Valentine’s Day cookies created by care home residents

ROMANCE was in the air at a Teesside care home with a Valentine’s themed musical reminiscence session, cookie making and a birthday bash.

Residents at The Beeches Care Home, on Green Lane, Stockton-on-Tees, enjoyed a performance from singer Jenifer Normandale from social enterprise Musical Memories.

The residents danced and sang along to classics from the Supremes to Elvis, while enjoying a tipple of port and lemonade.

The event also celebrated resident Gwen Baker’s 84^th birthday and fit around other Valentine’s Day activities.

She said: “I’ve been dancing along to the entertainment and thoroughly enjoyed my day.”

Earlier in the day, residents baked and decorated cookies with Haribo hearts, sherbet hearts, mini-marshmallows, sprinkles and edible pink and red glitter.

The tasty treats were made by Sheila Bradley, 87, Alwyn Behan, 86, Marian Knightly, 83, Sylvia Smith, 77, and Jane Monaghan, 72.

Jane said: “It reminded me of making biscuits at home with the children.”

Sheila said: “It brought back fond memories of making biscuits at home when my daughter Sharon was little.”

Marian said: “I have enjoyed decorating the biscuits ready for the other residents to eat. I enjoyed using the different decorations for Valentine’s Day.”

Alwyn said: “I enjoyed using the marshmallows on my biscuits. It’s been a nice afternoon.”

Jessica Roth, activities coordinator at The Beeches Care Home, said: “All the residents had a smile on their face and were singing along during the entertainment from Jenifer.

“Earlier in the day, we all had a great time baking and decorating the biscuits before giving them out at 3pm to enjoy with a cup of tea.

“For residents with dementia, familiar activities such as this have a great therapeutic effect, as they bring back fond memories of baking with their children.”