Activities at Elm Bank Care Home

The residents and staff were delighted in attending the local ‘Dementia Sings Out’ group for their amazing Christmas Party. The group is held every Thursday at the Compass Church in Wellingborough.

The group is a community choir that meets every week for those living with dementia, and for their carers, to sing songs that are not only uplifting but also inspirational. It was a party like no other, full of Christmas magic, with live music from the talented Community Wellingborough Gospel Choir and Gareth Fuller, who certainly had all up on their feet dancing and singing. It was an enjoyable morning that allowed for residents to simply let their hair down and immerse themselves in the wonderful festive atmosphere. The volunteers at the group certainly made the morning extra special, Elm Banks residents and staff will definitely be returning weekly.

Activities Co-ordinator, Tina said: “We were so happy to have been invited to this magical place that gives so much to the local community with the work they do for all those living with dementia and for the carers. The party was amazing, so festive and everyone had a wonderful time.”

General Manager Larisa Bledea said: “It is lovely to see our residents and staff enjoying a morning with ‘Dementia Sings Out’, the enrichment this group creates in the lives of all living with dementia is recognisable. It is very important to have links with local groups, it not only allows for good community relationship, but also the impact these groups have on residents here at the home is truly amazing”.

The residents and staff at the home were thrilled to receive a very generous donation of beautiful Nordman Fir Tree, standing at eight foot tall in all its glory.

The kind donation of the Nordman Fir Tree was presented to the home by Jane and Nadine from the Ise Garden Centre in Kettering, who arrived at the home ready to unload the beautiful tree. The homes Maintenance Manager Robert and Activities Co-ordinator happily greeted the ladies to help unload the tree from their van. After the hard work was done, Nadine and Jane enjoyed a lovely warm drink and cake.

Activities Co-ordinator, Tina said: “The generous donation of the beautiful tree for the home from Ise Garden Centre has been enjoyed by all who have visited the home since it was put up and decorated. It really is a lovely tree and we cannot thank Ise Garden Centre enough.”

General Manager Larisa Bledea said: “It is lovely the tree looks beautiful and it certainly has finished the front of the home off, it looks so beautiful.” The ladies enjoyed a lovely drink and cake for their hard work bringing the tree to us here at the home.”

Christmas had arrived early at the home thanks to a heart-warming performance from the Corby Silver Band, it was an afternoon of festive melodies and traditional brass band classics. The band generously gave up their own time to visit the home to perform to the residents, it was an act of pure kindness that spread the Christmas cheer to so many residents.  It was a truly magical moment that transported the residents back in time to the days when they sat listening to the sound of a real band.

Activities Co-ordinator, Tina said: “The residents and staff thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon, the Corby Silver Band created a wonderful festive and cosy feel. The room was full of smiles it was delightful to see.”

Larisa Bledea, General Manager said, “A kind gesture from the Corby Silver Band to come and perform to us here at the home means so much to us all here. It is gestures like these that makes Christmas so special, we truly cannot thank them enough.”
 

The residents were recently wrapped with joy and warmth as they celebrated World Children’s Day with a memorable and compassionate visit from the children of St Thomas More Catholic Primary School.

The wonderful intergenerational gathering in the morning at the home was a resounding success, fostering beautiful connections between the young and old. The morning was filled with the children singing and reading to the residents. The children had dedicated their time in coming over and spending time sharing their favourite books and singing to the residents.

Tina, Activities Co-ordinator said, “It was a wonderful morning for this beautiful activity and the children bought such immense delight to the residents. The residents also got to enjoy listening to the children singing and reading their favourite books.”

General Manager Larisa Bledea said: “It was so lovely to see the children here, our residents are always looking forward to the children coming over and today was as wonderful as every other time they have been over to see us. To have these links with local schools is very important to us all here at the home”
Our varied life enrichment programme keeps residents active, and provides a daily choice of engaging physical, mental and spiritual activities tailored to residents’ interests and abilities".

 

Residents shared a deeply moving and memorable experience by attending a special Armistice Day Service held at St Thomas More Catholic Primary School. The intergenerational event beautifully honoured those who had fallen in conflict and demonstrated the children’s profound respect for the day.

The service provided a solemn yet uplifting atmosphere for remembrance, the residents, some of whom have direct memories or connections to wartime, joined the children and staff in prayer and in observing the two-minute silence. This shared moment of quite reflection underscored the importance of remembering the sacrifices made by previous generations.

Activities Co-ordinator Tina said: “The performance was wonderful, the residents, many of whom have vivid memories of the era, for them it was deeply moving. A real touching element of the service was the tribute created by the pupils, they created handcrafted poppies that were then planted in the school field at the end of the service. The poppies had poignant words written on them by the children, it was simply a powerful and tangible way to honour the fallen.”

General Manager Larisa Bledea said: “The morning service held at the school meant so much to our residents, and to have these close links with the school really provides the intergenerational connections for both our residents and the school. The children engaged in the service so respectfully, and the kind words of appreciation from our residents on their return were beautiful to hear.”

The residents and staff were thrilled to receive a very generous donation of Christmas gifts from Jeremy and business partner Antonia.

Jeremy runs the business Treasure Hunting Brothers with business partner Antonia, the business also has a YouTube channel that explains how the business works.

The business buys abandoned storage units and the contents of which are sold off to keep the business running. The business also donate a lot of the items they obtained to those who need.

Jeremy, business owner, said: “Our belief is that. It is good to be kind and every little helps, and we as a business like to help others as it is not about the money for us it is about helping others.”

Activities Co-ordinator, Tina said: “The wonderful donation of gifts from Jeremy and Antonia mean so much to us and they certainly will be spreading the joy of Christmas to all our residents. We are looking forward to working with Jeremy and Antonia moving forward in to the New Year.”

General Manager Larisa Bledea said: “We cannot thank Jeremy and Antonia enough for their generous donation. The gifts they have donated will all be going to our residents and it is wonderful to see a community that is wanting to be so involved in the home and all we do.”
 

The residents and staff recently wrapped up warm to enjoy a beautiful evening for a traditional Carols by Candlelight Service held at St Edwards Church in Kettering.

The residents were also joined by the local St Thomas More Catholic Primary School children creating a wonderful intergenerational gathering in the evening at the church. Upon arrival to the church, residents were greeted with a beautiful nativity scene all lit up in a wooden and glass box outside of the church. The residents admired the set up before entering the church to be met with soft twinkly lights that created a warm glow, and young voices telling the story of the birth of Jesus Christ.

Tina, Activities Co-ordinator said, “It was a wonderful evening for the residents to take part in the Carols by Candlelight Service, this traditional annual service that is held in many churches across the country meant so much to our lovely residents.

General Manager Larisa Bledea said: “It was so lovely to be able to take our residents to key events celebrated throughout the year in the local community. This time of year is very important to all our residents and all celebrate in their own special way, as a home we do our best to ensure we offer a variety of activities.”
 

Residents and staff were delighted in welcoming the children from St Peter’s School, for a festive afternoon of carol singing. It was an afternoon that residents immersed themselves in the joy of festive celebrations.

Our lovely residents were super excited to have the beautiful young voices echoing throughout the home spreading festive joy to all and singing along to classic Christmas carols and reminisce about when they were young during this time of the year. The children also presented a lovely Christmas card to the residents that was hand designed by one of the children in the school. Resident ambassador John, treated the children to some delicious chocolate treats and the end of the performance that certainly went down well. It was a beautiful afternoon that was perfect to continue celebrating the festive season.

Activities Co-ordinator, Tina said: “The residents and staff thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon, the children created such a joyful afternoon. It was a very uplifting and festive experience for all, spreading Christmas cheer all around.”

Larisa Bledea, General Manager said, “It is always lovely to invite the local school children in at this time of year, and to hear them sing their Christmas carols to us all is simply beautiful. It means so much to the residents and all the staff, it allows for the young and the old to mix and the wonderful experiences are shared.  I believe as do we all here at the home it is crucial to create links with our local schools and within the community to continue for our residents to remain a part of the community, it enriches the lives of all in many ways.”

We had a wonderful afternoon celebrating the Willow Walk Community at Elm Bank! 
This small, and cosy environment on our ground floor is designed for people seeking the best of both worlds, with independence but still with the peace of mind of dedicated support and care.

Our VIP guests, including the Mayor of Kettering , Ben Jamieson, and Andy from Dignity, and also special guest joined our lovely residents for a special tour. 

The was big smiles from the prospective residents who are now closer to making this exciting lifestyle change! We were also joined by Jon Spinner who provided beautiful music from his violin. 
General Manager Larisa Bledea said “We understand that making decisions in changing your lifestyle can be difficult, our Willow Walk is unique and intimate with just 9 beautiful rooms which offers a cosy tight knit community which is less over whelming than the larger communities in the home”. 

For couples we have a special linked bedrooms which can be adapted to have a separate en-suite bedroom and lounge which also features a kitchenette and private French doors. 
If you’re ready to explore a lifestyle that offers independence, companionship, and support? Contact the home today to secure your tour, we have limited availability in this exclusive community, do miss out on this quality opportunity. 

Guests were also treated to some beautiful canapés prepared by our very own talented head chef Sophie 

The homes residents, staff, and families enjoyed a truly special and moving Remembrance Sunday this year, thanks to a spectacular performance from Mini Concerts.

The talented singers brought the spirit of the 1940s to the care home, performing a wonderful selection of songs from times past. Their energetic and heart-warming performance created a powerful moment of joy and nostalgia for everyone gathered.

Activities Co-ordinator Tina said: “The performance was wonderful, the residents, many of whom have vivid memories of the era, for them the music was deeply moving. The familiar melodies and harmonies evoked fond recollections, prompting many of our residents to sing along and even dance in their seats. The concert really provided a chance for residents to connect with their history in a joyful and uplifting.”

General Manager Larisa Bledea said: “The morning performance meant so much to us here at the home, it was such a lovely way of marking Remembrance Sunday, remembering the past but also celebrating life.”

The residents and staff at Elm Bank were thrilled to receive a very generous donation of Christmas presents from the local Dunelm store in Kettering.

The kind donation of Christmas presents arrived at Elm Bank from the Dunelm store in Kettering through the ‘Delivering for Joy Tree’.

Activities Co-ordinator, Tina said: “The Christmas presents certainly have delivered joy to us all here at the home, and our lovely residents will be over the moon. Dunelm have truly gone out of their way, and with support from the local community it is simply amazing, and we cannot thank them enough for their generosity.”

General Manager Larisa Bledea said: “It is lovely having Dunelm and the community support us here at the home and truly bring Christmas magic to all. We were truly taken aback by all the gifts we received and it will truly make for a beautiful Christmas for all our residents.”
 

The residents and staff thrilled to receive very generous donation from the students of Stone Lodge Therapeutic School for their Christmas Fete on Saturday 13th December.

The students have been busy working towards their Duke of Edinburgh and as a part of the project they created Christmas Hampers. The Hampers were created so that the students could raise money for the St Johns Ambulance, along with donating to other local causes. Freya is a student that attends the homes Friday morning Social Club, spending time with the residents, Freya attends alongside other students. Freya’s parents decided they would purchase additional hampers to donate to the home.

Activities Co-ordinator, Tina said: “The hampers are beautiful, the students attend our Friday morning social club here at the home with our residents and they bring so much joy to us all. This kind donation from the students and their family is so kind.”

General Manager Larisa Bledea said: “It is lovely having the students here at the home and it was a surprise to see the kind donation from the school for our Christmas Fete. We cannot thank the school enough for their generous donation.”

Our varied life enrichment programme keeps residents active, and provides a daily choice of engaging physical, mental and spiritual activities tailored to residents’ interests and abilities.
 

The residents and staff transformed a lounge into a mini-farm as they were treated to a visit from Michelle’s Petting Party with a whole host of furry friends who came to say a festive hello. It was an afternoon of pure, unadulterated joy. Residents and staff’s faces lit up as they took turns in stroking and cuddling the animals.

Activities Co-ordinator, Tina said: “The residents and staff thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon, it was not just about fun; it was a real treat for the resident’s well-being. The little festive touches to the animals was so adorable it certainly made all of us smile. It was also great as Michelle was able to take the lovely animals and visit residents in the comfort of their rooms so that no one missed out on the fun. Michelle’s Petting Party certainly brought the barnyard to Elm Bank, but more importantly, she brought a whole host of happiness, we cannot wait to have Michelle back to visit us again.”

General Manager Larisa Bledea said: “It was so lovely to see all the joy the animals created for the residents and staff, and the lovely festive touches were simply brilliant, we cannot thank Michelle enough for the joy she created.”
 

The residents and staff were recently wrapped with joy and warmth as they celebrated world Kindness Day with a memorable and compassionate visit from the children of St Thomas More Catholic Primary School.

The wonderful intergenerational gathering in the morning at the home was a resounding success, fostering beautiful connections between the young and old. The highlight of the morning was the touching gesture made by the children. The children had dedicated their time in creating a collection of beautifully, handwritten kindness cards. Each card was uniquely decorated and filled with cheerful messages. The children personally handed these thoughtful treasures out to the residents.

Tina, Activities Co-ordinator said, “It was a wonderful morning for this beautiful activity and the simple act of receiving these beautifully handmade cards from the children bought such immense delight to the residents. The residents also got to enjoy listening to the children singing.”

General Manager Larisa Bledea said: “It was so lovely to see the children here, our residents are always looking forward to the children coming over and today was as wonderful as every other time they have been over to see us.”

The home lit up the night sky with a truly spectacular fireworks display, transforming the home’s beautiful gardens in to a dazzling venue for a memorable night of celebration.

The fantastic night saw residents, staff, loved ones, friends and the Kettering 23rd Cubs group gather together for a special evening filled with warmth, wonder and community spirit. The event was meticulously planned to ensure that every resident could enjoy the show in comfort and safety, whether watching from inside the cosy communal areas or wrapped up warmly in the crisp autumn air outside.

Tina, Activities Co-ordinator said, “It was a truly magical night, it combined the delight of a spectacular show with a real heart-warming feeling of community. It was lovely to have the cubs join us and to see all the family and friends. It truly encapsulated what it means to enjoy life to the fullest, regardless of age, with everyone including staff sharing in the laughter.”

General Manager Larisa Bledea said: “These events really underscore Elm Banks commitment in providing a stimulating and joyful environment where residents can continue to enjoy special occasions. The success of the evening has ensured that this annual fireworks event is firmly in the homes social calendar.”