The 2019 winner of a mini Olympic-style event that is staged across care homes in Suffolk has been announced.
Red House Residential Home in Sudbury beat 38 other care homes from across the county to win the title.
The annual competition, now in its third year, aims to give care home residents a fun and enjoyable experience of sport whilst highlighting the importance of physical activity within social care settings.
A total of 428 residents in 39 care settings across Suffolk competed in three sports (Boccia, fishing and curling) for a total of 239 hours over the winter and spring months with the top three homes then competing in a ‘super final’ to decide the outright champions.
BENEFIT
Chilton Court Care Home, Stowmarket and Haughgate House Nursing Home, Woodbridge were runners-up to Red House.
Sian Brown, Activity Co-ordinator at Red House, said: “Taking part in the Suffolk Care Home Olympics has been so much fun. Our residents have loved being part of it and to be overall winners is the icing on the cake.
“The residents said that being able to participate in the Games made them feel younger. Since taking part we have purchased our own Boccia set and now play regularly.”
Councillor James Reeder, Suffolk County Council’s cabinet member for Public Health and Prevention, said: “Whilst the competition is a lot of fun, the key message is that regular physical activity has a positive benefit no matter what age or stage of life you’re at.
COGNITIVE
“The Chief Medical Officer is very clear that older adults who participate in any amount of physical activity gain some health benefits, including maintenance of good physical and cognitive function. Some physical activity is better than none, and more physical activity provides greater health benefits.”
Edna, who is 83 and one of the participants, said “I wasn’t able to do as much as everyone else, but I felt included. I really enjoyed seeing my friends do so well - it brought us closer together. We all worked together and had such a laugh.”
The competition is delivered by social enterprise Elatus Sports in partnership with Active Suffolk.
