Care home residents were taken back in time by an entertainer who sang iconic songs from the 1950s through to the 1980s.
Entertainer Brian Shaw visited Clifton Lodge in Balmoral Road, Westcliff, on Thursday 21 July and entertained residents who sang along with and danced to lots of songs, including a few show tunes.
He also sang happy birthday to one resident who was celebrating his 87th birthday.Clifton Lodge organises entertainment for its residents every month. They enjoy snacks, such as crisps, ice cream, cakes and soft drinks, while listening and taking part.
The Reverend Sandie Woolford, who organises fun-filled activities for the residents, said: “The residents really enjoy having the entertainment and love to take part in any capacity as they can such as dancing, singing and tapping their feet.
“It’s nice to see them engaging with the entertainer and each other and brings laughter and happiness to the care home.
“We have monthly entertainment and each bring their own unique style. Yesterday we had Brian Shaw, who has his own vintage style but also adapts to the need of others. He has a good party spirit and engages from behind the microphone bringing everyone into the moment.”
Clifton Lodge is one of two care homes managed by Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT) and looks after people with dementia.
In January, EPUT was rated as one of the top 15 providers in England for dementia-friendly care in the latest Patient-Led Assessment of the Care Environment (PLACE) review.
The review took place across 760 beds, 44 wards and 18 inpatient units across the Trust.
Local people (known as patient assessors) went into sites providing NHS-funded care to patients to assess how the environment supported the provision of clinical care. This included assessing privacy and dignity, food, cleanliness, general building maintenance and the extent to which the environment supported the care of people with dementia or a disability.
PLACE assessments take place every year, and results are published to help drive improvements in the care environment. The results show how hospitals are performing both nationally and in relation to other hospitals providing similar services.