Staff at Tallington Lodge Care Home have once again gone above and beyond, and for the very first time, they have made a seaside holiday getaway a reality for four delighted residents.
Doreen, Sylvia, Rosemary and Joyce enjoyed a carefully planned holiday to Blackpool, staying at The Bond Hotel – the UK’s largest fully accessible hotel. With accessible rooms, nightly entertainment, specialist menus and convenient door-to-door transport, the break was designed to be joyful, stress-free and truly memorable for everyone involved.
The residents and five members of staff set off by minibus at 10am on Tuesday, 11th November. With a couple of rest breaks along the way, they enjoyed spotting familiar sights, including the iconic Blackpool Tower, before arriving safely at the hotel.
After unpacking, everyone headed straight out to see the sea. The group loved strolling along the promenade and spending time in the amusement arcade, where staff kindly gifted the residents fridge magnets as mementoes of the day. On the way back, they took in the famous Blackpool Illumination lights before dinner, followed by an evening of dancing, singing, a raffle and Bingo in the hotel lounge.
Doreen was overcome with emotion, saying: “I thought I would never dance again.”
Sylvia was making the most of her holiday because when asked what she wanted to drink, she replied: “Darling, I’ll have a double brandy and dry.”
Sarah, a member of the team, said: “Seeing the residents come alive with dancing and waving their hands was absolutely magical.”
The following morning, the group enjoyed a beautiful walk from the South Pier to the North Pier, taking in views of the beach, sea and trams while chatting and laughing together. A highlight of the trip was visiting the Blackpool Tower Ballroom. The residents were blown away by the grandeur of the building, the atmosphere and the whole experience. They tucked into a delicious afternoon tea while watching professional dancers perform.
The journey back to the hotel was made even more special with a nostalgic tram ride. That evening, everyone enjoyed an ABBA tribute act, which was a huge hit with the group.
On Thursday, it was time to say goodbye to Blackpool. The journey home was filled with reflections, laughter and stories about their favourite moments from the trip. When asked how they felt afterwards, the residents all replied: “When can we go again?”
Rosemary added: “The whole trip was marvellous, and once I have rested, I would like to do the whole thing again.”
Home Manager, Natalie White, who accompanied the group, said: “It is such an honour to organise a trip like this for our residents. Seeing the joy it brought them was just amazing; they have returned with a new lease of life. It took careful planning to make sure we could meet everyone’s needs, but it was a wonderful experience for all of us, and we’ve brought home memories we’ll cherish forever.”
At Tallington Lodge, staff believe that moving into a care home should never mean giving up the chance to live life to the full. This trip has shown that holidays are very much still possible—and that residents can continue to enjoy meaningful experiences both inside and outside of the home.
For more information about Tallington Lodge Care Home, please contact Morgan Hicks on 01780 740 314 or email careenquiries@countrycourtcare.com.
