Activities at Hilderstone Hall Care Home

In the “new normal” residents had a fun and enjoyable evening celebrating Bonfire Night.  The kitchen served traditional fare of Hot Dogs and Wedges served while we took in the spectacle of a “virtual” firework display watching some of the best firework displays held previously in London.  The evening was complete with delicious mugs of Hot Chocolate and Chocolate Krispy cakes.

This year residents made amazing pumpkin carving flower arrangements which looked spectacular on the fireplace, along with a craft display featuring spooky silhouettes and acrostic poetry.   Residents then enjoyed an eerie Victorian ghost story that we read together along with afternoon tea

The daily exercise session continues to be a firm favourite with residents.

All of the chair exercises are followed whilst sitting down and are designed so that everyone can take part.  There are exercises both for stretching muscles and for gentle aerobic activity to promote fitness and general wellbeing.  A number of “routines” have been devised to favourite songs and a particular favourite is “Zorba the Greek” where residents try to pick up the pace to match the tempo of the music!

Resident Mary leads the way for us all into Autumn with an Art Gallery and Poetry display

The leaves descend like rain;

Painting a picture of a red and gold bonfire.

The fallen leaves collect like multi-coloured raindrops on the ground.

Cross children kick the leaves in the park,

Taking out their temper.

A beautiful russet and gold coloured forest.

Timid deer dart around fearful of humans.

Hedgehogs roll into a prickly little ball –

A spiky menace to defend against foes.

A sly fox camouflaged by his coat, creeps up on his prey.

Short misty days; longer dark nights.

This is Autumn.

Residents, and staff members at Hilderstone Hall celebrated the Harvest Festival by delivering their food bank collection box to the Charity, Trussell Trust.

The Harvest Festival is a celebration of food grown on land and, traditionally, a time for families and communities to get together and bring food to the less fortunate. It dates back to the fifth century, where it was common for the harvest season to be celebrated with a huge feast – and from then the tradition grew and evolved.

Liz Walsh, General Manager said: “Staff, residents, and friends from the local community of the home all donated very generously to the harvest hamper, which was sent to the Trussell Trust in Stoke on Trent and it really is heart-warming to see how much people care about helping others who are less fortunate. Thank you to everyone who contributed."

The Activities team always try to make sure that the birthday gift given to residents from the Home is as personal as it can be.  During a conversation with one of the team about books, Hilary mentioned that she loves detective stories and, in particular, the novels of Ngaio Marsh and her gentleman detective character, Inspector Alleyn.  Hilary had been an avid reader of these books some years ago and no longer has any of her own copies, but she said she would love to read them again.  The books are now out of print, but the team found some of Marsh’s novels on-line and bought three as a birthday present for Hilary, along with a lovely bunch of flowers.  Hilary was both surprised and overjoyed and is starting on the first one straight away!