Circus Performer Brings Joy and Laughter to Care Home Residents

A circus performer has brought joy and excitement to residents of a care home in Bournemouth, Dorset. Jasmin Edwards, 32, conducted a lively workshop at Castle Dene care home, engaging the residents in a series of fun activities like juggling and plate spinning.

Edwards, focusing her efforts on women aging in the arts as part of the Arts by the Sea project, aimed to create memorable and joyful moments for residents, many of whom are living with dementia. The visits to care homes are part of a broader initiative designed to integrate often-overlooked communities into the arts, thereby fostering joy and connection.

“We chose to do these community days in residential homes mostly because care home residents are people that don’t often get to experience things like this,” Edwards said. Despite initial reluctance from some residents, Edwards noticed that building their confidence made a significant difference.

“Unlike children who are overly confident and quick to pick things up, the elderly needed more time and encouragement,” she explained. Patience and a gradual approach were essential for success, as Edwards used various sensory props like juggling balls to engage the residents. “I heard a lot of ‘I can’t do this,’ but by showing them step by step, I helped them realize they could,” she added.

The workshop was designed to be sensory-rich. Edwards emphasized the tactile experience of juggling balls, gradually building up the activities. “We start by talking about how the balls feel, then progress to throwing and catching, eventually moving to more complex activities like juggling two balls and tossing them to each other,” she said.

Bournemouth-based Edwards, a multi-hoop specialist, plans to conduct more sessions in care homes during the winter when her schedule allows. Despite her initial anxiety about working with the elderly, the experience has been overwhelmingly positive.

“Getting people active is fantastic, and although I was initially a bit anxious because I had never worked in residential homes before, the residents were great—full of fun and humor,” Edwards shared. She hopes that this initiative will inspire other circus performers to engage with similar communities.

“The smiles on the residents’ faces were amazing. If more performers did this, it would be incredible,” she said, highlighting the transformative power of such engagements in bringing joy to residents’ lives.

Source: PA Wire