Sherwood Forest on Wearside
ROBIN HOOD-THEMED OPEN DAY AT CARE HOME
King Richard made a visit to a Wearside care home for a national event.
The Laurels Care Home, in Hetton, held a Robin Hoodthemed day as part of National Care Home Open Day.
Staff dressed up as characters from the period, including home administrator, Carole Green as Robin Hood, activities leader, Brenda Howe as Maid Marian, and caretaker, Tom Wilkinson as King Richard.
They threw the doors open to visitors and had lots of people come along to join in the fun with Robin Hoodthemed activities.
Carole said they were more thanhappytojoininthenational event and show people what life is like in their care home.
She said: “It is about inviting the public in so people can see for themselves what care homes are like and possibly in the future if they need to find a care home for a loved one, it won’t be so daunting for them.”
She said Hetton is a tightknit community and children from a nearby school, as well as businesses, came along to enjoy the open day.
“A lot of our residents have always lived in Hetton,” she added.
The home worker said because they do so many dressup days at The Laurels it was hard to come up with something they hadn’t done, but they hit on the Robin Hood theme.
Carole said: “We have lots of dress-up days, we are having a Star Wars theme today. It is just a lot of fun and the residents really enjoy it. We are alreadythinkingofwhattodofor the open day next year and we might do Egyptian.
“We do go the extra mile to transform the home for these events. It’s not like coming to work here, because we have so much fun.”
She said there was lots going on during the Robin Hood day, including the residents making Robin Hood hats.
Carole added: “The residents had a great time, they loved it.”