Thames Ditton care home residents celebrate creative success on National Day of Arts in Care Homes

Residents at Emberbrook Care Home in Thames Ditton are celebrating after winning awards for their artwork, in a competition to mark the National Day of Arts in Care Homes.

The competition was organised with ‘Creative Mojo’ who provide bespoke art kits to the care home throughout the year. Resident, Pam won the ‘Art Story Award’ and resident, June won the ‘Outstanding Contribution to Art Award’. Their art will now be reproduced on postcards to send to family and friends.

June, said: “I always look forward to our art activities and have learnt to mix paint colours to create the perfect shade. I enjoy guiding my fellow residents if they need some help and I’m always the first to go through the latest Creative Mojo box when it arrives, to see what we’ll be working on next.”

Themed art & crafts projects that residents have got involved in this year have included Valentine’s Hearts, Easter Wreaths, the Cinco de Mayo Carnival and The Olympic Games. The next creative activity will be painting colourful peacocks to mark Diwali.

The home’s Magic Moments Coordinator, Sally Markham, said: “Arts and crafts are an important part of our activities programme here at Emberbrook and our residents love unleashing their creativity to produce some truly fantastic art. They’ve revealed some amazing hidden talents, and many have been encouraged to revisit a past interest in art or try picking up a paintbrush for the first time and have really surprised themselves with how much they’ve enjoyed being involved.

“It doesn’t matter how talented an artist someone is, encouraging people to create something of their own or contribute to a group mural provides a sense of purpose and achievement. And getting everyone together to enjoy some creativity over a cuppa and conversation, with some favourite music playing in the background is a such fun and sociable way to spend a morning.”

Emberbrook Care Home is located in Raphael Drive, Thames Ditton and provides residential, nursing, respite, palliative and dementia care. The home is rated ‘Good’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). www.fshcgroup.com/emberbrook