Residents and staff at Springbank Care Home were transported back in time recently as they welcomed the Ormsheim Vikings for an immersive historical experience. The special visit was organised as part of the home’s ‘Moments That Matter’ initiative, which encourages residents, families, and staff to suggest deeply personal activities or excursions.
The idea for the day originated from a resident who has a profound lifelong interest in Viking history. Looking to make the residents dream a reality, the home’s activities team arranged for the re-enactment group to set up camp at the home, bringing an extraordinary array of authentic swords, chainmail, and traditional board games for everyone to experience first-hand.
For the entire time the Vikings were with the home, the resident was truly engaged, and it was truly fantastic to see her engaging in something she clearly loved. Her face completely lit up as she watched the demonstrations, holding the artefacts and sharing her passion with those around her.
The whole home community was captivated by the interactive demonstrations and fascinating storytelling. A particular highlight of the day was a young girl within the re-enactment group, who won the hearts of everyone at Springbank with her patience, warmth, and natural ability to connect compassionately with the residents.
The ‘Moments That Matter’ campaign at Springbank Care Home focuses on person-led care, tailoring experiences to the unique lives and passions of individual residents. Previous success stories from the initiative include supporting resident Ivan to attend the wedding of a loved one, and creating a bespoke, one-to-one poetry session for a former nurse on International Nurses Day.
Molly, Activity Coordinator at Springbank Care Home, expressed her gratitude following the successful event: “On behalf of everyone at our care home, I would like to say a huge thank you to the Ormsheim Vikings for taking the time to visit us. Your enthusiasm, knowledge, and the effort you put into making the experience interactive were truly appreciated. It was wonderful to see so many smiles and hear the conversations that continued long after your visit had ended. You helped create a memorable and enjoyable experience for everyone involved, especially for our resident, whose face completely lit up throughout the demonstrations.”
April Howie, Deputy Manager at Springbank Care Home, added: “Our ‘Moments That Matter’ initiative is all about celebrating the individuality of our residents and ensuring they continue to live fulfilled lives rich with experiences that truly matter to them. Seeing the joy on our residents face and how engaged the entire home was with the Ormsheim Vikings proves just how impactful these person-led activities are. We are incredibly proud of our team for making this happen and look forward to welcoming the group back in the future.”
The event has left a lasting impression on the residents, who are already looking forward to the next historical adventure.
