Carnival and costumes, all part of the care at Mont Clare

To combat the potential listlessness of lockdown, staff at a local Claremont not-for-profit aged care home decided to create their own carnival for residents last week.

 

Complete with costumes, masks, music, wigs, a photo booth and a range of games, from giant Connect 4 to skittles and minigolf, seniors at Mercy Place Mont Clare (WA) were treated to a day of fun and entertainment, where everyone could join in.

The carnival celebrations, which were the brainchild of the home’s lifestyle team, were organised to bring joy and happiness to the lives of the seniors during Perth’s third Covid lockdown of the year.

Mercy Health General Manager, Jo Forrest, says creating opportunities for joy and laughter are important in helping seniors maintain their happiness and contentment, something that Mercy Place Mont Clare was strongly focused on.

“Many of our residents would remember the joy of going to the Royal Show or a music carnival in their younger years, and the team here at Mont Clare wanted to give them a similar experience during a time that could have been fairly quiet and uneventful, given no visitors were allowed into our premises,” she says.

“Our team here knows very well that happiness and contentment enhance a person’s health and overall well-being, and it was wonderful to see residents laughing and really enjoying themselves during our own Mont Clare carnival. The staff really excelled in terms of putting on this event, and the feedback we’ve received from residents has been just delightful, they loved every minute.”

Mercy Health is a Catholic community not for profit provider of care, founded by the Sisters of Mercy and grounded in a 2000 year history of caring for those in need. The organisation is a national service provider of health and aged care throughout Victoria, Southern New South Wales, Western Australia, Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory.

In Western Australia, the organisation cares for more than 300 people across six residential homes, with 78 independent living units.