Residents at The Red House care home in Ashtead have been getting into the football spirit, inspired by the World Cup, with a fun-filled afternoon of football, music and friendly competition in the garden.
The home, part of Aurem Care, transformed its outdoor space into a football pitch for a seated football session that combined gentle exercise, teamwork and plenty of laughter.
Using a beach ball and an unused Zimmer frame as a makeshift goal, residents took part in a lively match after warming up with a series of gentle exercises. The creative approach proved a winning formula, with every goal greeted by cheers, applause and celebrations from players and spectators alike.
To add to the atmosphere, residents sang along to a selection of football favourites throughout the afternoon, including the crowd-pleasing anthem Sweet Caroline.
The football fun has been complemented by a World Cup sweepstake at the home, which has sparked conversations about different countries, favourite teams and memorable football moments, bringing residents together through a shared love of the beautiful game.
Val Mathew, home manager at The Red House, said:
“Football has a wonderful way of bringing people together, and our residents thoroughly enjoyed taking part in the seated football session. It was fantastic to see everyone getting involved, cheering each other on and sharing so many smiles.
“The World Cup sweepstake has also created lots of excitement around the home and encouraged residents to reminisce about past tournaments and discuss the different nations taking part. Activities like these are a great way of promoting wellbeing, encouraging gentle physical activity and creating meaningful social connections.”
