Residents at a care home in Bath have been recognised for their varied achievements over the past year at a celebratory graduation ceremony.
Resident Joseph Russell with team member Heather | Photo © Insight Photography
Pensioners at Ivybank House Care Home have added a number of skills to their list of talents by studying new languages, joining live tours of far-flung places, taking dancing and singing classes, enjoying photography courses and have even tried out graffiti spray painting.
The ‘Love Learning’ event is running in all of the Brighterkind care homes across the UK, with family, friends and members of the local community invited to the graduation ceremonies to see residents showcase some of their accomplishments and be presented with their certificates of lifelong learning.
The care home’s manager, Marta Szemborska, said: “Continuing to learn in older age has many benefits. As well as keeping our brains healthy, acquiring new knowledge gives a real sense of purpose and achievement.
“Our Magic Moments activities programme includes lots of opportunities to get involved, learn new things and above all have great fun together.”
Resident, Margaret Gimson, aged 74, said: “I can’t say I was that keen on school when I was younger but I’ve loved learning lots of new things and feel really proud of myself.
“My favourite activity has been the dancing sessions; I reckon I’d give those professionals on Strictly a run for their money!”
86-year-old resident, Joseph Russell, said: “They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks but I’ve learnt so many new things this year.
“I can now speak a bit of Spanish and French, know how to keep fit by exercising in my chair and I even learnt how to make the best pizza in the world from a chef in Rome.”
