Activities at Elm Bank Care Home

Yesterday the ladies from U3A 'Singing for Pleasure' came to the home for a beautiful afternoon of singing. It was a lovely start to the month of December. With the residents full of Christmas spirit the afternoon was full of joy, warmth and magical voices that echoed through the community.

After all the delightful songs, it was just lovely to be able to sit and enjoy warm drinks with delicious scones and cakes. We are excited to welcome the wonderful ladies back to Elm Bank after the New Year.

Our Activities Team is dedicated to ensuring that we organise events that encourage our residents to host their families and friends at Elm Bank Care home. Our home is always to open to loved ones who wish to take part in our life enrichment program.

To receive a copy of our weekly/monthly calendars please email Tina and the Activities Team; ElmBank.Activities@barchester.com

Residents and staff were delighted in welcoming the 23rd Kettering Scouts over to their home for an evening of festive fun and games.

Scout leaders, Donna Rockett, Steve Hammond and Mary Docherty came to Elm Bank care home along with 20 very happy and excited cubs. The 23rd Kettering Scouts will be celebrating 10 years of running next year, they are based in the William Knibb Centre on Montagu Street in Kettering. Donna contacted Elm Bank care home to see if an evening of festive fun and games would be something that the residents at the home would appreciate. The activities co-ordinator at the home was more than delighted to hold an evening of fun and games. All the cubs came along with some of their favourite games and the evening was a huge success for both residents and for the cubs themselves.

Resident Norman, said, “It is great, they have so much energy and it is nice to see them actually playing with real toys.”

Resident Christine, said, “When I was younger I used to look after war time babies, I love little ones and to have the little ones with us and play games, it is so nice. I have learnt how to play the fishing game and it just makes me smile”.

The cubs wanted to bring some joy to the residents at Christmas time, by coming in to play games and simply have fun. They all have had such a nice time.

Taking part in intergenerational activities such as social engagements and interactions, bring together younger and older generations for a common purpose. These activities build on the strengths that different generations have to offer, as well as nurture understanding, respect, and challenge ageism.

Residents at Elm Bank care home in Kettering were filed with joy and moved by the talented ‘Jazz and Swing’ singer Ollie Corbett who came to perform at the home for the first time.

We all know the importance of music and the impact it has on a person’s mental wellbeing, not only can it bring back memories of the past, it provides a feeling of warmth within. The residents were overjoyed to have experienced such exceptional singing from Ollie, who sang at the home to start the festive season off. Ollie delivered a unique performance for each resident, the delight on the faces of the residents was just clear to see. Residents were lost in the musical moments, some with a tear in their eye, listening intently to each word, transported for a moment in to complete happiness.

Marvellous Bindura, General Manager said, "it was lovely to have Ollie come and sing for us all, his voice was wonderful, the residents and staff were blown away with every song he sang. We have not had a Jazz and Swing singer at the home, so this certainly was something spectacular and we are definitely looking forward to welcoming Ollie back to perform for us after the New Year. Music plays a key part in the home activities and it provides many benefits to all, and as a home we look to offer varying types of music that caters for everyone’s taste.”

One of the cornerstones of our life enrichment program is live musical entertainment. Resident involvement in choosing genres along with feedback after each performance means that we are able to constantly improve our activities calendar.

To celebrate the start of a new era, we held our Open Day on Saturday 30th November following significant investment to the home. 

Visitors were welcomed to view the home’s stylish new interior and take a tour of the home. Kettering Town Mayor, Cllr Craig Skinner attended the occasion to launch the re-opening of the home. The Mayor spent time with the general manager discussing the care that the home provides as well as the amazing facilities on site.

The Mayor also spent time with some of the residents at the home, John who is a resident at the home had a great time chatting with the Mayor, sharing many stories from Johns past. It was wonderful to hear that both had some military background, which made for a wonderful conversation. John also was honoured to stand alongside the Mayor and the homes General Manager Marvellous in the ribbon cutting ceremony that opened the doors of the home.

The home’s General Manager was available to answer any questions guests had about finding the right home and about the services offered at Elm Bank.

We were very honoured to have the Mayor come to join us for this special day. The home is looking better than ever after the recent investment and it was a pleasure to showcase the elegant new interior at the Open Day.  The home’s hospitality team provided complimentary refreshments and a tasty spread of healthy snacks. Elm Bank offers its residents a host of premium activities throughout every day of the year and provides outstanding community engagement links. 

Elm Bank care home in Kettering welcomed African Youth Arise (AYA) to their beautiful home for an afternoon of amazing entertainment with African drums and an assortment of instruments.

African Youth Arise are a charity that is based in Northamptonshire, which inspires young people to become a better version of themselves. Mentors, Blessing and Iyanu, attended the home with young people who entertained the residents with their spectacular performance. Residents were fully engaged with some even having a go on the drums and various other instruments.

Blessing, Well Being Practitioner for AYA, said: “It was lovely to be able to come and play for the residents here at Elm Bank care home. It is the first time for us here at the home and for the children themselves it was a new experience, that was enjoyed very much so by all of us. It was great to see the residents having a go on the instruments, something new for all.”

Marvellous Bindura, General Manager at Elm Bank said: “It was an afternoon that our lovely residents will not forget. The children were outstanding, it is lovely to have entertainment that is varied and something that residents enjoy and learn from and have fun, which is very important here for all. From all of us here at the home we would like to thank the African Youth Arise for taking time out to come and perform for us, we look forward to welcoming them again.“

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.

Elm Bank care home is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering personalised care across its care homes and hospitals. Elm Bank provides residential and dementia care for residents from respite care to long term stays.

Never known to miss a chance for a celebration, Elm Bank care home in Kettering marked the King’s birthday on November 14th with a right royal celebration with live entertainment and delicious cakes.

Home chefs whipped up a tasty selection of freshly-baked, scones, for the occasion, all washed down with pots of tea.  Residents dressed in their best and enjoyed an amazing afternoon of live music from Neil Richardson, to mark the memorable occasion.

Marvellous Bindura, General Manager at Elm Bank care home said: “Our residents love a party and they love the Royal family so they all enjoyed the live entertainment from Neil, certainly had them all singing, it was all washed down with tea and cakes to mark the King’s birthday, for a lot of us we’re still getting used to celebrating a King’s birthday, but some of our residents do remember previous Kings.”

Residents at Elm Bank care home were in agreement and said: “King Charles has had a very difficult year with his illness so we all wanted to celebrate his birthday and wish him well.  It is wonderful to see him up and about again and we hope his recovery continues to go well.”

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.

Elm Bank care home is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering personalised care across its care homes and hospitals. Elm Bank provides residential and dementia care for residents from respite care to long term stays.