Activities at Hickathrift House Care Home

This month's Dementia Café took place during Dementia Action Week, so we made it extra special with a multisensory morning in the garden. We hosted our guests and the residents in our beautiful Sensory Garden, located in the Memory Lane Community. The delightful morning was spent discussing our gardens, singing songs, blowing bubbles and being ever so merry. The fabulous staff dressed in Blue to commemorate Dementia Action Week together with several residents.

Resident Margaret said, "It's been so nice to join the ladies, sitting in the sunshine, listening to the birds and the bees and smelling the lavender. What a gorgeous morning". Don't forget our next Dementia Cafe is on the 3rd Friday of the month and we hope to see you there.

Staff, residents, relatives and the local community came together at Hickathrift House to enjoy a wonderful Spring Fair held in the home’s grounds on 18th May 2024.

Hickathrift House care home hosted a variety of activities throughout the day, including a book sale, games, a tombola, BBQ, over 15 local businesses and craft stalls as well as entertainment company KJ Entertainments who provided face painting, balloon modelling and singing, which were enjoyed by everyone who came to the event. The home also had a car washing service named Auto Fusion Detailing which two 14-year-old entrepreneurs run.

Staff and residents were buzzing when they celebrated World Bee Day on May 20th and continued celebrations throughout the week.

Created by the UN, World Bee Day is an annual global event raising awareness of the importance of bees and beekeeping for the survival of our ecosystems.  Three out of four food crops across the globe rely on bees and other pollinators but those pollinators are under threat from human activities.

Richard, a resident at the home was the owner of a racehorse and a lifelong supporter of the sport. Before coming to Hickathrift House, Richard was a racehorse owner and spent his time looking after his horse, Sleepy Blue Ocean. He has always wanted to return to the racecourse and be part of the atmosphere again, so the Hickathrift team made his wish a reality on the 7th of May 2024.

Since joining Hickathrift House, Richard often reminisces about his many days at the racecourse and training grounds with Sleepy Blue Ocean, winning and losing races and the best jockeys he worked with. He last raced his horse in 2009 but to Richard, those are some of his most vivid happiest memories, so our team worked on preparing a beautiful day at the races for him and his friends.

Residents across our services had a wonderful time joining Cadbury for an interactive virtual talk on their fascinating 200-year history.

Residents joining learnt interesting facts about the chocolate giant, shared memories, and reminisced about their favourite sweet treats.

It was a heartwarming experience filled with laughter, nostalgia, and plenty of chocolatey goodness!

Staff and residents welcomed their first Relative Ambassador and re-elected Resident Ambassador to the team. Firstly, the daughter of a care home resident has been given a new role at the home to help support the families of other residents. Viv's Mother, Joan, joined Hickathrift House in 2023 and ever since, Viv has become part of the Hickathrift House family, helping residents, relatives, and staff. This new role is to help other families considering care options as well as those whose loved ones are living there.

Viv, Relative’s Ambassador said "I'm a very passionate, caring person and I am always happy to help anyone. I like joining in the activities with mum and the other residents and chatting to new relatives about my experience at Hickathrift. I couldn't ask for a better home for mum".