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Easter Ross care home Innis Mhor in Tain in frame for national award for amazing lockdown events; Parklands Care Homes facility beat the coronavirus blues to host music festival, VE Day celebrations and Highland Games during pandemic to keep spirits high


By Hector MacKenzie

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Manager Jackie Macrae (centre) with some of her team.
Manager Jackie Macrae (centre) with some of her team.

A fun-loving Ross-shire care home is in the running for a national award after delivering a packed programme of events and activities for residents during lockdown.

Innis Mhor in Tain is a finalist in the ‘Best for Sporting, Social or Leisure Activities’ award at this year’s Care Home Awards, due to take place in September.

Hosted by broadcaster Alan Dedicoat, the awards are the biggest and most prestigious in the care sector.

In its submission to the Care Home Awards, Innis Mhor operator Parklands Care Homes wrote: “Renowned for its warmth, Highland hospitality and sense of fun, Innis Mhor adapted to the challenges posed by the Covid-19 lockdown with imagination, flair and creativity.

“Faced with the prospect of a prolonged lockdown, the team at Innis Mhor had two immediate challenges – first, how to keep residents active during lockdown and second, how to ensure that friends and relatives continued to feel part of the Innis Mhor family.

"The response was to put in place a busy calendar of sporting, cultural and creative events that would keep boredom at bay, and use social media to give relatives and friends in the community peace of mind that their loved ones were happy and healthy in lockdown.”

Events included an outdoor music festival, a funfair, VE Day commemorations, Highland Games, a tennis tournament, 1920s inspired Prom Night and an Oscars themed fancy dress party. Residents even opened their own pub during lockdown and the regulars are looking forward to inviting loved ones to join them for a bar meal as soon as Covid restrictions allow.

Many of last year’s events were broadcast live on social media so that family and friends could join in the fun.

Jackie Macrae, manager of Innis Mhor care home said: “I’m absolutely delighted for the team at Innis Mhor, especially our former activities coordinator Bryony Ross who was really instrumental in keeping residents entertained and engaged at the height of the pandemic. It hasn’t been an easy year for residents or staff, but we have all tried to stay positive during these difficult times. We have more fun events coming up this summer and hopefully we’ll be able to open our doors to more people as the Covid restrictions ease.”

Meanwhile, Parklands Care Homes has been shortlisted for a further three awards – Best Response to Covid-19, Best for Communication (with residents, families, friends & carers) and Best Smaller Care Home Group (up to 25 homes). Parklands won the latter two awards in 2020.

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