Nursing home residents set sail on virtual cruise

Organised by Ancaster Court staff in conjunction with Bupa, Alison Sowerby, Ancaster Court's Manager, said the idea behind the virtual cruise is that it offers residents, who are unable to go on holiday, a chance to take a whirlwind tour of the world, bringing different destinations to life through music, games and food.

Alison said: "Everyone deserves a holiday and with so many of our residents unable to travel anymore we're doing the next best thing '“ dropping our anchor here and bringing all the different cultures and customs to the care home."

She added: "This is a perfect way for us to see the world."

To mark American Independence Day, New York was chosen as the first stop and an added treat to the day's entertainment was a performance by an Elvis impersonator Chris Field, who sang a range of Elvis classics, which Alison said went down a storm.

"All the residents fell in love with Elvis. He was very, very popular and very, very good. He sang loads of songs and everyone had a whale of a time."

This is the third year Bupa have organised a virtual cruise. Sponsored by Knorr and Premier foods over three hundred Bupa care homes across the UK are taking part.