Residents get the scoop on National Ice Cream Day

Residents with a sweet tooth enjoyed cool summer treats as they celebrated National Ice Cream Day.

The flavoursome fun brought surprise and delight all round at our care homes in Bournemouth, Poole, West Moors and Longham.

While some homes welcomed special visits by ice cream vans, others designed their own in-house take.

At Brook View in West Moors, Companionship Team member Jo Vardy dressed up as an ice cream van and went on her own ‘road trip’ complete with realistic catchy jingle.

As residents gathered around the garden pond to greet the ‘Jomobile’, colleague Lauren Parrett was on hand to served ice creams with various sauces and toppings.

Lauren said: “It was a chance for residents to look back on the times when they would see men cycling along the beach front with a trailer of ice lollies to sell for a penny.”

Resident Diana Pearce said: “It was such a lovely afternoon. I enjoyed sitting with my daughter and my friends taking it all in. The Companionship Team always go above and beyond to make us smile and today was a day where everyone was smiling.”

Fellow resident Iona Midlane said: “We sat by the pond and enjoyed everyone’s company. The ice cream took me back to school days in Wales where we would buy a lolly after school for a rare treat.”

At Avon Cliff in Bournemouth, there was ice cream galore at a specially created in-home parlour dispensing flavours such as raspberry ripple and mint chic chip with a choice of cones, wafers and toppings. Resident Diana Kitcher said: “It was a very nice afternoon and a nice change.”

At Bourne View in Poole, residents created a poster for Ice Cream Day by colouring various images of ice-cream clipart.

They displayed it during a visit from Sharon’s ice cream van which brought a range of goodies such as 99s, Mr Whippy ices, vegan choices and bags of sweets.

Respite resident Irene Green said: “It’s wonderful that a care home puts something like this on. Thanks to the staff for doing this for us.”

At Fernhill, a dedicated dementia care home in Longham, the arrival of Sharon’s Soft Ices with the van’s familiar jingle had particular significance for some.

Companionship Team member Evie P. Thorburn said: “For residents who live with dementia, the van’s arrival was especially meaningful. The familiar tune sparked memories and smiles, while the ice cream provided sensory grounding and moments of joy. As Ron Howes and Dorothy Hannam reminisced about their childhood summers, their faces glowed with delight. These are the kind of simple moments that make life so special at Fernhill.”

Celebrated each year on the third Sunday of July, Ice Cream Day has grown as an international occasion since it was first launched in the USA in 1984.