Mercy Place Residents Go for Gold

Competitive sport took centre stage around the world this month and residents at Mercy Health aged care homes joined in the action, lacing up their trainers and participating in a range of activities to mark the occasion. 

But as our champion Aussie athletes arrive back home, the fun continued at Mercy Place Parkville where residents went for gold and participated in a range of activities including skittles, bocce, minigolf and ten pin bowling.  

The Parkville celebrations are the latest in a string of similar activities across Mercy Health homes.  

Mercy Health Lifestyle and Volunteer Manager, Karren Gooding, said the sporting celebrations were a great way for residents to join in the fun while enjoying safe physical activity and engaging with the community.

“We’ve seen residents, staff and volunteers come together and compete in a host of creative activities these past two weeks – from balloon relays, noodle javelin, paper aeroplane flying and everything in between,” Ms Gooding said.  

The celebrations also saw Mercy Place Colac along with Mercy Place Albury team up with other aged care homes in their local area to give residents the opportunity to socialise with other residents and staff from neighbouring homes.  

“The celebrations have been a wonderful display of community spirit and are testament to the great relationships between our staff, residents and our wider network,” Ms Gooding continued.

Meanwhile, Mercy Place Colac and Mercy Place Fernhill joined the competitive spirit with residents vying against one another in a series of games and activities culminating in Mercy Place Colac snagging victory and an impressive trophy.  

A partnership between Mercy Place Warrnambool and the Warrnambool Special Developmental School has seen residents and students work together to ready the home for the sporting season and take part in activities to promote physical fitness.

Similarly, residents at Mercy Place Abbotsford also recruited support from the younger generation, hosting an intergenerational games day with students from the Melbourne University Early Learning Centre. 

Mercy Place Montrose celebrated the cultural background of its residents who were encouraged to dress up in their national colours as they took part in the sporting occasion, while Mercy Place Mount St Joseph’s in Young divided itself into three competing teams for an internal sporting competition.   

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