Sounds like I found the home I want to be put in!
are homes have tried everything from art lessons to visiting children in an attempt to keep their residents occupied.
Now one home has gone a step further and introduced pole dancing as part of their entertainment programme.
Fairmile Grange organised the “inappropriate” activity, which is more commonly associated with clubs than care homes, after its residents reportedly wanted to see something “a bit different.”
Despite being criticised the nursing home in Christchurch, Dorset, has defended the activity.
Six women took part in the show carried out to 1950s and ’60s music which received an “overwhelmingly positive” reception from residents.
A metal pole was erected in the communal lounge where the women performed a series of acrobatic moves to songs by Abba and Frank Sinatra.
Local councillors however cast doubts over the performance, labelling it as “inappropriate” for nursing homes.
Christchurch councillor Peter Hall said he was “absolutely surprised” that pole dancing had taken place.
“My view is that it is completely inappropriate for a care home. It’s not really the sort of entertainment I would have thought that the residents wanted or would have encouraged,” he said.
Councillor Denise Jones, champion for older people in Christchurch, added that while she thought it was an “extremely novel idea” it was “probably an inappropriate one”.
“I’m a bit staggered about it. While I’m always delighted to see the horizons of older people widened, I’m not sure that includes pole dancing.”
The home, owned by Encore Care Homes, said both relatives and residents had been requesting “more modern-style activities” and, when given the choice, “welcomed” the pole dancers’ performance.
Izzy Nicholls, operations and quality director for Encore, said: “Residents were given several choices of activity and specifically chose for a local pole dancing company to perform.
“We are proud to challenge stereotypes and will continually offer our residents the choice to experience appropriate, new and progressive activities.”
Encore declined to comment on what other choices of entertainment had been offered to residents or on the gender split of residents in their care.
The dancers travelled from Poole-based dancing school Pole Dance Factory to entertain the residents for 30 minutes.
Owner Katie Henry said there were different styles of pole dancing, but…