Keeping fit with residents at Queen Elizabeth Park Care Home
Residents at the home lead exercise classes for the local community
Three residents from Queen Elizabeth Park Care Home (QEP) with a combined age of 264 led a unique ‘Moving and Grooving’ exercise session for people from Surrey Choices Lockwood Centre on Friday 22nd September.
The trio – May Mills (96), Kit Culley (82) and Jean Grinter (86) had already trialled the class at Lockwood Activity Centre. The trial was so successful that the home will now offer a session every four weeks, switching venues between Lockwood and QEP.
QEP is working in partnership with Surrey Choices who provide a range of support services for those with learning and physical disabilities, sensory needs and people on the autistic spectrum. The session has been designed specifically to suit the needs of customers with a range of disabilities to allow everyone to get involved.
Peta Hayden, Activity Facilitator from Surrey Choices Lockwood Activity Centre says: “These unusual ‘Moving and Grooving’ exercise classes are very beneficial for our customers who struggle with physical movement. This is something completely different and it is such fun. We are really enjoying having the QEP residents here and looking forward to visiting the home for the first time”.
The three residents will be supported during the session by QEPs home manager, Heather De-Ninis, lifestyle coordinator Jackie Avenell and care worker Tanya Court. Two resident’s relatives, Jane Fielding and Sara Wakefield and sports instructor Vicky Dale of ‘Reveal Health & Fitness’ – who will be running the exercise programme at Lockwood Activity Centre – will also join the class.
Home manager, Heather De-Ninis says: “We are delighted to be able to provide a useful addition to Lockwood’s programme. And our residents are benefiting from it enormously.”
96-six-year-old May Mills says: “I think our classes are useful for the community and I am delighted to be part of this project”.
Kit Colley (82) is another keen proponent of the class. She says: “I’m really keen to get out into the community and join in with everyone.”
And 86-year-old Jean Grinter who used to keep fit at the Holiday Inn, in Guildford, by regularly swimming commented after the class: “It’s a great feeling to get out and meet new people”.