What an amazing Monday afternoon we had here at Ouse View. The residents and staff had an amazing afternoon with our Bollywood dancers. The residents and staff all joined in and were dancing along and getting involved with instruments and outfits. The staff and residents loved it.         

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!

Our lovely residents recently enjoyed two very special occasions as we all came together to mark Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day. 

We began with a wonderful afternoon of live entertainment, featuring a moving performance that allowed for everyone to reflect, remember and pay tribute to those who have served and sacrificed so much. We were also delighted to visit St Thomas More Catholic Primary School, where are residents were warmly welcomed to a beautiful Armistice Day commemorative service. The children had lovingly created their own hand made wreaths, hymns were sung, and our residents were each presented with a beautiful knitted poppy to take home. It was particularly special to share this occasion with the younger generation, bringing our community together across the generations to remember, reflect and honour the past. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who helped make these occasions so meaningful. 

My first afternoon trip out with our lovely residents was Deans garden centre. We had a lovely sunny drive out there looking at the trees turning autumnal, then had a walk round Deans looking at the Christmas decorations, then at the plants and flowers outside, followed by a cheeky scone and hot drink. A lovely time was had by everyone.

Another lovely afternoon, we went out and about on the mini-bus ending up at the Balloon Tree, our residents enjoyed time outside, then in the café with cake and a lovely drink topping it off.    

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.            

Today we came together for Remembrance Day. Our wonderful residents joined in the two-minute silence and raised a glass of sherry to remember those who have fallen.

Joy from our activities team popped on a military uniform and treated everyone to a lovely sing-along of the classic “songs that won the war“. It was so heartwarming to see everyone smiling and joining in! 
A big thank you to all our residents, staff, and visitors who took part and showed their respects today. 

Our Ouse View residents loved our Harvest home concert with the lovely Thea. Our Harvest Home concert included folk and art songs, swing, musical theatre, oratorio and opera, from toe tapping to magical. The visiting dog stepped in perfectly on cue to pose for “Sheep may safely graze”.     

The whole room was spell by the beautiful, little-known “Road to Bally dare” and also sang along to familiar songs they recognised.      

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.