An Epping-based care company partnered with West Ham United Foundation to arrange a boost for residents in one of its newly acquired care homes.
Premium Care Group, established in 2020, invited the community team from the club to provide a workout session and game of zimmer frame football for the south east care home, Churchfields’, elderly residents
The session was carried out by Sam Taylor, former youth team player for the club, who now helps to inspire and support people across the community as part of his role with the West Ham United Foundation.
The Foundation is the club’s official charity, aiming to respond to local need, unite the community and provide an environment for all to thrive. One of their areas of focus is combatting loneliness and improving physical and mental health for the elderly; harnessing the power of football and using shared passions to break down barriers and change lives.
Bryan Glover is the Director of Programmes at the WHU Foundation, and supported in delivering the exercise session at Churchfields. He said: “The level of engagement and enjoyment from the staff members and residents alike was clear to see. Engagement and variation make such a huge difference to a care home resident’s day.
“With a strong history of delivering community based activity for people of all ages and abilities, we are perfectly positioned to take this work into care homes and tackle some of the key issues in society, such as social isolation and inactivity.”
Bryan and the foundation’s health team are working on engaging with more care residents and delivering the training for their sessions around the country, so that more people and communities can benefit.
Karen Woolford is the Activities Coordinator at Churchfields Care Home, where residents had a great morning with the West Ham United Foundation members.
Karen said: “Our residents love any interaction with the outside world, it helps them with their minds and their bodies, keeps their spirits up, and helps with their daily life. The West Ham members were all so lovely with our residents too.
“We have a majority of female residents, and the ladies were very excited to have some young men in the building!”
Churchfields Care Home, located in Cassington, rural Oxfordshire is certified Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Karen ensures that the residents’ lives are varied, and enriched through various sporting, and non-sporting activities.
Karen said: “Our residents are really keen on their fitness, we do exercise classes and yoga, but to have someone come specifically for them, and talk about the likes of the England game , it makes a huge difference.
“After two years of being quite isolated, it really is great that we can have events and activities like this. It makes my job a dream!”
The fitness session included hand and arm exercises for dexterity, a mobility-friendly kickaround and lots of belly laughter.
Robert Adams and Renos Sideras launched Premium Care Group in 2020 to better the health and social care around the country.
Having acquired two CQC Outstanding care homes earlier this year, they now have plans to extend into Epping, and the rest of the south east.
Renos Sideras has more than 30 years of care, and dementia experience and Robert has worked in the luxury property industry for a long time.
Robert said: “We are entirely committed to enriching and improving the lives of elderly care home residents, and know that exercise and engagement is a huge part of this.
“We know that the lovely residents at Churchfields had a great afternoon of football, and fun, and all finished the day with smiles on their faces, and we can’t wish for any better than that.”
