An Elvis tribute act, its own bespoke bar and a beach in the garden are perhaps not features of the typical care home.
But at Appleby Care Home in North Shields, getting back to normal after a traumatic period during the Covid-19 lockdowns means getting back to helping the residents to dance with the carers and to sharing "lads talk" over a - non-alcoholic - pint in the bar hand-built by Steve Taylor, the former carer and activities lead who now looks after maintenance.
Registered manager Clare Leonard told ChronicleLive how after a scary time during the pandemic, not least when she herself spent a fortnight in intensive care, emphasising the social elements of life at Appleby was a key priority for her team. That could be by reminding residents of their seaside memories or getting Mike Memphis - the Elvis tribute - in to get everyone bopping to a rendition of the Moody Blues.
