Residents at Surrey care home “seas” the day as building is transformed into a lively cruise ship experience

Acorn Court decked out the building as a cruise ship for the day in a remarkable transformation.

Acorn Court decked out the building as a cruise ship for the day in a remarkable transformation.

We created rooms themed on different countries based on the residents’ nationalities to explore new horizons as part of their ‘Making a Difference Challenge’, with the money raised donated to Dementia First.

The transformation of the 86-bed home, which offers residential, nursing and dementia care and holds a Gold Standards Framework in end-of-life care, featured themed lounges representing places such as China, Spain, Italy, the Caribbean, France and the UK.

“We believe in creating a real sense of community and joy among our residents,” said lifestyle coordinator, Tina Charwood.

“The cruise ship theme was the perfect way to involve our team, our residents, their families, and the wider community.

“The smiles on our residents’ faces and the enthusiasm in the air were truly heartwarming and we couldn’t have been happier with how it went.”

The event’s focal point was the home’s dining rooms, which were converted into lively entertainment spaces reminiscent of a cruise ship experience.

The residents were serenaded by a harpist and a singer, treated to the thrill of a casino, enjoyed delicious mock-tails at the bar and grooved to the sounds of a live saxophonist in the bistro.

Acorn Court’s talented kitchen team also crafted a taster menu inspired by the diverse cuisines of the countries featured in the themed rooms with residents savouring the flavours of the world.

“We’re really passionate about ensuring our residents can keep doing the things they love as well as enjoying new experiences with us,” said care home manager Noelia Fernandes.

“We have residents with a variety of needs ranging from physical assistance to end of life care and for all our residents we want their days with us to be as special as possible.

“We wanted to create a unique day of adventure, nostalgia, and connection with their heritage, and it was an incredible success.

“Seeing the smiles on everyone’s faces and hearing the chatter about their memories of the food and culture they have experienced all around the world was wonderful and I can’t praise the team enough for making this a reality.”