ENCINITAS — Residents of Belmont Senior Village Living in Cardiff were transported to Paris last week as dozens of senior citizens competed in their own version of the 2024 Olympic Games.
On July 25, the Cardiff senior home hosted residents of other Belmont communities in San Diego and Orange counties, including La Jolla, Sabre Springs and Aliso Viejo, for the second iteration of the Olympic Games, with tournaments in dancing, water polo, volleyball and “dressage.”
“I love it; we’re having a great time,” said Ken Torbert of Belmont Village Eliso Viejo. It’s really good to build not only residents’ morale but also teamwork for the employees.”
Residents as old as 101 participated in the age-friendly competition. Competitors in water polo surprised themselves with their abilities in the pool, and during the volleyball tournament, seated residents lobbed a beach ball back and forth as staff members cheered them on (one resident did take a nap in his chair during the game).
“We’ve been practicing for two weeks. It really energizes the old folk,” said Jack Labrie, 90, of Belmont Cardiff, who participated in the volleyball tournament.
During the dressage competition, residents strutted their stuff while leading miniature horses past a row of judges. Four residents of Belmont’s Cardiff community dressed up as jockeys for the event and walked alongside their daughters, sporting dresses and fascinators fit for a day at the Del Mar racetrack.
“She’s having the time of her life,” said Stephanie Jansen of her mother, Ann Sturkin, of Belmont Cardiff.
Clare Hollerbach, Executive Director of Belmont Cardiff and the spirited emcee for the day’s events, said activities like these are profoundly beneficial for residents’ well-being.
“We really try and instill in them to try new things everyday, and stretch yourself beyond what you think you can do,” Hollerbach said. “What is true is the sense of accomplishment. They walked around here proud as peacocks to do what they could, and they were proud of each other.”
