Activities at Ashcombe House Care Home

We welcomed Hannah and the Cuddly Cavies back to Ashcombe for some animal therapy. The Guinea pigs are very well trained and provide a soothing sensory experience for residents.  Vera the Guinea pig especially enjoyed going and visiting residents in their rooms and could be heard squeaking away as she was stroked over and over, I don’t think Vera wanted to leave.

Animals are an important part of life at Ashcombe and it’s a lovely activity that everyone at the home can enjoy.

Residents and staff enjoyed a minibus trip out to Lasham Garden centre in Camberley.  An explosion of Christmas had hit the garden centre and got us all into the festive spirit. Aisles were brightly decorated and every ornament and colour imaginable was on display. Residents loved strolling through the lights and selected some new decorations for the home. Peggy in the photo fell in love with all the cuddly Santa’s and has listed one on her wish list for Father Christmas. We all enjoyed lunch in the café before heading back home.

Resident Danny has always been a huge fan of singing and has sung in most of the pubs in the local area in his younger days. We arranged a minibus trip one evening to the local Tea Bar who were hosting a Karaoke evening. Danny was in his element as he belted out songs from Abba. We did not realise before we attended that the event was a competition hosted over 6 weeks and 2 singers from each week are selected to come back for a final in November. Danny was over the moon to be asked to come back for the finals!

WOW was the one word on everyone’s minds as Katie from Tap about town came to Ashcombe. Katie is a dancer with many years’ experience and specialises in tap dancing. Residents were taken back through the years of music and musicals with Katie’s tap dancing. High kicks, props and a full splits had us all amazed, we cannot wait for Katie to come back.

Residents had a wonderful Visit from Colin at Wings of Freedom. Colin rescues birds of prey and helps to rehabilitate them. Colin visited with a range of Birds from a Barn owl called snowy, Norman the long eared owl and Kevin the kestrel to name just a few. Residents and staff enjoyed learning about the birds their habitat and had a chance to ask questions. Some residents were able to hold the birds and stroke the feathers giving a lovely therapeutic element to the afternoon.

Residents enjoyed a mystery minibus trip to Southsea, planned for one of our residents Gerry Godden who had lived in Portsmouth for over 90 years before moving to Basingstoke to be near family. Residents enjoyed crabbing and catching small fish at the boating lake before taking a walk down Southsea promenade before stopping for fish and chips on the pier. Gerry said “ It’s been a truly fantastic day; I’ve enjoyed every minute and its nice be back home”. To be able to take Gerry back to his hometown, he really didn’t think he would ever see the sea again really made this an extra special day. All residents enjoyed a whippy ice cream before heading back home exhausted but happy.