Flower power, music and community spirit took centre stage when Pelsall Hall on Paradise Lane welcomed residents, families and local people to its 60s-themed summer party.
Visitors enjoyed music from DJ Harold alongside a tombola, raffle, hook-a-duck and stalls selling cupcakes and handmade crafts created by residents. Pork and stuffing cobs and hotdogs were also served as residents and guests enjoyed the festivities.
Ahead of the party, residents and members of the care team headed into Pelsall village together to spread the word, handing out leaflets along the walkway on Pelsall Common and stopping to chat with local people and businesses.
On the day, 79-year-old resident Jean Fleetwood continued the conversation at the Get Care Wise stall, chatting with visitors and sharing her own experiences of living in a care home.
Jean, originally from Cheslyn Hay in Staffordshire, has lived at Pelsall Hall since June 2025. Before moving into the home, she was well known for helping others in her community and took great pride in her volunteering work.
Jean said: “Being around people and helping them when they needed it has always been important to me, so I’m really pleased I can still do bits of that here. There’s always lots going on and I’ve made amazing friends who are friends for life. I especially enjoy the outings, I’m usually the first to put my name down for a day trip!
“If I could give anyone thinking about care some advice, I’d say go into it gently and take your time. I don’t think of this place as a care home. I think of it as my home. Everyone makes it my home, and that’s special to me.”
Wendy Clifton, Home Manager at Pelsall Hall, the leading non-profit care home in Pelsall, Walsall, run by charity Greensleeves Care, said: “It was lovely to see so many people enjoying the party together and really getting into the flower power spirit.
“Jean was a brilliant ambassador and spoke so warmly and openly about her life here. Residents are the people who can best describe what living in a care home is actually like, and Jean’s message that she sees Pelsall Hall simply as her home says so much about the friendships and sense of belonging that can develop.
“We know that conversations about care can sometimes be put off until families suddenly need to make a decision, which can feel overwhelming. We also know there are still lots of misconceptions about life in a care home, and days like this show how different the reality can be. Opening our doors gives people the chance to see that for themselves – to meet residents, have a chat and hopefully come away with a different picture of care and feel more prepared for any decisions they may need to make in the future.”
Get Care Wise is Greensleeves Care’s annual campaign to help people feel more informed about care and make more confident decisions. Free guides and practical information are available at www.greensleeves.org.uk/
