Our dedicated activity coordinator offers a wide range of activities, from bowling, to painting, to bingo. We have a passion for interactive activities, so you can be assured of a fun and interactive afternoon, aimed to stimulate the minds of our residents.

We also appreciate that some residents who come in may want to share their favourite pastimes and we are open to new ideas and suggestions. We have a wide collection of puzzles and creative arts and crafts sessions to allow for residents to express themselves. We recognize the need for activities which incorporate the use of hands, as it is critical to keep joints in a good range of motion and for the resident’s dexterity. This helps them with fine movement, such as doing up buttons and in turn promotes independence. We engage the residents in activities that encourage reminiscing, socializing and communication with one another. We observe that every resident is different and whilst some enjoy group activities there are others who prefer 1:1 time with the activity coordinator or carers.

Our Activity Coordinator also holds Cognitive Stimulation Therapy groups twice a week, which is a treatment that works especially well for those suffering from mild to moderate stages of dementia. Group CST treatment involves sessions of themed activities and aim to actively stimulate and engage people with dementia, whilst providing an optimal learning environment and the social benefits of a group. The effects of CST appear to be of a comparable size to those reported with the currently available anti-dementia drugs. A typical session would involve an informal introduction, a chat about current news stories and a programme of activities arranged around a particular theme. CST is recommended by the UK government NICE guidelines as a treatment for people with dementia. CST aims to engage and stimulate people in a friendly and enjoyable group setting. Research into CST shows that it improves thinking abilities, as well as general wellbeing.

We feel that it is important for the residents to go on daily walks (weather permitting) to the local park if they so wish and provide wheelchairs for those less able to walk long distances. Our resident dog Totti is a huge fan of the local park and always a willing companion to accompany residents and relatives. He is a beautiful long-haired Jack Russell that is similar to our residents in both his age (84 dog years old) and his love for good food and a cuddle from the staff. He is a joyful and affectionate dog that makes an excellent companion.

For some elderly people living in a care home away from their families can be difficult or lonely. This is where Totti comes in. Dogs can provide relief for many issues facing the older population. Contact with a pet can alleviate depression, loneliness, and isolation. For people who’ve lost their spouse, or whose grown children have moved away, a dog can be a great source of friendship and companionship. This has all been proved by our charming little chap Totti. Dogs can help relieve the stresses of people with dementia or Alzheimer’s. Dementia patients experience bouts of agitation, and dogs can help calm them down. Interacting with a dog can also stimulate the appetite of people who might otherwise not eat as a result of these conditions.

Walking or playing with a dog is a great source of exercise and of course petting a dog can help work out arthritic hands and arms. Being with a dog can help reduce cortisol (a stress hormone), and help boost levels of the serotonin (the happy hormone.) Dog owners will know this already, but dogs seem to have an instinct for when sad or frightened people need to be comforted and The American Heart Association released a study showing that owning or interacting with dogs can help prevent heart disease! So Totti is integral to our home and is definitely the most important team member we have.

The most important skill that all our staff have is the ability to communicate. All of our staff are encouraged to pay careful attention to what our residents are communicating either verbally or non-verbally throughout their time with us. The residents lead the way, they tell us what they want us to know. Listening and understanding a resident with Dementia is a key part of treating that individual with the dignity they deserve.

We appreciate that religion plays a huge part in some elderly people’s lives and the desire to go to church on a Sunday is so important for religious people. The owner Anne takes residents who are able to go to the Roman Catholic Visitation Church on a Sunday and a lovely priest called Father John visits the home once a month to say mass for those residents who are not able to walk or attend the church. Father John comes with his trusty guitar and sings with 2 volunteers and the residents light up when he visits. Of course, those residents who are not religious or Catholic can still enjoy the beautiful singing. For people who are Church Of England we are also visited by a lovely vicar once a month and he holds mass for those who want to participate, as well as volunteers who come and take those able to go to the Church of England Church locally on Sundays.