period.
With the Platinum Jubilee weekend approaching, this gave Sarah an idea. Sarah asked the people in the room if they would like to make a British themed tablecloth they could use throughout their celebrations. Although some people said they weren’t very good at drawing, Sarah encouraged them that they didn’t have to be, this was more about being creative using red and blue colours.
Everyone then agreed it would make for a fun activity, so Sarah got a plain piece of white cloth and red and blue paints. Residents were then encouraged to write, paint or decorate their part of the tablecloth in whichever way they wanted. This gave everyone the freedom to express themselves in their own way.
As they painted on the tablecloth, this brought back memories from previous jubilee celebrations and royal occasions they had attended in the past.
It was a lovely afternoon and the tablecloth they created looked wonderful in the colours of the British flag.
This activity put everyone in the jubilee spirit and said they can’t wait to celebrate this historical occasion.