care | creative caring

including flower arranging and a quiz. Annaliza Kemp, general manager, said: “Our garden is a much loved space. We don’t have many flowers at the moment so our residents very much enjoying the escapism of virtually visiting some of the most famous gardens in the world.”

Beat that!

Cinnamon Luxury Care is rolling out drum fit classes across all of its homes, after successful sessions in four settings. Fully trained and qualified drum base exercise leaders support residents through seated, drum-based exercises – a great way to get less active people moving. Geoff Pride, activities support consultant, said: “This workout class encourages participants to release the popstar within!”

Love locks

MHA Oak Manor has created a ‘remembrance fence’ where residents and members of the community can remember their loved ones by placing a padlock. Home manager Fay Gooch was inspired by the lovelocks on the Great Wall of China. “Because of where the fence is, it’s something that will catch the eye of people when they go past,” she said.

Feel the Burns

Aberdeen care home residents celebrated Burns Night with the help of local pipers and school children. Renaissance Care’s Cowdray Club, Jesmond and Persley Castle Care Homes all hosted traditional Burns suppers of haggis, neeps and tatties, followed by a dram of whisky for those who fancied it and recitations of some of Burns’ most iconic works.

with the residents. After a creative afternoon at the home, Super Freak, also known as Dan Whitehouse, auctioned the artwork via Instagram, raising £1,000.

Lifelong learning

Wokingham-based Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh Court has joined the Unit Award Scheme, allowing residents to engage with learning and have their achievements formally recognised. Irene Muggeridge, aged 104, took up arts and crafts lessons to create her own woollen pom-pom, an accomplishment that came with an official certificate.

Light fantastic

Staff at Plymouth’s Butterfly Lodge escorted residents living with dementia to see the Eden Project’s immersive winter music and light experience. Sarah McCaffrey, deputy manager at the Camelot Care home, said: “A sensory experience like this offers an immediate reward to people living with dementia and can also remind them of happy times in their past.”

Freak out

Birmingham-based artist Super Freak, who has more than a million followers on Instagram, visited Field House Care Home in Stourbridge to create artwork

Piggie power

Therapy guinea pig Poppy visited Thetford’s Buckingham Lodge Care Home with other pigs from Cuddly Cavies. The furry friends enable the use of fine motor skills, prompt memories, encourage vocalisation and provide a fun sensory experience. Diana Taylor, owner of Cuddly Cavies, said: “One gentleman doesn't speak much, but he absolutely lights up when we bring a guinea pig in and will happily sit with her for the whole hour.”

Breakfast club

Lowestoft care home The Dell has transformed a day care centre, empty since the pandemic, into an activity centre. The Wellbeing Care home created a space for residents and assisted living tenants to enjoy activities such as a breakfast club, providing an opportunity to socialise and enjoy food outside the typical care setting.