An Oxfordshire care home created its own Olympic-style Games for residents this week.

The Grange Care Centre in Stanford in the Vale near Faringdon, part of the Forrest Healthcare group, created the ‘Grange Games’ as a way to meet the mind, body and soul needs of residents.

The Games included events such archery, welly throwing and a water balloon toss.

As well as this, there were official opening and closing ceremonies featuring torch bearers and medals.

Oxford Mail: Brenda Dew, Vera Roberts and Zoe Hutt playing volleyball (Zoe Hutt/Wendy Mead) Brenda Dew, Vera Roberts and Zoe Hutt playing volleyball (Zoe Hutt/Wendy Mead)

Wendy Mead, manager of The Grange, described the event as ‘tremendous’ with residents having a ‘super time’ during the Games.

She said: “We have had some residents who often stay in their rooms actually come down to the events.

“That is why we run events as there are some people who are quite isolated but will come out and join in with other people. That can lead to them coming out more and making friends.

“It is a great way to get people who are quite introverted to socialise more.”

Oxford Mail: Carole Fairclough and Mark Wade-Loveridge accepting their medals (Zoe Hutt/Wendy Mead)Carole Fairclough and Mark Wade-Loveridge accepting their medals (Zoe Hutt/Wendy Mead)

Ms Mead said the water balloon toss was the most popular event because they ‘enjoyed getting everybody wet’.

She said: “It was quite a warm day and it was fun because if you were standing anywhere near when the water balloons were thrown you got totally splattered.”

The opening and closing ceremony torches and other equipment was created by Zoe Hutt, the home’s lifestyle lead, who Ms Mead describes as ‘extremely creative’.

Ms Mead added: “It was created with her and the residents. We do not like to do activities where we do all the work, we like residents to get involved and do things.

“Even if it just colouring in a little bit of a flame or something.”

Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, the home would host a school sports day each summer.

However, due to the social restrictions of Covid-19, and the particular health risks to older people, the home has been unable to allow schoolchildren to come in and out, meaning this event has had to be shelved for the moment.  

Ms Mead said: “We have had to reduce the schools coming in, so we have had to create these bigger events ourselves.

“When the football comes around; we do an event for that, tennis; we do something for that and this one has just taken off and it has been a whole week of events.”

 

The care home works with Oomph! Wellness, a wellbeing buisness which helps care homes coordinate activities for their residents that enhance their mental, physical and emotional health and wellbeing.