The Tokyo Games has lit the interest of aged care residents in Caloundra who pulled out their joggers and wheelchairs to hold their own torch relay.
A heart-warming video that will bring a smile to your face shows elderly residents of St Mary’s Aged Care in Pelican Waters getting into the spirit of the Games, complete with a Chariots of Fire backing track.
And while they weren’t exactly sprinting out of the blocks, they put in enough effort to earn an Olympic-themed cupcake and biscuit at the finish line.
The activity was designed to connect residents with what’s going on in the world while encouraging some form of physical and social activity.
The footage shows the frail and elderly starting at one end of the facility and completing a short leg each as supporting residents are stationed at intervals to cheer them on.
The homemade torch with cellophane and foil flames was passed from person to person along a route to the clubhouse where the celebratory morning tea waited them.
Diversional therapist Ian Donaldson said about 10 residents took part in the relay while others lined the corridors as spectators.
“They probably did about 10 to 20 metres each and the carers from the wings brought others out to cheer them as they want past and make sure they were in position and it went quite smoothly I thought,” said Ian.
“It was amazing we had the Chariots of Fire music playing in the background.
“We tried to explain to them what it was beforehand but I don’t think some of them got it until it went past.
“But the look on their faces they just loved it.”
“We had a couple who over-ran their leg and had to come back a bit but it was great.”
The centre’s lifestyle therapy co-ordinator Jackie Nawrotzky came up with the idea as an addition to the Olympics morning tea that was planned.
Residents were treated to medals made of Oreos with licorice straps as ribbons, green and gold cupcakes and arrowroot biscuits decorated with smarties in Olympic colours.
Ian said gentle exercise was part of their daily routine but for the next two weeks residents would be introduced to a different Olympic sport.
First up was tennis so Ian brought along his racquet which he handed to residents who were seated in a circle, throwing a ball to each of them to have a hit.
One resident in the dementia ward even picked up the ball with her foot like a pro.
“I wouldn’t have thought just bringing a tennis racquet in would make such a difference and that’s only one sport we’ve done so far,” he said.
St Mary’s Aged Care has about 84 residents aged between their 60s and 99, with most in their 80s.
