Activities at Maple Leaf Lodge Care Home

Celebrations have been in full swing as one of our residents reached her centenary in style.

Beryl was joined by staff, relatives, friends and other residents as she received a telegram from the King in recognition of her landmark birthday. A champagne reception was held at the home and guests enjoyed a special birthday cake made by the home’s chef.

Beryl was Born in Hounslow on the 29/01/1926, Middlesex and moved to south sea when she was 5 years old. Beryl met her husband at 18 years old during the war when she started work at the government war office. Beryl enjoys sharing stories about her life and listening to others. Beryl use to be a member of the WI after retirement and also use to play tennis at Water-low Park and use to enjoy swimming

We had a truly special afternoon thanks to a surprise visit from the wonderful Rob Dixon and his generous donation of beautiful fresh flowers to our home on behalf of local businesses. Residents enjoyed a relaxing and creative flower arranging session, filling the home with colour, fragrance, and lots of smiles. 

The activity brought back fond memories, sparked wonderful conversations, and gave everyone the chance to create their own floral displays to brighten up their rooms and communal areas. A heartfelt thank you to Rob and yet again your thoughtful gesture made a real difference and was thoroughly enjoyed by all.

Residents and relatives gathered together to enjoy a selection of biscuits and a small splash of Baileys for those who wished to indulge. 

The room was filled with laughter, conversation, and the comforting smell of freshly served treats. Many residents shared memories sparked by the flavours, while others simply relaxed and enjoyed the social atmosphere. The event was a big hit and the residents are already asking when the next one is!    

Our residents made the most of the beautiful autumn weather today with not one, but two lovely seasonal activities! A group of residents enjoyed a refreshing autumnal walk in Wyndham Park, Grantham, surrounded by golden leaves and the crisp scent of autumn in the air. There were plenty of smiles and wagging tails! 

As we met lots of friendly dogs out for their walks. After taking in the scenery, everyone enjoyed a cosy cup of tea at the park café, chatting and watching the world go by. Meanwhile, back at the care home, other residents gathered in our garden for a relaxing autumn social, wrapped in blankets and enjoying the gentle sunshine. There was plenty of laughter, conversation, and warm drinks all round, a perfect way to celebrate the season together.      

Residents, relatives and staff were transported to Mexico for a lively armchair travel celebration of Mexican Independence Day. The home was filled with colour, music, and joy as everyone joined in the festivities.

Traditional Mexican food and refreshing drinks were enjoyed, while vibrant costumes and decorations brought the spirit of the occasion to life. Residents tapped along to lively mariachi music, shared stories, and embraced the culture with smiles all around.

The day was a true fiesta, full of flavour and rhythm, reminding us that you don’t need to leave home to experience the magic of another country!  

All the staff and residents wish you all a very happy and healthy New Year. We can’t wait for 2026 and all the exciting things it holds. 

Residents throughout the home have welcome in the fabulous Steve Carmel for a party full of singing and lots of dancing to welcome in the New Year. The was full of celebrations, smiles and lots of confetti!

We got in the Christmas spirit by hosting a Bauble and Bubbles event. Residents enjoyed a wonderfully festive afternoon as we gathered together for our Bauble Making & Bubbly event. The café was filled with laughter, creativity and a touch of sparkle as everyone designed their own personalised Christmas baubles.

Maple Leaf Lodge’s event was in full swing with a glass of bubbly in hand, residents chatted, shared stories, and helped one another bring their ideas to life. From snow and ribbons to mini-Christmas trees and presents, each bauble became a unique keepsake. 

International Men’s Day aims to appreciate and celebrate men and the contribution they make to society. International Men’s Day seeks to encourage men to lead by example and become positive male role models for other men and boys. One of the objectives of celebrating International Men’s Day is to acknowledge the many difficult issues that men face. Prior to the day, residents were asked to nominate all the outstanding men they knew who were working in the home, volunteering or making another valuable contribution to society. Residents were asked to think about the positive value those men bring to the world, their families and communities, and to acknowledge and celebrate that effort. 

During the evening, our gentlemen came together for a ‘Pizza and Pint’ evening as the gents enjoyed a selection of take-away pizza and a choice of ales. Our men were then entertained with pub song classics and old football games. Resident Peter said "It’s great that us men can share common interests and get together like that.

Residents and staff came together to celebrate Diwali, the Festival of Lights with an afternoon full of colour, joy, and togetherness. The lounge was beautifully decorated with vibrant rangoli art, created by residents and team members using coloured sand and flower petals. The air was filled with festive music, laughter, and the sweet aromas of traditional treats. 

Residents enjoyed a selection of refreshing mocktails, specially made for the occasion, while joining in dancing and singing to classic Bollywood tunes and favourite songs. It was lovely to take time to learn about and appreciate another religion and its traditions, discovering the meaning behind the lights, colours, and customs of Diwali. It reminded us how special it is to celebrate different cultures and beliefs within our community. Wishing all who celebrate a very Happy Diwali!   

Our care home came alive with our Country & Western themed Summer Fête! Residents, families, friends and members of the community enjoyed a fun-filled afternoon complete with lively music from our live band, who set the perfect atmosphere with toe-tapping tunes.

Guests browsed and shopped at a variety of stalls, tried their luck at games, and sampled plenty of sweet treats. One of the biggest highlights was the pony ride, which brought smiles and laughter to both young and old.

With cowboy hats, chequered shirts, and plenty of laughter, the day truly captured the spirit of the Wild West. Thank you to everyone who joined us, volunteered, and helped make it such a special day! 

We’ve been "All Shook Up" as we celebrated the King of Rock 'n' Roll's birthday. What better way to celebrate the King of Rock and Rolls birthday with a party. We spent the day singing along to all our favourite hits. 

There was "A Little Less Conversation" and a lot more laughing as we all tried our very best impersonations of the King himself! To top off the fun, we held an Elvis trivia quiz where we discovered some amazing facts. Did you know that Elvis was a natural blonde, or that he was a twin? It was a wonderful day filled with "Burning Love" and nostalgia, proving that at Maple Leaf, Elvis has definitely not left the building!

We were delighted when the wonderful Michelle, from our local Boots store, got in contact to see if we wanted to use their wonderful memory box. Boots, have been working with Victoria Tischler, Professor of Behavioural Science at the University of Surrey, to develop a project in care homes providing items from the Boots Archive to stimulate interesting discussions and promote positive feelings. Our residents enjoyed a wonderful day of reminiscing. 

The box was filled with familiar health and beauty items, catalogues and pictures from years gone by, classic packaging, nostalgic fragrances, and everyday essentials that sparked meaningful conversation. Residents shared stories of products they remembered using, favourite perfumes from their youth, and memories of visiting Boots on the high street. The room was filled with laughter, fond recollections, and moments of connection as everyone compared experiences and chatted about how things have changed over the decades.    

Residents have had a wonderful time celebrating Oktoberfest in their home today. The lounges were decorated in traditional Bavarian style with blue-and-white bunting, beer steins, and plenty of lively music to set the scene. 

Everyone enjoyed tasting traditional German-inspired treats, sipping on beer or soft drinks, and joining in with singing, clapping, and dancing along to the music. The atmosphere was full of fun and laughter, and it was lovely to see residents reminiscing and sharing stories while celebrating together.    

What a wonderful afternoon we had at our Balloon Launch in support of the Alzheimer's Society. Under the sunshine, we watched the sky fill with blue balloons, a moving tribute to those who have passed from Alzheimer’s, living with dementia and their loved ones. 

Our Tombola was a great success, with lots of fun, prizes, and smiling faces. Thanks to everyone’s generosity, we raised an amazing amount to help fund vital research and support for people affected by dementia. 

Staff and residents at Barchester’s Maple Leaf Lodge care home in Grantham marked Alzheimer’s Awareness Month which is taking place throughout September.

Alzheimer’s is a form of dementia, the loss of cognitive functioning – thinking, remembering, reasoning – which can affect a person’s day to day life and activities.  Functions that can be impacted are memory, language skills, visual perception, problem solving, self-management and the ability to focus and pay attention.  The number of people living with dementia in the UK is forecast to increase to over 1m.