Activities at Newlands Care Home
Activities within our home are tailored around the requests of residents. Our Activities Coordinator holds regular activity meetings to seek new thoughts and ideas. The home is committed to offering a varied range of activities for all residents, from hand and nail care to gardening for those who have green fingers. We carry out reminiscence activities, including planned entertainment days, bringing the seaside into the home or dance hall meetings.
We hold strong links with the community, especially schools and local children's sports teams, who visit the home to provide entertainment and engagement with residents. We also maintain relationships with the church to ensure that residents’ spiritual beliefs are met. Externally, we have our own minibus, and outings are planned and carried out, again tailored to residents’ preferences, whether it be shopping, visits to the local pub, tea and coffee afternoons, or a scenic day out in the lakes and lovely countryside that surrounds us. However, the fun does not stop at the residents we care for, but we also hold events to involve family and the wider community.
Hlabekile Nyoni (Nayoni)
Hlabekile Nyoni known by everyone as "Nayoni" is the Activities Co-Ordinator at Newlands Care Centre as of December 2023. Hlabekile joined the Barchester team in August 2023 on a part time basis then later became fulltime at the end of December 2023.
"Nayoni" says, ‘ I love sharing my ideas and knowledge to make residents life at Newlands enjoyable and memorable for them and their families. Each day is a different day and each resident is different therefore I always put that into consideration when coming up with activities that can suit each individual. I am so glad to work with a great team throughout the home, from housekeeping, clinical, care, kitchen, maintenance, admin and managers all play a pivotal role in my work. With my strong artistic background I find it easier to come up with creative ideas. I love my job here at Newlands.
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 Newlands Care Home
Elves for Alzheimer's
Staff at Newlands dressed up as elves on 6th December to raise money for Alzheimer's.
Fang’tastic Party for Residents
Residents of Newlands enjoyed an afternoon on fun and mess as their creative skills were showcased with pumpkin carvers before Residents were joined by staff, their children getting into the Halloween spirit with some spooktacular outfits and a fang’tastic party.
Their spooky creations are now displayed proudly in the home’s foyer for all guests to see and admire. Kim Whelan, General Manager said: “This was such a lovely way to spend the afternoon.”
Residents & Community Come Together to Remember
Residents, relatives, colleagues and members of the West Cumberland Royal Engineer Association and the community have come together and got involved with creating a display with 1700 crotched and knitted poppies, flags and silent soldiers’ figures.
The home has planned a range of Remembrance day has inspired activities which helps residents to honour and remember those affected by the war.
Newlands Fair
Staff, residents, relatives and the local community came together at Newlands to enjoy an open day that was held at the home on 31st August 2019. The home hosted a variety of activities throughout the day, including 300 mile exercise bike challenge, wet sponge throw, cake sale and music from Mickey D, which were enjoyed by everyone who came to the event.
On the day the team at the home also celebrated the launch of their new workshop space for residents, named Haile Hut. The hut was named in memory of a resident of the home, Tony Haile, whose tools and equipment were donated by his wife Carole.
Bringing the Community Together
Staff, residents, relatives and the local community came together at Newlands to enjoy an open day that was held at the home on 31st August 2019. Newlands hosted a variety of activities throughout the day, including 300 mile exercise bike challenge, wet sponge throw, cake sale and music from Mickey D, which were enjoyed by everyone who came to the event.
On the day, the team at the home also celebrated the launch of their new workshop space for residents named Haile Hut. The hut was named in memory of a resident of the home, Tony Haile, whose tools and equipment were donated by his wife Carole.
A Wet August
August has not seen many sunny days this year, but this has not stopped the residents of Newlands enjoying the summer holidays.
This month, the residents have been on many trips around West Cumbria, with Silloth, Keswick, St Bees and Cockermouth being visited by the Newlands minibus. Popular activities during trips out included visiting the local pubs and chippies, taking the scenic routes to enjoy the views of the Lake District and listening to music and sharing jokes on the bus.
Sport features heavily in people’s entertainment choices throughout summer, and our home has been no different. Regular exercise classes in the lounge have been enjoyed by our units, who also made use of both target games that were self-made by Newlands staff. Golf has been popular too, with indoor putting and outdoor chipping competitions taking place on the Lakelands unit.
The girls have been getting together too, meeting up in each other’s rooms and lounges and being very social. New bonds between residents are being created as they share stories with each other and most likely include a bit of gossip during this time.
We also had a visit from a local therapy dog, who enjoyed being petted by the residents. It was nice to see that this visit brought back fond memories of old pets. Our furry friend will continue to visit every Wednesday morning.
As always we continued to welcome musical entertainment into the home, as singer Phil Anthony joined us for birthday celebrations.
Lakelands have added a workshop to their many entertainment rooms. The workshop, which has been called ‘Haile Hut’, named after a resident whose family donated the majority of the tools and wood. Residents have been showing off their DIY skills and creativity.
Upcoming events
Come dine with your loved one
We know meal times are important and we extend a warm invitation for you to join your loved one. For more information get in touch.
Dominoes Club
Come and enjoy our Friday Dominoes Club and make new friends over a cup of tea and slice of homemade cake.
