'60s summer party brings flower power and community spirit to Pelsall care home

Flower power, music and community spirit took centre stage when Pelsall Hall welcomed residents, families and local people to a ‘60s-themed summer party.

The care home on Paradise Lane hosted an afternoon of entertainment featuring music from DJ Harold, along with a tombola, raffle, hook-a-duck and stalls selling cupcakes and handmade crafts created by residents.

Guests and residents also enjoyed pork and stuffing cobs and hotdogs during the festivities.

Ahead of the event, residents and members of the care team headed into Pelsall village to spread the word, handing out leaflets along the walkway on Pelsall Common and chatting with local residents and businesses.

On the day, 79-year-old resident Jean Fleetwood continued the conversations at the Get Care Wise stall, where she spoke to visitors about her experiences of living in a care home.

Jean, originally from Cheslyn Hay, has lived at Pelsall Hall since June 2025. Before moving into the home, she was known for helping others in her community and took pride in her volunteering work.

She 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, which is run by charity Greensleeves Care, said it was “lovely” to see so many people enjoying the event.

“Jean was a brilliant ambassador and spoke so warmly and openly about her life here,” she said.

“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.”

She added that events such as the summer party could help challenge misconceptions about care homes and give families the opportunity to see what life is like for themselves.

“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,” she said.

Get Care Wise is Greensleeves Care’s annual campaign, which aims to help people become better informed about care and make more confident decisions.