Activities at Fordmill Care Home

There was plenty to celebrate at Fordmill this week as residents Hester and Archie marked an extraordinary 64 years of marriage. Surrounded by family, friends, fellow residents and staff, the happy couple enjoyed a day filled with smiles, memories and warm congratulations as they reflected on a lifetime spent side by side. The celebration was a joyful occasion, complete with cake, flowers and lots of laughter. Staff took time to listen to stories from the couple’s early days together, their shared adventures and the secrets behind such a long and loving marriage. Moments like these are incredibly special at Fordmill, and we love being part of them.

Celebrating 64 years of marriage is not only a personal milestone for the couple, but also an inspiration to everyone around them. We were honoured to be part of such an incredible achievement and to help create memories that will be treasured forever. 

As every year, our home comes together with residents, families, friends and staff and the local community to honour those who served our country.  

We took part in the parade along the town, to the church for a Remembrance service and to the Cenotaph to lay our poppy wreath. It was a special day and all the residents involved had a great day, and they expressed a sense of pride in contributing to the commemoration.           

Our residents and staff embraced the spirit of Oktoberfest with a lively celebration filled with music, laughter and traditional treats. The event aimed to create joyful experiences and bring residents together. The residents joined in the celebration, listening to German music and German – inspired food which set the perfect atmosphere. 

There was plenty of singing, dancing and socialising throughout the event. Some residents even shared memories of trips to Germany on their holidays abroad.          

Fordmill Care have thrown a celebration for employee Caroline Mason to commend her 30 years of service to the residents of Fordmill.  

Staff and residents were keen to pass on their congratulations to Caroline and the home’s Facebook page was full of praise.  Caroline was pictured with the team and received her 30-year pin from the Barchester run home.

Caroline started her career at Fordmill in 1995 on the housekeeping team.  She then moved into a Carer position and has been serving on the Night Care team for several years.  
 

This August Rhoda and a few residents had a fantastic trip to a local Gin Distillery for an Afternoon Tea and a Gin tasting. Rhoda loves her Gin and Tonic and every afternoon she sit at the café aria with her personalised gin glass slowly sipping her drink as she said ‘I like it to last longer’. We booked the experience in advanced so, as soon as she walked in, the manager and staff crew welcomed her with a glass of their best and unique flavour of Gin and Tonic. It was a lovely surprise for Rhoda as she had tears in her eyes thanking everyone for such a lovely with a tremor on her voice. Rhoda was in her element walking around in the shop and talking to all the staff.

Here at Fordmill, we believe that life’s simple pleasures make a big difference in our residents' daily living. One favourite activity among residents is going out for a coffee, a chance to relax, socialise, and enjoy a change of scenery. Coffee outings are more than just a drink, they’re about companionship and continuing to enjoy everyday experiences. 

We are so lucky to have the Park Hotel just around the corner, so we can go out every time we want. Rhoda, Annette and Sandra enjoyed a trip for a cuppy, and they had a really lovely time. The ladies have created a special friendship, and they love spending time together. They enjoyed their favourite hot drinks and cakes and spent quality time together. These moments outside the home often stimulate conversation, laughter, and fond memories, helping residents stay connected with the surrounding community.

It is lovely to see our residents so happy spending time together.  

Our home was filled with joy as we celebrated Jean’s 103rd Birthday. We all gathered together for a special celebration. We decorated the room and everyone enjoyed a special birthday cake made with love by our chef, Karen.  

Jean told us lots of stories and the room was full of laughter and memories. Reaching 103 is truly extraordinary, and it was a privilege for us to celebrate such an amazing lady who lived such full and inspiring life, and continues to inspire all of us today.         

A group of our residents enjoyed a lovely outing with a special lunch trip to the Royal Mercantile Golf Club. The outing allowed everyone to relax, enjoy the beautiful surroundings, and share a delicious meal. The residents were warmly welcomed by the Golf Club staff and accommodated them in the restaurant overlooking the greens. 

For many, the trip brought back fond memories of past visits to golf clubs and days spent outdoors. Smiles and laughter filled the table as residents shared stories, enjoyed good food, and soaked up the friendly atmosphere.      

This month of August we took our residents on a virtual trip to the beautiful and vibrant Island of Barbados. With special Bajans guests who came to visit family from Barbados we virtually took a trip along the capital City Bridgetown and the stunning beaches with soft sand and blue water. Jodie and Zina our Bajans guests took their roll of Pilot and fly attendant very seriously and transported us to their beautiful country with great pleasure. 

They also gave a talk about Barbados with residents asking questions and learning about their culture. We finished off with some Bajan sweet bread and a glass of traditional Rum Punch. What an afternoon of learning and fun we had!  

Our annual Summer Fair was a very successful one with lots of relatives and friends from the community joining in for our fun day. We had stalls, a burger van, live entertainment and games for all ages. The Gordon School of Dance “Little Bunnies” stole the show with their beautiful performance. 

The weather was very kind to us and everyone had a fantastic time. We had our raffle and managed to raise £800 for our residents' fund.  

Supporting residents to live comfortably and independently is at the heart of everything we do. One of the ways we do this is by helping residents with their shopping, ensuring they have access to the everyday items and little treats that make life enjoyable.

Our team works closely with residents to understand their preferences and needs. Whether it’s picking up essentials, favourite snacks, toiletries, staff are always happy to give a hand. For some residents, shopping support means accompanying them on outings, while for others we go and buy items for them, always with their choices. 

Audrey is a very independent lady and we love supporting her with her shopping. This not only helps Audrey feel secure and cared for, but also provides opportunities for her to meet people in the community that she knows chatting to them and keeping up with all the news in the community. Something as simple as choosing what to buy can bring a sense of normality and joy, and we’re very proud to make that possible.    

By offering thoughtful, personalised shopping assistance, we help ensure our residents feel supported, valued, and truly at home.      

Annie’s visit brings so much joy into the home, and we always get so excited, and we can’t wait to see her.  Annie made her way through the lounges and bedrooms, happily greeting residents and posing for photos.  

Annie is very calm and affectionate, creating a relaxing and uplifting atmosphere, encouraging conversation and laughter.  Our residents were delighted to interact with her stroking and feeding.  Annie’s visit was just wonderful and very therapeutic, and she brightened our resident's days. 

The Baking Club continues to be one of the most popular activities at Fordmill, promoting both well-being and community spirit among residents. Under the guidance of the activity team, residents measured, mixed, and decorated their bakes while sharing stories and reminiscing about family recipes from years past. 

The session not only encouraged creativity but also provided a great opportunity for social interaction and sensory engagement. Once the baking was complete, our lovely chef Karen put them in the oven for the residents to enjoy. The sense of pride and accomplishment was clear to see as everyone sampled the sweet result of their hard work.       

60 years ago, our lovely resident, Gordon, helped his nice Robina, to open her school of dance when she was only 17 years old. The school's name, of course, was, and it still is this day, The Gordon School of Dance. Since Robina was born, Gordon has been the ‘father figure’ of her life and she shared so many memories with him. For this special event, Gordon was Robina’s guest of honour, and he couldn’t be more proud of her achievements over the 60 years. He presented her with a lovely bouquet of flowers as he had done all these years after every show she had. We were extremely happy to take Gordon to the evening show to make another memory with his family and especially Robina.

We all know that Friday is fish day, and as the weather has been absolutely glorious why not having our lunch in the Garden? The sun was shining and we opened our very own “CHIPPY” in our marque right in front garden. 

We had such a lovely time and everyone enjoyed their fish and chips and being outside. Our head chef made a great job presenting the meal in boxes like we would buy in the Chippy shop.