Jane and Daphne hit the beach for a girls’ trip with a difference
Ampthill ladies Jane Ayre and Daphne Wheaton chased away the winter blues by hitting the beach for a girls’ holiday without leaving their care home.
The friends, who live at Richmond Manor Care Home on Dunstable Street, enjoyed mocktails, sea views and lots of laughs during a tropical-themed wellbeing day.
Residents got to enjoy a bit of winter sun after Wellbeing Coach Clare Cook and colleagues transformed the home’s in-house cinema into a Caribbean haven.
As they enjoyed views of sun-drenched beaches and palm trees, with the sounds of lapping waves, the ladies reflected on happy holidays past.
Daphne aged 85 said: “It was a very imaginative and fun idea to transform the cinema.”
Jane, aged 90, added: “I love the beach and it reminded me of all the summer holidays I’ve been lucky enough to go on.”
They weren’t the only residents who enjoyed leaving the grey skies of Ampthill behind as Beryl and Laurie French also donned flower garlands for a day at the ‘beach’.
The couple thoroughly enjoyed relaxing as they swapped memories of happy family holidays.
Beryl, aged 85, said, “It was nice to get away to the sunshine.”
The happy day was the perfect antidote to the winter blues and gave the residents a boost.
Wellbeing Coach Clare said: ‘We had a lovely day on our ‘holidays’ and it was great to be able to bring some sunshine into the lives of the residents.
“With all the sights, sounds and tastes of a beach holiday, it really felt like we’d escaped somewhere lovely and it was fantastic to see everyone enjoying themselves.”