Fiesta fun for Berwick care home residents as they celebrate Cinco de Mayo

Residents at Hillside Lodge Care Home in Berwick were joined by their family and friends for a Mexican-themed party to celebrate the Cinco de Mayo festival.

Mexico was the first stop on the care home’s ‘Cruise Around the World’ armchair travel activity, which, throughout the year, will see residents at Four Seasons care homes across the UK, experiencing the sights, sounds, tastes and culture of destinations they’ve always wanted to visit. The ship will also be docking at fondly remembered destinations, so residents can share their stories about their travels in the past and take a trip down memory lane.

The fiesta had all the ingredients to transport guests to Central Mexico, with vibrant decorations, lively music and lots of maraca shaking. After playing party games including Pin the Tail on the Donkey, Cactus Hoopla and whacking the pinatas, the care home’s chefs prepared a feast of chilli con carne and mango cocktails for a taste of Mexico.

Resident, Margy Stephenson, said: “It was fantastic, I loved getting dressed up and taking part and the atmosphere was great.”

The care home’s Magic Moments Coordinator, Rachael Howlett said: “The preparations for our Cinco de Mayo fiesta started weeks ago with everyone at Hillside Lodge getting involved. Our residents made colourful decorations and props in their craft activities, so we were ready to party Mexican style!

“It’s been a very exciting first port of call on our world cruise, none of us had been to Mexico before, so everyone enjoyed experiencing the culture and loved the food. We’re now deciding what our next destination will be, having already booked Paris for the Olympics in July and Lapland for the festive season in our cruise diary.”

Hillside Lodge Care Home is in Braeside, Berwick-upon-Tweed and provides residential, nursing, palliative, respite and intermediate care. The home is rated ‘Good’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). www.fshcgroup.com