The Chinese New Year of the Ox was celebrated in spirited style at Enliven’s Cashmere Home recently with armchair travel to Beijing.
In the beautifully themed and decorated lounge residents received their boarding passes and then got their passports stamped.
But first they were COVID-19 tested and searched for weapons and contraband at customs.
Once onboard, an Air China safety video and demonstration by staff member Zing set the scene. After landing in Beijing, facts and figures about China were presented before residents watched YouTube clips showing the best places to visit in China, a tiger dance and a mesmerising 1000 hand dance.
Chinese food for lunch further enhanced the event for the residents whose senses were fully engaged by the experience. The afternoon’s activities included making dumplings with the residents and showing them how to use chopsticks.
The home’s recreation staff, headed up by Cashmere Home and Cashmere Heights Home recreation team leader Linda Lankshear, say they got fantastic feedback from the day.
“One of our residents from China, who does not speak much English and has not joined in many activities, thanked me in English when I hung up red lanterns in her room,” Linda says.
“She also wished me ‘Happy New Year’ in English. Her husband visits her every day and this was a first for them both.”
The appreciation didn’t stop there, with another resident shouting the staff a celebratory Chinese lunch.
