Sutton Coldfield care home residents set their eyes on the skies

Home news

Feb 03, 2020

Residents at a care home in Sutton Coldfield celebrated Britain’s best birds as part of the world’s largest garden wildlife survey – and it was a flying success!

This year’s RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch saw residents at Care UK’s Mercia Grange, on Lichfield Road, celebrate the best of British birds with some exciting avian-themed activities.

As part of the celebrations, residents enjoyed learning British birds with nature magazines, kindly donated by a member of the local community. In the afternoon, residents had the opportunity to make fat balls, which were then hung on the garden’s birdfeeder to encourage more wildlife into the home’s garden.

Shirley Gibbs, home manager at Mercia Grange, said: “Residents love taking part in nature-themed activities here at Mercia Grange, and we had a lot of fun celebrating this year’s bird-themed event. The magazines proved really useful and helped us all spot birds on our doorstep.

“Everyone had so much fun making the fat balls, which have already attracted more birds into the garden. Connecting with nature is extremely important for older people, especially those living with dementia. Nature-themed activities promote positive social interaction, improve wellbeing and provides an opportunity for sensory stimulation, as well as it can conjuring happy memories and the associated emotions.

“Thank you to the kind local who donated the nature magazines, everyone had such fun learning about British wildlife.”

Mercia Grange is a state-of-the-art care home which provides full-time residential, nursing, dementia, and short-term respite care. The three-storey care home, which features 67 ensuite bedrooms, has been designed to enable its residents to live active and fulfilled lives, while also promoting independence. The care home incorporates space for hobby and leisure activities and includes its own cinema, hair salon and café.

For more information about Care UK’s avian activities, please visit care.com/birdwatch

To find out more about Mercia Grange please call Rachel Mackay on 0121 314 3196 or email rachel.mackay@careuk.com

For more general information, please visit careuk.com/mercia-grange