A SPECIALIST dementia care home in Wellington has celebrated International Talk like a Pirate Day with dressing-up and nautical-themed activities.

To honour the day, residents of Camelot House and Lodge donned pirate hats and eye patches while taking part in a quiz, craft activities and karaoke.

Manager of the care home, Zillah Oakes, said: “Theme days offer a great excuse for some out-of-the ordinary activities that amuse both our residents and our staff, and this year’s Talk Like A Pirate Day was enormous fun.

“To set the scene, we pretended to hoist the Jolly Roger and we supported our ladies and gents to decorate the lounge with pirate pictures and skull and crossbones images they produced themselves while listening to a curated play-list including the theme from Pirates Of The Caribbean. 

“They always love a good sing-along, so in the morning we had a karaoke session when they enthusiastically joined in Drunken Sailor, Blow The Man Down and other shanties.

“My colleagues wore pirate hats and totally entered into the spirit of the day, with a variety of games with a pirate twist including a special quiz, and pirate-themed craft activities. 

“In the afternoon the residents enjoyed listening to pirate stories whilst having a drink from our in-house pub and ending up with another round of shanties and pirate impressions. 

“It was a fabulous day.”

Camelot House and Lodge is run by award-winning dementia care providers Camelot Care, who also have three other homes in Bridgwater, Plymouth and Yeovil, with a fifth, in Holsworthy, due to open in 2025.