Millfield Nursing Home have a roar-some day at Yorkshire Wildlife Park!

Last month, on a warm but windy Wednesday morning, residents at Millfield Nursing Home were eager to start their highly anticipated day out at their favourite local attraction: Yorkshire Wildlife Park. We joined the team on their big adventure and found out why they’re making the trip an annual event!

Brian, Howard, Lily, Barbara and Pat were the lucky residents invited to Yorkshire Wildlife Park; a walk-through wildlife adventure with a strong focus on conservation. Lucy, Activities Co-ordinator, told us how she was eager to return after a successful trip in 2024. “We had such a fun day last year, we decided to make this an annual experience for our residents. We take different people each year - the residents were so excited when we asked them if they’d like to join us!”

The day started with Brian swapping his trusty walker for a scooter; something which brought great entertainment throughout the day as he zoomed past his friends to get the first look at his favourite animals. “Seeing the tiger up close and personal was a wonderful experience. It was enjoying the warmer weather and sunbathing on its tower, completely unbothered by our presence – simply marvellous.”

As well as tigers, residents saw lions, giraffes, rhinos, polar bears and even walked with the lemurs in their enclosure, which was loved by everyone. Both Lily and Barbara purchased adorable giraffe teddies from the gift shop, Howard bought a 3D cup and Brian bought a notepad. Everyone was also treated to an ice cream – a perfect snack in the glorious weather!

Victoria, Activities Co-ordinator, praised the park for being an inclusive, wheelchair-friendly venue. “As most of our residents are wheelchair users, we sometimes struggle to find days out that are accessible – but we know we’re always welcome at Yorkshire Wildlife Park. They have on-site scooters to rent, wide paths throughout the park and ramps so our wheelchairs can easily get to the best vantage point. Simple things like these are the reason why we love going to YWP.”

Lily, 83, said her favourite animals were the big cats and lions. “I grew up on a farm and looked after horses almost all my life – but I’ve always had a soft spot for cats. Big cats, small cats…it doesn’t matter to me! The lions at Yorkshire Wildlife Park had just recently welcomed little cubs, who were adorable.”

The residents were joined by team members Lucy, Victoria, Lia and Beth, who helped the residents explore the wildlife park and enjoy their day out. Barbara, pictured with her red cardigan, was beaming with excitement the entire time, and said how she was glad to have had this experience with her best friends. “I’m 93 years old and have come to appreciate the smaller things in life. Today has been fantastic; I loved being around my friends and seeing all the wonderful animals!”

Part of the award-winning Orchard Care Homes group, Millfield Nursing Home offers a person-centred approach to care, and facilitating special days like these is just one of the many ways they ensure residents enjoy life at our Bolsover nursing home.

Karen, Home Manager, told us how activities outside the home are vital in supporting residents to remain engaged, happy and fulfilled. “It’s a common misconception that nursing home residents sit around all day watching TV – but it’s the complete opposite here at Millfield. Yes, residents can enjoy catching up on the latest soap drama if they’d like, but we also host regular events in and out of the home! The activities team are great at finding new ways to encourage residents to be more active and social, and the annual visit to Yorkshire Wildlife Park is a perfect example of this.”

From seeing polar bears playfully roll around to simply enjoying the summer sunshine, residents at Millfield Nursing Home had a wonderful time at Yorkshire Wildlife Park – thank you so much to Victoria, Lucy and the team for organising a fantastic day!

Looking for a nursing home in Bolsover? Millfield Nursing Home is rated ‘Good’ by CQC and offers residential care, short-term respite care and nursing care in their warm and welcoming home. Why not get in touch with the team to find out more?