Home completes 18 cafés in 18 days challenge

A care home has completed an 18 cafés in 18 days challenge to help residents reintegrate into the community after the pandemic.

During the pandemic, many of the residents at Fairburn Mews care home, in Castleford, were unable to get out and about due to the lengthy lockdown restrictions. As they now get back to doing the things they loved pre-pandemic, some residents were apprehensive about the return.

The team wanted to provide a fun and relaxed way of reintroducing people back into the local community, and contacted local cafés in the surrounding area.

Bev Blythe, activities team leader at Fairburn Mews, says: “We’d like to say a big thank you to local cafes for making us feel so welcome. During the pandemic, we were all limited in what we could do, and care home residents even more so. As things started to open up, some of our residents expressed that they were a bit nervous about going out into the local community again. We thought that this café challenge would be a fun way to build confidence and reintroduce people into the community.”

Eighteen of the home’s 20 residents took part in the challenge and had a brilliant time reexploring the local area. One resident, Pat, says: “It’s so nice to be able to come outside again,” while another, Graham, adds: “I feel better about going out now.”

Residents and colleagues from the home enjoyed tea and cake while visiting cafes around the Castleford area, including Queens Mill Tearooms, The Hidden Tearoom, rivers MEET, Birkin Fisheries Tea Room, The Wrinkled Stocking and Stork Lodge Tea Room.

Mark Quarmby, home manager at Fairburn Mews, says: “Our care focuses on supporting people to maximise their independence and build everyday living skills. We actively encourage people to develop and maintain their community connections, and it’s great that we’re able to support this again as restrictions ease.”

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