Activities at Balclutha Court Care Home
At Balclutha Court our resident’s happiness is extremely important to us. We all know that a large part of this is keeping active and continuing to enjoy your interests and hobbies. At Balclutha Court, we have regular activities including arts and crafts, music, entertainment, trips to local attractions such as canal trips, safari parks and many more. Our activities team are always busy organising events, entertainment and excursions with the broadest possible appeal and many of our residents see living at Balclutha Court as an opportunity to develop a new skill or interest. It is important to us that each individual who we support can get as much from these as possible, so we try our best to arrange activities that reflect their interests and capabilities as best as possible, and encourage them to participate in any way they can. We also encourage relatives to join with activities and events as often as they can.
Karen Dillon
Karen Dillon is our Head of Activities and has worked within the home since 2005, starting out as a Carer. Karen is very outgoing and full of fun. She has many hobbies, with arts & crafts being her favourite, and her passion for this can be seen in our life enrichment programme.
Karen is supported by Kay Millar and Anita Marsh, between them they ensure that residents are happy and have loads of fun.
They are very keen to involve the residents in the decision making within the home to enhance their experience. They take part in the residents' meetings, catering forums and assist the General Manager in interviewing new staff members.
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 Balclutha Court Care Home
Birthday celebrations for Resident
Residents from Balclutha Court took part in celebrations as they recognised a fellow Resident, Doreen’s 90th years young. Residents and staff all enjoyed a lovely early summer day in the garden with a cup of tea and birthday cake to celebrate Resident Doreen’s birthday.
“What a lovely day to be sat outside and not watching the terrible stuff on T.V”, said one Residents as they raised a cup of tea to the birthday girl.
Residents Enjoy the Sunshine
Residents were eager to take advantage of the great outdoors to enjoy the sunshine and to relax in the homes beautiful grounds to sit back and enjoy a delicious cooling ice-cream. A wonderful time was had by all as they chatted about their favourite memories of seaside holidays and flavours of ice-cream.
Thank You Cards
The team at Balclutha have been recognised for their incredible hard work, flexibility and commitment during this challenging period for everyone. Every member of staff within Barchester have received a special thank you card and rainbow wrist band for their work in being able to continue to put the care of our residents and patients first.
Postcards for Relatives
As residents embrace new technology and keeping in touch with their loved ones via Skype they also been busying with traditional methods and sharing messages with postcards to send to their family and friends, who doesn’t love to receive a postcard!
Residents have also been making use of Skype and FaceTime so that they can video call their relatives – although some still aren’t too sure about the new technology!
General Manager, Alison Dickson said “It is vitally important that we ensure that our residents can remain in contact with their family and friends during this time. New technology is great for this purpose, but of course a good old fashioned letter writing is just as welcome!”
Arts & Crafts
Some of our residents enjoyed doing some crafts. We have placed the rainbows in our window at the front of the home.
Over the Rainbow
Residents of Balclutha Court have been busy making rainbows, which they have displayed on windows throughout the home to bring a smile to someone as they pass the home. The idea is that members of community display rainbows in their windows so that children can go ‘rainbow spotting’ when out for their exercise with family. The colourful displays are brightening up everyone’s day! The Facebook group has over 90,000 members and the home is delighted to be part of the community spirit.
Upcoming events
May
May is the gateway to summer and we have lots of fun filled things planned - all welcome.
