Walk Don’t Run! #TeamClifdenHouse

March 14, 2019

A new team has entered the local #Seaford football scene.

Residents from Clifden House Dementia Care Centre now have regular team to take part and enjoy ‘walking football’ at the Downs Leisure Club.

Nial Joyce of Clifden House, said: “Our residents already really enjoy our regular bowling matches at the local Newhaven indoor bowling centre, so widening this to also take part in walking football made perfect sense.”

Walking football is different to regular football in many ways and is aimed at the over 50’s age group. It has very specific rules that outlaw all running and allows no contact between players. Over-head height restrictions and indirect free kicks ensure that the sport is played safely with full consideration to the participants’ age. Teams are either 5 or 6-a-side. As a result of these rules, games are played at a slower pace, often on artificial grass pitches, thus reducing the threat of pain, discomfort and injury, with players briskly walking through matches. This allows people who have loved the sport all their lives to once again safely get back to playing and also introduces the sport to people who perhaps have never considered playing before.

Hydration & Nutrition

This month, as one of the leading dementia care homes in Sussex, Clifden House is also taking part in Hydration and Nutrition Week from 11-17 March 2019. This annual event highlights, promotes and celebrates improvements in the provision of nutrition and hydration.
Raising awareness of the 10 key characteristics of good nutrition and hydration care along with giving people choice and control over their dietary needs has long been a priority at Clifden House.
“We work as a team to ensure that our residents have the best possible nutritional care,” said Nial Joyce, of Clifden House Dementia Care Centre

Clifden House ran themed days as part of the week including a Big Breakfast on Monday highlighting breakfast as the most important meal and a Smoothie Saturday.   Niall Joyce of Clifden House said; “Smoothies are an excellent way of giving valuable nutrition from fruit and vegetables as well as rehydrating in an easily digestible form and are a firm favourite with our residents”.

The highlight of the week was the Global Tea Party on Wednesday 13 March, that shows a shared commitment amongst participants to nutritional care and the improvement of nutritional intake, but above all to bring people together to share joy and fun around the theme of nutritional wellbeing.