Activities at Drummond Grange Care Home
We understand that the people we support have passions and interests that could be difficult to pursue after moving into a care home – but that doesn’t mean we don’t encourage them to try! Some hobbies can define a person, so our Activities Coordinators are dedicated to ensuring that everyone we support is able to do what makes them happy to the best of their abilities. Social events are organised with individual tastes in mind and with the idea that residents have the opportunity to try new and exciting things.
Katie Nicolson
Katie Nicolson is our Head of activities here at Drummond since August 2023 beforehand she worked as an activity assistant in the home for two years. Before coming to Drummond Katie has worked in many care roles over the years and studied Psychology and Sociology at Queen Margaret’s University and was awarded a Degree of Bachelor of science in Psychology and Sociology at the start of 2022. Katie loves being part of the Activity department here at Drummond Grange and bringing new and exciting opportunities and experiences to the residents. When she’s not at work Katie is a local Girl Guide leader and youth leader for her churches youth group.
Read our brochure 'Life-enriching activities' for more information about life in our care homes.
Read our brochure
Activities and Events Partnerships
As part of our bespoke life-enrichment programmes, we host a number of live virtual events in the home on a regular basis through a number of partnerships with places of interest and world class performance companies
Life at Drummond Grange Care Home
Valentine's Day
Staff, residents and guests celebrated the day of love with live performance from singer Rose McBeth all while enjoying a cocktail.
Residents then settled in to listen to the Valentine day special of Radio Drummond, the homes resident made radio show before testing their knowledge with The Drummond Grange quiz of love where Team Love Hearts made up of staff and residents for the Melville unit were crowned the winners. Residents were then able to enjoy a treat from the ‘I Pick You’ Pick and mix station and take their pick of Cocktails, The Love Potion and Cupids Love Shot made by the Homes very own ‘Mixologist’ Activity coordinator Katie Nicolson.
Virtual event with Royal Parks
Across our services our residents have enjoyed a wonderful live virtual talk about starlings, one of the UK’s most gregarious birds, hosted by Rachel Dowse from The Royal Parks London.
Rachel examined our long history with this bird and the importance of common species to our lives. Our residents had the opportunity to find out more about the great murmuration and why we need to pay special attention to these beauties before it's too late.
The virtual experience was truly enjoyed by all.
Gingerbread House Making
To celebrate National build a Gingerbread house day we got busy and made not one but two gingerbread houses. Resident from Dalhousie and Pentland unit came together to create the edible homes and as you can see they looked delicious! I heard the tasted delicious to but wasn’t quick enough to get a taste myself!
Christmas Market
After a lot of hard work, Drummond Grange held their first Christmas Market since lockdown. The home welcomed 14 stalls from the community selling everything from candles to scarfs to Children’s toys. Residents and their loved ones were able to get in the Christmas spirit as well as get some shopping in all while supporting their local community. Chefs Chris and Alan cooked up a storm with hot dogs, Pancakes, noodles, spring rolls, hot chocolate and mulled wine. We have very special visitors from Bonny and Jack from Toppy Ponies. Residents and visitors were able to dress them up, brush their mains and pet them. Local Guide troop 2 Bonnyrigg Guides came along to sing some carols for us as well as a very special visit from the man in red himself, Santa.
Gingerbread House Day
Staff and residents at Barchester’s Drummond Grange care home in Lasswade love any excuse to get creative so when they found out it was Gingerbread House Day on December 12, they didn’t need any persuading to get cracking! There was extra motivation to get creative in the kitchen as Barchester has brought back their Gingerbread competition again this year. Residents have been brain storming and coming up with lots of exiting idea to hopefully claim victory!
The staff and residents asked the Activity team to whip up a big batch of gingerbread for them and then got busy decorating with decorating with icing, sweets and of course a sprinkle of glitter to make some of the glitziest gingerbread houses in town.
Tripping the light fantastic!
Lighting up time got a whole new meaning at Drummond Grange as Staff and Residents came together to see the home’s Christmas lights switched on for the very first time this Christmas.
Staff and residents at Barchester’s Drummond Grange care home, in Lasswade, got in the Christmas spirit by inviting the family and friends to come and join in with staff and residents who all gathered in the home’s garden for the occasion.
There was mulled wine, hot chocolate along with lots of other Christmas treats all prepared by head chef, Chris Lewis to keep everyone warm. The Christmas tree and all the lights looked amazing when the home’s General Manager, Alina Brehar, flicked the switch for the big reveal.
