Activities at Lochduhar Care Home
Activities are the cornerstone of a wholesome home experience and our Activities Coordinators are always putting their creative minds to the test by organising new and exciting social events for residents to partake in. Of course, we take into account the likes and dislikes of those we support, so if someone doesn’t feel like trying something new, there will always be something on offer to reflect their personal interests. For the people who may just prefer some peace and quiet instead, we also offer one-to-one time that can be enjoyed with a nice cup of coffee or just a simple chat – whatever they desire.
Sally Gilder
Sally has been in the care sector since 1998. Sally joined the Lochduhar team in 2018 as a care assistant.
Sally is very passionate about the care she provides and the welfare of the residents. Working as a care assistant Sally was able to get to know the residents wants and needs to provide excellent person centred care to each individual. Then in 2020 Sally found the opportunity to become Head of Activities. Sally feels that she provides a different side to herself to promote an active and inclusive lifestyle through her role as Head of Activities.
Read our brochure 'Life-enriching activities' for more information about life in our care homes.
Read our brochure
Activities and Events Partnerships
As part of our bespoke life-enrichment programmes, we host a number of live virtual events in the home on a regular basis through a number of partnerships with places of interest and world class performance companies
Life at Lochduhar Care Home
A trip to the farm
Residents and colleagues from Lochduhar care home, in Dumfries, enjoyed their recent visit to Mossburn Community Farm. They were pleasantly surprised to see animals such as horses, cows, sheep and goats and have the opportunity to be up alongside them.
Mossburn Community Farm was established in 1990 to provide help for misused, unwanted and neglected horses and ponies. This original remit was later widened and they now care for a range of farm and domestic animals. The team at the farm is dedicated to ensuring that the care and well-being of all their animals is of the highest standard at all times.
Birthday celebrations
Celebrations have been in full swing at Lochduhar Care Home, as one of its residents reaches her 90th birthday in style. Anna Grant was joined by family, staff and other residents as she celebrated her 90th birthday. She enjoyed it when staff sang ’Happy Birthday’ to her and she particularly enjoyed opening her cards and gifts and eating a slice of her special birthday cake.
Gillian Ward, General Manager of Barchester Lochduhar care Home added: “We’ are all delighted to be celebrating with Anna as she reaches her 90th birthday. Anna is such a popular resident who always enjoys having a chat with staff. Our activities team and care staff worked hard to provide a special birthday party for Anna and her family”
Macmillan Coffee Morning
Staff and residents at Lochduhar Care Home in Dumfries held a charity coffee morning and bake sale on Friday 29th September 2023 to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.
Having a coffee morning is the perfect chance to catch up over a cuppa and a slice of something delicious for a great cause. The money raised helps everyone with cancer to live life as fully as they can.
Baking Session on Memory Lane
Recently some residents in our Memory Lane Community, chose to do some baking.
Sally picked them some apples from her daughters garden and bought them in for the residents. Maggie got together with the residents, they peeled and sliced the apples, rolled out the pastry and put the apples inside and covered it. The residents really enjoyed doing some baking.
They were reminiscing of when their mothers use to cook and bake for them.
Once the pie was cooked they chose to eat it for their afternoon tea.
Gordon's Tomato Garden
Gordon asked if he could grow some tomatoes over the summer so he could watch them grow from his window.
Two members of staff took Gordon shopping for his small plastic green house, and some tomato plants. Gordon used to be a keen gardener and grew his own vegetables, so he was quite keen to get started. He watered his tomatoes and watched them grow.
Gordon was so pleased with the end results! He asked the kitchen staff to make him a piece (sandwich) with his tomatoes. They did and he said he thoroughly enjoyed it and is looking forward to his next piece and planting more tomatoes next year.
Games with Northwest Primary 7 Pupils
We have a weekly visit from Northwest Primary 7 pupils and they come in and play games with the residents.
On their first visit, we provided the games for the residents and children. The games were Ludo, Jenga, dominoes and cards. They all got very involved and the interaction was great. The following weeks the children bought in their own game ideas, and as you can see they all went down a storm.
