"The SHINE Ball is the highlight of the year for many of our residents and this years occasion was a huge success. "
Penni Brown
Dozens of people from local care homes came together at Hull’s largest care home event to show how music and dancing can benefit residents.
The annual SHINE Ball, organised by the Hica Group and now in its fifth year, saw 170 service users with dementia or learning disabilities gather at Hull’s Station Hotel to enjoy afternoon tea and dance the day away in roaring 1920s style.
A big highlight saw many guests singing along to popular tunes from the time of the Great Gatsby and the jazz age, performed by local retro-performer, Claire Louise.
Sheila Watts a resident at the Hica Group’s Elm Tree Court, said: “We had a lovely time and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves dancing and singing. It was nice to meet up with people and share a wonderful afternoon. I’m really looking forward to next year’s ball.”
Almost 3,000 people in Hull are revealed to be currently coping with dementia - a figure expected to increase by approximately 1,000 by 2020.
Penni Brown, CEO, said: "These figures reinforce the importance of raising awareness of dementia and how music and dancing can have an extremely powerful effect on those with the condition.
“The SHINE Ball is the highlight of the year for many of our residents and this year’s occasion was a huge success. Events like this show how our residents can still go out to events no matter how advanced their condition is.
“It’s also a celebration and acknowledgement of the hard work and effort from Hica staff, who are so professional and dedicated to supporting and caring for all our residents.”
The occasion also saw Elm Tree Court receive their award as winners of the annual Hica in Bloom gardening competition. The runners-up prize went to Wilton Lodge, also in Hull.
The Hica Group, a not-for-profit organisation, operates a portfolio of 15 care homes across Hull and the East Riding. The company also runs two retirement villages and a homecare service, which provides approximately 11,500 hours of support from four regional offices in the north of England.
