Residents at Bracebridge Court Care Home, part of the Runwood Homes Group, came together to celebrate Chinese New Year with a beautifully prepared traditional meal, festive decorations, and a wonderful sense of community.
The idea for the event came from Elaine, Lifestyle Coordinator, who suggested introducing evening dining experiences and exploring meals from different cultures. All residents were invited to attend, creating a warm and inclusive atmosphere.
The dining area was transformed for the occasion, with tables laid out beautifully using Chinese placemats and handmade lanterns created by residents during a previous arts and crafts session. The menu featured a delicious selection of home-cooked favourites including sweet and sour chicken, rice, vegetable spring rolls, duck spring rolls, prawn crackers, and pancakes with strawberries, bananas, chocolate and cream for dessert.
A standout moment of the evening involved resident Annette. After chatting with Elaine about cooking, she was invited into the kitchen where she met Head Chef Sue Owen. Annette enjoyed a tour of the kitchen and even helped Sue prepare the rice for the meal, adding a personal and memorable touch to the celebration.
The atmosphere throughout the evening was relaxed, pleasant and full of good humour. One particularly funny highlight came when Maureen attempted to use chopsticks, joking that there was “more on her lap than in her mouth,” much to the delight of everyone around the table.
Residents and their loved ones were quick to praise the event. Lesley, a friend of one resident, said:
“Anne said how fantastic the meal was, how lovely it was to enjoy a quiet meal with friends. What a brilliant thing to do!”
Resident Peter added:
“This is absolutely amazing — you’ve really outdone yourself this time… when is the next one?”
The Chinese New Year celebration at Bracebridge Court was not only a delicious success, but also a meaningful opportunity to embrace culture, strengthen friendships, and create joyful shared memories.
