Author Archives: Karen Betts

What’s on the trolley?

Vicky put some objects on a trolley, asked each resident to try and commit them [...]

Snapchat

Vicky went around with her phone and showed us the Snapchat app, which adds filters [...]

Empathy doll

Vicky brough baby Sienna to see us today. We enjoyed cuddles, feeding her milk and [...]

Cat therapy

Vicky brought Cleo and Jasper round to see us. We took it in turns, patiently, [...]

Week 5 Gazebo visits

We are going into week 6 of our gazebo lounge visits. They are going very [...]

Hook-a-duck

This morning Vicky set up a hook-a-duck for us in the dining room. Anita kindly [...]

Water bead therapy

Today we experienced water beads for the first time! They are very therapeutic! They start [...]

Word games and a game of balloons

This afternoon Helen tried playing I Spy and a new word game but as there [...]

Leaf rubbing in the Nature club

This morning we had a go at leaf rubbing with different kinds of leaves that [...]

Pampering

This morning we had a pampering session prior to Marion’s birthday party this afternoon. Most [...]

Marion’s 90th birthday party

Today is Marion’s 90th birthday and we had a party planned for this afternoon. As [...]

Memory lane

This afternoon Vicky got out the cat’s cradle game and came around to see who [...]

What’s in the bag

This afternoon we played what’s in the bag. Vicky gathered objects from around the home [...]

Bingo

This morning we played lots of games of Bingo with Vicky in the dining room. [...]

Cat therapy

This afternoon Helen went around the residents asking who would like to cuddle the mechanical [...]

Reminiscing

Today Helen got out a selection of old photographs and then residents chose what they [...]

Table top games

This afternoon Vicky set up three table top games. Table tennis, Teabag toss and air [...]

Card making and aqua painting

This morning Vicky set out the card making things and aqua painting things in the [...]

Messages home

This morning Vicky came around and asked us what messages we want to say to [...]

Songbirds

We were missing our regular song birds sessions, so Vicky had a chat with Yo [...]

Book sharing

This morning Vicky got out the Active Minds books and came around the lounge, dining [...]

Resident’s choice

This afternoon Helen got out various games and puzzles and left them around so that [...]

Gospel music and prayers

This morning Helen put on some hymns with lyrics on the TV followed by some [...]

Music session

This afternoon Vicky handed out some musical instruments and put on some Lost Chord music [...]

Hat making contest

This morning Vicky and Deborah helped us to make hats, so that we could have [...]

Movie afternoon

This afternoon Vicky put on The Railway children DVD for us in the main lounge, [...]

Manicures

This morning Whilst we listened to music, Vicky and Deborah went around asking who would [...]

Beatles afternoon

This afternoon the plan was to have a poetry session followed by jokes but as [...]

Baking

This morning we made some chocolate cornflake cakes and those who chose to participate took [...]

Dance and exercise

This afternoon Vicky put the chairs in a semi-circle and put on a chair exercise [...]

Bingo

This morning Vicky got out the Bingo machine and asked who would like to join [...]

Memory games

This afternoon we played the category game, followed by Finish the proverb with Vicky in [...]

Sing along

This morning we had a lovely calm sing along with Vicky in the main lounge. [...]

Fish and chip lunch

Today we enjoyed a delicious fish and chip lunch in the conservatory, from the fish [...]

Flower arranging

This morning we received a beautiful display of flowers which we spent the afternoon arranging [...]

June Thank you’s

Thank you to everyone for your continued love and support. With gratitude from all of [...]

Week 4 Gazebo visits

We are on week 4 of gazebo lounge visits. They are going very well and [...]

Sunday sharing, hymns and prayers.

This morning we had our usual Sunday sharing session where those who chose to sang [...]

Fun and games

This afternoon Vicky got out the “Trolley of fun”. Today was Jenny’s turn to choose [...]

Arts and crafts

This afternoon we made rainbows together in the main lounge with Vicky. Some of us [...]

Movie afternoon

We had a movie afternoon today. We watched Calamity Jane in the main lounge, with [...]

Manicures

This morning Vicky went around asking who would like a manicure. The options were hand [...]

Bee and butterfly feeders in the Nature Club

We have noticed some bees that seem to be suffering in the garden, so this [...]

Alphabet game with a difference

This morning we played the alphabet game but with a difference, trying to think of [...]

Bingo

This afternoon Vicky played quite a few games of Bingo with us. We enjoyed chocolates [...]

Birthdays of Brian and Marylin

As Brian and Marylin were off on their birthday’s we decided to surprise them today [...]

Book sharing

This morning Vicky came around with the books and sat with us individually or in [...]

Aqua painting

This afternoon Vicky got out the Aqua paint mats and asked who would like to [...]

Empathy doll

This afternoon Vicky got out “Baby Sienna” and went around asking who would like to [...]

Sarah Bright

This morning we had the belated birthday party that got cancelled last week, due to [...]

Letter writing and messages home

Helen asked residents if they would like to write a letter or send a message [...]

Singing Vera Lynn and other songs

This morning Helen got the song sheets out and we started with a bit of [...]

Gentleman’s lounge

Today is Father’s Day. We only have two male residents, which are Roy and John [...]

Week 3 gazebo visits

We are on week 3 of gazebo lounge visits. They are going very well and [...]

Father’s Day messages

This morning Vicky went around with the white board, explained that it is Father’s day [...]

Bingo

This afternoon Vicky got out the Bingo machine and asked who would like to join [...]

Loom band gifts

This afternoon we received a package from a lovely young lady called Emma, who is [...]

Manicures

This morning Vicky went around asking who would like a manicure. The options were hand [...]

Music and sing along session

This afternoon we were supposed to have a singer come to sing outside of the [...]

Pampering

This morning Vicky got out the pampering trolley, went around and asked who would like [...]

Deborah’s birthday

Today we are celebrating Deborah’s birthday. We had a singer booked for 2:30 so that [...]

What’s in the bag?

This afternoon Vicky selected 10 objects from around the care home, so that we could [...]

Lois’s 92nd birthday

Today is Lois’s birthday. We are having a joint party tomorrow to celebrate Lois, Wendy [...]

Dress up

This morning Vicky got the dressing up case out. We had fun trying on flat [...]

Szilvia’s 50th birthday

Today we celebrated Szilvia turning 50. When it is a special birthday the staff have [...]

Sandra’s birthday

We celebrated Sandra’s birthday today, by singing happy birthday to her and presenting her with [...]

Week 2 of Gazebo lounge visits

We’ve had some fantastic Gazebo visits again this week! We’ve had song times going on, [...]

Snapchat fun with Vicky

This afternoon Vicky came around with her phone and we had fun together on Snapchat. [...]

Weaving

This afternoon Vicky got out the weaving set for us to have a go at. [...]

Queen’s birthday

Today it is the queen’s birthday. Vicky put on BBC one for us to watch [...]

Manicures

This afternoon Whilst Wizard of oz was on the television, I went around asking who [...]

Nature Club

This morning in nature club, we made sun catchers. Vicky walked around the care home [...]

Sing along session

This morning we had a cheery singing session led by Olga and Helen, starting with [...]

Alphabet game and proverbs

This afternoon we had a good session of the alphabet game with everyone thinking of [...]

Gazebo visits

Well, our first week of gazebo visits have gone successfully I would say! Lots of [...]

Chocolatey fun

We had lots of bananas that were on the turn, so Kirsty had the idea [...]

Song and dance

This morning Vicky put on the new Lost Chord Video entries on YouTube and we [...]

Cat therapy

This morning Vicky got out the mechanical cats, which is one of our top 5 [...]

Bingo

This afternoon Vicky got out the Bingo machine and asked who would like to join [...]

Singing in the rain

Peter kindly lent us his copy of Singing in the rain, so we put that [...]

Model icing

This morning Vicky got out some sugar paste icing. The original idea was to make [...]

Music

This afternoon we were meant to be playing active games with Vicky, but a lot [...]

A Gift For You

You have all been so generous with gifts for the Home, with a little assistance [...]

First Reunion on Mary’s birthday

After 12 long weeks with little contact, there was tears of joy today and Julie [...]

Birthday party

This afternoon we had a birthday party to celebrate the birthdays of Margaret S, who [...]

Arts and crafts

This morning we experimented with decorating recycled shampoo bottles with ribbon, glue and tape to [...]

Lost Chord video fun

This afternoon we had some fun watching some of the Lost Chord entertainers that usually [...]

Word games

This morning we got the Scrabble and other word games out and people had fun [...]

Gardening group

This afternoon Helen brought in the seeds that some of the residents planted a few [...]

Pampering

This morning Helen asked residents if they would like a bit of pampering in the [...]

Margaret’s 82nd birthday

Today is Margaret Sounder’s birthday. Vicky went down and sang happy birthday and 21 today [...]

Brain games

This afternoon we played brain games with Vicky in the main lounge and dining room. [...]

Communications

Just a few ways that you have been communicating and blessing your loved ones during [...]

Thank You!

We just want to say a big think you for all of the support we [...]

Reading together

This morning Vicky went around with the reminiscence books and spent some one to one [...]

Individual choice

This afternoon Helen got a variety of tabletop activities and games out and residents chose [...]

Arts and crafts

This afternoon Vicky set up an arts and crafts activity in the dining room. We [...]

Snapchat session 2

Whilst out in the garden, Vicky had another round with the Snapchat. We had lots [...]

Fun and fresh air in the garden

This afternoon we sat out in the garden for some fresh air, fun and exercise. [...]

Manicures

Today Vicky came around and offered us manicures. This included hand and nail cleansing, clipping, [...]