Activities at Oak Grange Care Home

We recently went on a trip to the storyhouse in Chester, this wonderful building incorporates a library, theatres, a cinema and restaurant along with a community creative social space. It’s a thriving hub of activity with lots to see and full of people from all cultures and backgrounds. We found a table in the central part of the restaurant and ordered pots of tea and some delicious cakes. Being out in this community connects our residents to the outside world and enables them to be part of an interesting and vibrant setting. We discussed many topics from our previous theatre trips, favourite books and had a chat with some local students on the next table. A lovely few hours that we are sure to repeat again and again.

What fun we had with the House of Memories on the road team. They arrived early to set up the mobile museum and then took us down memory lane with lots of old artefacts and a completely immersive experience. This really was such a fabulous interactive and fun day. Lots of Residents got involved and said it was an interesting day and took them back to their childhood.

House of Memories is a museum-led dementia awareness programme which offers training, access to resources, and museum-based activities to enable carers to provide person-centred care for people living with dementia.

Thank you to the Liverpool Museum Team for visiting us, how lucky are we!

Creative Mojo isn't just about painting or drawing; it's about creating an environment where residents feel valued, connected, and alive. It taps into the fundamental human need for expression and connection, making it a powerful addition to any care home's activities programmer.

Each month we have a new theme that fits into our activities  and so when we decided to celebrate Winnie the Pooh day it seemed like the perfect reason to create a fabulous painting of Pooh himself. A wonderful morning with lots of fun and laughter making our collage with Yvonne from Creative Mojo

It is estimated that Elvis has sold over one billion records worldwide so to honour the undisputed King of Rock & Roll, the staff and residents enjoyed a fantastic day of music, fun and dancing.

General Manager, Sarah Butler, said: “Lots of our residents are big Elvis fans and love his music.  We’ve had a fantastic day listening to Dave Bushell a regular singer of ours who transforms into Elvis and sings all our favourite songs.

June, a resident said: “I loved Elvis growing up.  Listening to all his old hits has brought back so many memories.  We’ve all had a brilliant time reminiscing about our dance hall days!”

Our varied life enrichment programme keeps residents active, and provides a daily choice of engaging physical, mental and spiritual activities tailored to residents’ interests and abilities.

In connection with a charity called Ready Generations and Healthbox we have been lucky enough to be part of a fully funded programme of intergenerational singing classes with Amanda Wrigley.

As one of 6 local care homes to be included in the early stages of this intergenerational choir we have begun our choir once every two weeks. Amanda plans to integrate a local school with us here at Oak Grange so that we can all sing together

This will then hopefully be a regular get together that all residents can enjoy even if they are watching and not singing.

During these sessions the residents develop friendships and connections, self-esteem and worth, leadership and physical and mental stimulation.

The benefits for the children are social interaction, confidence and listening skills to mention just a few.

Music strengthens our bonds and is so inclusive for all individuals. This shared joy can be witnessed and heard in many ways such as smiles and laughter, the holding hands of children and resident. The residents enjoy the company of children tremendously and it really does forge some amazing results when they are all together.

Residents and children will hopefully be coming together from all the care homes to the local theatre to meet and sing together at the end of the funded trial, we will then continue with this with Amanda on an individual home basis.

Residents have taken part in January's Big Garden Birdwatch in collaboration with the RSPB.  It was clipboards and pens at the ready as we poised ourselves for an hour of bird watching in our glorious garden. 

Last week we made tea cup feeders to entice the birds and today, the weather was on our side, the sun was shining and we tallied off a number of birds, including crows, blue tits and we even had a swan fly past!

We will be sending our results off to the RSPB to be added to their survey.