Residents of a nursing home in England are recreating familiar album covers as a way to beat the boredom of quarantine.
“Elderly people will remain in lockdown for a long time, and I want to make their time as happy and full of enjoyment and interest as possible,” said activities co-ordinator Robert Speker, in a message online.
So far, the residents of Sydmar Lodge Care Home in Edgware, north of London, have put their own twist on classics album covers like Bruce Springsteen’s Born In The U.S.A., The Clash's London Calling, David Bowie’s Aladdin Sane – as well as more contemporary ones as Taylor Swift’s 1989, Adele’s 21 and blink-182’s Enema Of The State. There are also albums by Johnny Cash, Madonna and Rag'n'Bone Man.
“I made the suggestions of which albums and which resident best suited the look, or had a vague similarity to the artist,” Speker explained on Twitter. “Then I proposed the idea to each resident. Gladly all of them were enthused and perhaps a bit bemused by the idea, but happy to participate.”
Caregivers at the home got into the action by doing their version of the cover of 1974's Queen II.
Speker, who has been sharing the results on Twitter and Facebook, just launched a GoFundMe campaign to support the project. “The Residents have been in Lockdown for 4 months and it’s been my job and privilege to keep them entertained during the COVID crisis with no outside entertainers or family,” he said.
“As this situation is on-going it could be months before the situation changes for them and the need to keep them happy entertained and full of spirit has never been more crucial.”
On Twitter, Speker said “we are looking into” compiling the images in a calendar which the home will sell to raise additional funds.
Check out the collection here.