At Ashfields we support and encourage our residents to continue doing the things they love whilst also developing new friendships and learning new skills. We always welcome a visit from Lorraine and her Bollywood Dance Activity. She brings along lots of different multicultural items for the residents to use and experience.         

The residents all encourage each other to get up and participate in the activity items that Lorraine brings along. Fun was had by all!

This week Wilton Place Care Home residents enjoyed a variety of activities to celebrate Bonfire night. The day started with creating unique firework pictures with colourful paints and lots and lots of glitter. Residents got creative using different techniques to create their wonderful artwork, each one as marvellous as the next. 

Then when the sun went down everyone wrapped up warm and we all joined together in the garden to celebrate Bonfire night with sparklers and lots and lots of smiles and laughter.        

Delicious authentic Indian food, beautiful traditional outfits, music, dancing and the lighting of diyas filled our home with colour, light and joy! 

Residents were up dancing, smiling and clapping, sharing this wonderful celebration with families and staff. A truly special occasion for everyone. 

A heartfelt thank you to all our staff whose hard work and enthusiasm made this celebration happen. 

Never work with children or animals, they say. Well, that proved not to be the case as residents from Highview House visited Robertson's Farm, Beauly to see the resident alpacas. For residents keen on wildlife, these animals, native to Peru but quite at home in the Highlands, were a chance to interact with unusual animals for the first time.   

The residents watched the animals being fed and asked interesting questions of the farmer. Being located on the edge of the Black Isle, residents at Highview have had regular interactions with alpacas, dolphins, red kite, owls and many other unusual and beautiful creatures.            

We enjoyed sparklers and reminiscing.

Residents joined staff in the courtyards to have fun with sparklers as we remembered about being children and making patterns with the sparklers and having to spell out our names. We talked about Guy Fawkes and all the yummy foods we used to enjoy, especially toffee apples, but we laughed as we all agreed on how bad they are for our teeth, especially now!      

Residents, friends, families and staff came together for our annual Bonfire Night and fireworks display. From sparklers to fireworks lighting up the sky, it was lovely to share the evening with you.

Thank you to everyone who joined us. We look forward to seeing you again next year!    

Care homes are not places to be feared. Young people should feel welcomed and comfortable in our care homes, and not afraid of the people who live there.

This is why the activities team works with teachers from nearby schools to run a number of themed intergenerational activities throughout the year. Recently, residents from across the home were joined by 15 primary one and two pupils from Muirtown Primary. The pupils read stories to the residents, and our residents then assisted the pupils with drawing and colouring pictures of flowers.    

This fabulous event recognises that even residents living with advanced dementia appreciate the interaction, laughter and warmth brought by our youngest visitors. Look out for many more intergenerational activities throughout the year.        

Here at Oaklands, the residents took time before remembrance Sunday to make beautiful poppy wreaths and displays so that everyone had somewhere to come and pay their respects if they wished, and on Sunday we braved the cold and took Sarah and Peter to honour all those soldiers that had given their lives for us. 

We enjoyed watching the cubs and scouts parade and lay a wreath and local groups, and we stood in silence for the 2 minutes and reflected.  

Today, our very own Albert and Brenda represented Chalfont Lodge at the Remembrance Sunday service at the Battle of Britain Bunker in Uxbridge. During the ceremony, Albert had the honour of laying a wreath in memory of civilians affected by conflict.

Both Albert and Brenda were children when they heard the announcement that Britain was at war. They remember that day vividly and took time to share their memories with others at the service.

We were proud to stand alongside Councillor Adam Bennett of Hillingdon West ward and staff from the London Borough of Hillingdon. Joining us in remembrance were people representing Second World War veterans, as well as representatives from the RAF, RAFA, Friends of No. 11 Group, PAFMC, local fire stations and Scout groups.

Thank you to the Battle of Britain Bunker for inviting us to be part of such a moving ceremony.

From all of us at Chalfont Lodge, we will remember them.