Residents and staff at a Taverham care home are celebrating being chosen as the best entry into the countywide Pimp My Zimmer competition.
Two Acres Nursing Care Home was selected out of a competitive field of nursing and residential homes across Norfolk and Waveney who have been busy with their residents and families to decorate their zimmers.
What sounds like an unorthodox way of decorating walking frames actually helps personalise the equipment and make it easily recognisable.
It also helps older people choose their own walking frame, as using a frame that is not adjusted for their height increases the risk of falling.
Dr Harilal Kalaria, managing director of Two Acres, said: 'We're delighted that our entry into the competition was selected as the winner – our staff and residents worked hard to select pictures and photos that meant so much to them personally. Everyone at Two Acres can't wait for the visit of the Mini Donkeys, which will give another boost to our wellbeing.'
The pimped zimmers from across Norfolk and Waveney were judged by Liz Yaxley, dementia services manager at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH).
Ms Yaxley said: 'The entries were all so wonderful that the decision was shared with our dementia support team. We were so impressed with the imagination and effort shown by all the participants. They looked great fun to make and really made us smile.
'Sadly there can only be one winner, but Two Acres really understood the purpose of decorating their walking frames by wrapping them in images of personal interests and we thought they would be easily recognisable. We also liked how this had been part of a wider project on displaying photographs and writing about things which matter to each person. Congratulations to the residents and staff from Two Acres.'
Two Acres are the second winners of the Pimp My Zimmer competition, which began in 2017.
As winners, the home received a visit from community venture Mini Donkeys for Wellbeing.
Blueberry Kulaszynska, activity co-ordinator for Two Acres was delighted with the visit of the mini donkeys. She said: 'Alfie and Rubik put smiles on the faces of so many residents today, it has been absolutely wonderful. They have helped bring back memories for many and so many enjoyed stroking them.'
Sarah McPherson, founder of Miniature Donkeys for Wellbeing, added: 'It is such a privilege to be able to do visits like this as the donkeys help people remember or forget, depending on their situation. Everyone gets excited.
'We are so grateful to have been offered as a prize for these wonderful people.'
The Pimp My Zimmer project formed part of new joint ways of working between care homes and health and care providers locally, supported by care home practitioners Kate Wyatt and Irene Karrouze across Norfolk and Waveney.
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