Care home residents have 'the beach' brought to them

Lisa Brazier from Beach School Explorers, and resident Andy Taylor

Care home residents have had "the beach" brought to them in the hope it will help reduce anxiety and improve cognitive function.

Cherry Wood Grange, Chelmsford, provides support for people living with dementia and end-of-life care.

Residents with dementia have been able to build sandcastles and look at seaside memorabilia.

The home has been trialing the scheme for eight residents since March and a spokesperson said staff hoped to take them to a real beach soon.

It teamed up with children's club Beach School Explorers, which provides immersive experiences for children around Essex.

Bex Harmer, who works at the home, said: “We had our first beach school back in March, having heard about the wonderful things the Beach School Explorers do with schoolchildren across Essex."

Andy Taylor,77, who has been at the home since 2021, said: "The feel of the sand and looking at the old seaside postcards transports me back to holidays with my three children at Frinton-on-Sea.

“It’s a place very close to my heart and it brings back such lovely memories.”