Reading to the next generation – Hailsham care home residents read bedtime stories to local children

Residents at a care home in Hailsham have been reading bedtime stories to local children as part of a nationwide initiative to celebrate National Storytelling Week. 

Hailsham may seem a little quieter than usual after residents from Care UK’s Bowes House, on Battle Road, welcomed residents' grandchildren into the home for a special story-reading session.  

To celebrate National Storytelling Week, Care UK has created the Bedtime Stories initiative which sees residents across the UK read classic bedtime stories to young children. The campaign, which includes the launch of four free videos of residents reading famous stories, ensures children who may not have a grandparent do not miss out on a magical tale before bedtime.

At Bowes House, resident 93-year-old Elise Hammerton enjoyed reading nursey rhymes to her great granddaughter Nancy. 

Karen Milligan, Customer Relations Manager at Bowes House, said: “We see many of the residents’ grandchildren when they visit their loved ones, so these reading sessions were a wonderful way to spend time with familiar faces.

“Reading stories aloud to a small group of listeners required the residents to use skills they had not used in a long time. They were able to keep the children's interest by using a range of voices and sounds to bring the characters to life. The activity was not only heartwarming, but it was also wonderful for increasing the residents' confidence.

“It was wonderful to spend quality time with the younger generation of visitors who come to the home on a regular basis and we know we will be seeing them again soon.”

To watch four Bedtime Stories read by Care UK residents, or for more information about the Bedtime Stories initiative, visit: careuk.com/bedtime-stories

Bowes House is a state-of-the-art care home which provides full-time residential, nursing and dementia care, as well as short-term respite care.  Designed to enable residents to live enjoyable and fulfilling lives, the care home has it very own cinema and hairdressers, and there is plenty of space both indoors and out for relaxation and recreation. The home has a comprehensive activity programme, offering a mix of themed events, group activities and days out.

For further information on Bowes House, please call Customer Relations Manager Karen Milligan on 01323 888 611 or email karen.milligan@careuk.com 

For general information please visit careuk.com/bowes-house