On your marks, get set, go! Local care homes compete for gold in Suffolk Sports Day

A Framlingham care home invited care homes across the region to compete against one another in Suffolk’s very own sports day – with a festival-themed twist. 

The team at Mills Meadow, on Fore Street, welcomed ten Care UK homes from across the county as residents and care teams competed in a variety of traditional sports day challenges, including the sack race, relay, and tug of war. Teams from the Care UK head office and Suffolk County Council also came along to take part and test out their sporting skills.

The homes donned their own festival-themed team outfits, ranging from Hawaiian leis to matching flower headbands and flares from the swinging sixties. As well as team events, the care team designed events specifically to enable residents to join in the fun, including a ball hitting competition.

After an energetic morning of traditional games, residents and guests were treated to a delicious buffet, prepared specially by the chefs from the Suffolk homes. Later, teams took part in an Olympic-style awards ceremony to crown the day’s winners, Mildenhall Lodge, and present them with a shield.

Linda Tye, a resident at Mills Meadow, said: “It was a lovely day. The best part was me playing drums and see everyone having fun.”

Pedro Campos, Home Manager at Mills Meadow, said: “Suffolk Sports Day is now in its sixth year, so we couldn’t wait to welcome everyone back to Mills Meadow for the most eagerly anticipated date in the calendar.

“We are part of a strong care home community here in Suffolk, and days like this are a fantastic way of bringing us all together for fun, a little healthy competition and to celebrate the year’s achievements. The day not only provides a lot of laughter and enjoyment for all involved but is an excellent way for residents to meet and mingle with lots of new faces – or some familiar ones – while helping keep active too.

“We’d like to say a big thank you to Sharlene Van Tonder, Home Manager at Cedrus House, for organising the event. It was also great to have the teams from the Care UK head office and Suffolk County Council come along and compete too – we certainly gave them a run for their money!”

Care UK’s Suffolk homes have been designed to deliver the very best standards of care and to enable residents to live enjoyable and fulfilling lives. The homes provide full-time residential and dementia care, as well as short-term respite care and boast facilities including their very own cinemas and hair salons.