Easter bonnet-making competition has great benefits for elderly residents

Residents at Kalgoorlie-Boulder’s Victoria Park Nursing Home have hopped into the Easter festive spirit.

The aged-care home, run by Southern Cross Care WA, hosted a range of Easter-themed activities last week, including a festive quiz and word search, before winners of an Easter bonnet-making competition were crowned.

In the weeks leading up to Easter, residents flexed their creativity muscles by decorating hats using flowers, Easter eggs and Easter bunnies.

Facility manager Cheryl Hahn said the friendly competition brought residents together to reminisce on how they celebrated Easter.

“An event like this brings back memories for them and enables them to meet each, socialise and have a bit of fun,” she said.

“A lot of them actually said ‘I used to do this at home’ or ‘I can remember doing this (craft activities) in school’.”

Musician Ken Needham provided entertainment before a surprise visit from the Easter Bunny.

Southern Cross Care WA chief executive Clare Grieveson, who visited the home on Tuesday, said the event supported residents’ physical dexterity, cognition and mental health through connectedness.

“It’s the kind of activity that we like to (host) because it gives them purpose, but it also works on some of the skills that . . . maintain their independence,” she said.

“It’s great for connection, it’s great for their mental health, and it’s also great for their physical dexterity as well.”

Ms Grieveson said Southern Cross Care hosted Christmas decorating competitions at its aged-care homes across the State and Victoria Park Nursing Home “is always the home to beat”.

“The residents get really involved and it looks beautiful so I think we’re setting a standard now for Easter and I suspect we’re starting a new tradition,” she said.

Residents Noeline Duncan, Pamela Martin, and Morf Mutzig won first, second, and third prize, respectively.