Activities at Archview Lodge Care Home

Residents enjoyed getting behind Scotland during the World Cup with a fun watch party at the home. The lounge was decorated with Scottish flags, bunting and blue and white decorations, creating the perfect setting to cheer on the national team together. 

There was a great atmosphere as everyone settled in to watch the match, sharing their thoughts on the game and enjoying the excitement. After the football, the fun continued with a throw-the-ball game, which brought plenty of laughs and some friendly competition between residents. It was a lovely way to celebrate Scotland, spend time together and enjoy the excitement of the tournament, with everyone getting involved and making the most of the occasion. 

Residents enjoyed a train trip from Newtongrange to Tweedbank as part of one of our many outings. Everyone travelled together on the Borders Railway and enjoyed watching the scenery pass by along the route. The journey gave residents the chance to chat, laugh, and share stories with one another while enjoying a change of surroundings.

Once the train reached Tweedbank, residents remained on board at the terminal while the train prepared for the return journey, allowing them to relax and continue enjoying the outing.

The trip was enjoyed by all and provided a nice break from the usual daily routine. Outings like this are important as they encourage social interaction, provide mental stimulation, reduce feelings of isolation, and help residents stay connected with their local community.      

Residents, families and team members recently came together for a meaningful Parkinson’s Awareness Afternoon at the home. The event was organised to help raise understanding of Parkinson’s disease and provide an opportunity for learning, discussion and support within our community.

We were delighted welcome a guest speaker, James Joplin from Parkinson's UK in Scotland. Who delivered an engaging and informative discussion about the condition, its symptoms and the importance of compassionate care and support.

Events like these are an important part of life at our care home, helping residents stay connected with the wider community while learning about important health topics in a friendly and inclusive setting. Thank you to everyone who joined us and to Claire, our relative ambassador for organising it.          

Jean Norrie, one of our resident ambassadors, took part in a sponsored silence for Comic Relief Day, and it brought plenty of smiles to everyone around them.

They bravely stayed quiet for the challenge, which wasn’t always easy in such a lively environment, but she kept her sense of humour throughout. Staff and fellow residents got involved by offering encouragement (and the occasional playful attempt to make them laugh).

It was a great way to raise money for a good cause while bringing a bit of fun into the home. By the end of the day, she had done an amazing job and raised a fantastic amount, making everyone proud of her efforts.       

Live music delivered by Jan Kowalski on Friday afternoon. Residents really enjoyed the little boogie, drinks and tasty snacks.  

Live Music provides crucial, regular, and participatory, musical experiences that improve, wellbeing of residents and staff.   

To mark Carers Week, we took the opportunity to recognise and thank our incredible care team for their continued dedication, compassion and hard work. A special table was prepared, filled with a selection of sweet treats, refreshments and small tokens of appreciation for staff to enjoy throughout the day. 

Each member of the team also received a certificate in recognition of the outstanding care and support they provide to our residents every day. It was a simple but meaningful way to celebrate the people who are at the heart of our home and acknowledge the difference they make to the lives of those they care for. We are incredibly grateful for everything our carers do and were delighted to show our appreciation during this special week.  

Residents enjoyed a lovely visit from local florist Anne , who came to the home to host a bouquet-making demonstration in celebration of the Chelsea Flower Show. Anne showed residents how different flowers, colours, and textures can be combined to create beautiful floral arrangements, while sharing interesting tips and information about the blooms being used.

Residents enjoyed watching the bouquets come together and reminisced about their own gardens and favourite flowers. The colourful displays brightened the room and created plenty of conversation throughout the session. The visit was a wonderful way to mark the Chelsea Flower Show and brought a touch of nature indoors.

Activities like this provide sensory stimulation, encourage social interaction, spark memories, and give residents the opportunity to learn something new while enjoying a relaxing and engaging experience.

Our first barge trip of the year has taken place! Residents from our care home took the trip through Ratho along the Union Canal.

The day gave residents the chance to enjoy a change of scenery, spend time outdoors, and relax together in a calm setting. Residents enjoyed watching the canal boats, local wildlife, and surrounding countryside while chatting with staff and each other throughout the journey.

The trip was well received and provided an enjoyable social activity for everyone involved. Outings like this are an important part of life in our care home, helping residents stay active, connected, and involved in the local community while enjoying new experiences in a safe and supportive environment.     

We celebrated Mother’s Day with a lovely afternoon tea in our Memory Lane community organised by our care team, where residents enjoyed a selection of sandwiches, cakes, and sweet treats, all served with plenty of tea.

There were lots of smiles as everyone chatted, shared memories, and spent time together, creating a calm and meaningful atmosphere for the occasion.  

Meanwhile, our other residents also had a great time, enjoying live entertainment from Alan Whitehead, bringing laughter and a cheerful atmosphere that carried throughout the home.        

Our residents and their loved ones had a great day celebrating Valentines with a lovely romantic lunch for our couples, followed by an afternoon of fun and singing with our fabulous entertainer Billy.

Everyone had a lovely time. It was a beautiful day and heart-warming to see everyone come together to celebrate. Happy Valentine’s Day!

Some of our residents and team members enjoyed a wonderful morning out in the local community as they attended a charity coffee morning to help raise funds for Richard’s upcoming volunteering trip to Kenya. 
Richard, one of our dedicated nurses, was just a few weeks away from travelling with the Gathimba Edwards Foundation, where he would be helping to build safe, secure homes for children and their families in need. 

The event was filled with friendly conversation, plenty of tea, coffee and delicious cake, giving everyone the opportunity to socialise while supporting a worthwhile cause. There was also plenty of excitement at the tombola, where two of our residents were delighted to win prizes. It was a fantastic morning, and everyone was proud to support Richard as he prepared for his life-changing volunteering experience.

We were delighted to welcome the Tour de Barchester team to Dalkeith as part of their incredible cycling journey around Scotland, visiting every Barchester care home along the way. Residents and staff enjoyed meeting the cyclists and hearing about their challenge, which raised money and awareness for Barchester’s Charitable Foundation. All together across the homes over £64000 was raised!

To help fuel the team for the next stage of their journey, our Head Chef, Ahmet, prepared a delicious teppanyaki-style breakfast, freshly cooked and enjoyed by everyone.

The visit created a real buzz around the home, with residents enjoying the chance to chat with the cyclists and cheer them on. Events like this are a great way to bring people together, create excitement, and help residents feel connected to the wider community. Well done racers!!!     

Archview Lodge celebrated Easter in Style! We had a lovely time at our care home, bringing together residents, families, and members of the local community for a fun-filled day.

Our Easter egg hunt was a big hit, with people of all ages joining in and enjoying the excitement. The Easter Bunny also paid us a special visit, handing out chocolate eggs and plenty of smiles along the way which were kindly donated by the staff at Morrisons Dalkeith.

Residents got creative with Easter arts and crafts, decorating their own boiled eggs for our smashing competition. We finished the day with a lively game of Easter bingo, full of laughs, friendly competition, and a few prizes too. It was a relaxed and joyful day that everyone really enjoyed.    

Two of our residents, Bobby and Jimmy, who are huge Rangers supporters, enjoyed a great outing to the local pub to watch the Rangers game together.

They were both really excited to get out and soak up the match-day atmosphere, chatting with staff and other fans before kick-off. Once the game started, they were fully immersed, cheering on every goal attempt and sharing plenty of passionate opinions throughout. It was a brilliant afternoon filled with laughter, friendly banter, and lots of team spirit. They especially enjoyed being out in the community and experiencing the buzz of watching the game live with other supporters.

Both residents returned in great spirits, already talking about the next match and looking forward to doing it all again soon.          

Wednesday afternoon Chef’s workshop. Today we made cheese scones. All of our residents love our weekly workshops with our senior Che’s Ahmet. Today on the menu we had cheese scones. The scones were mega tasty, residents said:     

A savoury delight of cheddar sharp,
Baked to perfection, the oven’s heart.
Flaky, warm, with a golden crust,
A cheesy scone is a teatime must.
Packed with mature cheese, savoury and fine,
With butter melting, it’s truly divine.