Residents Take on a Zip Line at New Springfield Sports Day

Residents at New Springfield Care Home on Preston New Road in Blackburn swapped their armchairs for a zip line, as the home held its own sports day with every event adapted so that everyone could join in. 

The zip line was the most popular event, with residents queuing to have a go. They lined up in their wheelchairs, whilst team members held a long piece of string down the corridor which a pool noodle was hooked over for residents to hold onto. Grabbing either end, and with a team member pushing their chair, they had such a laugh as they were pushed down the corridor. 

Alongside it, residents took on a series of games designed to be played from a chair or a wheelchair: ping pong balls tossed into egg cartons and balls scooped into cups using a ping pong bat. Every resident who took part was given a gold medal at the end of the day.

“Every game was designed to be played sitting down and the zip line was the thing people talked about for days afterwards” said Andrea, Wellbeing Lead at New Springfield.

One of the home’s carers came in on her day off, bringing her three children with her to join in and they all enjoyed whizzing down the zip line alongside the residents. 

Adapted sport and active play support balance, coordination and confidence and offer friendly competition for care home residents. Wellbeing Leads from across Each Other Care meet regularly to share what has worked, which is how ideas like the sports day travel between homes.

New Springfield Care Home is nationally recognised for their Wellbeing Programme and is now welcoming residents for compassionate residential, dementia, respite, nursing and day-care.