Activities at Ouse View Care Home

Ouse View staff took time out to say a huge thank you to York City Church in Gillygate York for the wonderful hamper, card and DVD they so generously gifted to the home recently.

The hamper included all sorts of delicious festive treats and goodies, and the DVD featured York City Church's recent Virtual Christmas Carol Evening, including traditional, well-known carols and readings.

Ouse View residents have been enjoying lots of festive activities during its 'Countdown to Christmas' throughout December, and the DVD will no doubt prove a very welcome addition.

As part of Ouse View's advent calendar of activities throughout December, residents enjoyed a traditional Dickensian afternoon tea.

Over tea and cream scones, conversation soon turned to the age-old debate of whether the cream should sit atop of the scone, with the jam on top of that (Devon cream tea); or the jam as the first ingredient on the scone, followed by the cream (Cornish cream tea).

Regardless, the scones were deemed delicious, and the afternoon proved a great success with everyone, as the countdown to Christmas continues. Tea, anyone?”

Germany is credited with starting the Christmas tree tradition as we now know it in the 16th century. Following in the footsteps of Martin Luther, who is said to have first added lighted candles to an evergreen tree, were the residents and staff of Ouse View, who were pitted against each other in the home's inaugural Christmas Tree Decorating Competition.

On hand to judge this highly coveted award was none other than Barchester Healthcare Regional Director, Lindsay Price. Competition was fierce, standards were high, and choosing between the three trees was difficult, but a winner was finally chosen...

Lindsay presented the winner's trophy—sorry, toffees—to Sheila who represented Ouse View residents! Fantastic job Sheila, and a big thank you to all the residents for helping make our home look so wonderfully festive. Lindsay and Sheila are pictured with General Manager, Pauline Hodgson.

Ouse View Care Home in Fulford, York have recently brought a bit of magic to residents by installing the Tovertafel ‘magic table’ as a way to improve residents’ quality of life.

Created in the Netherlands, the Tovertafel uses interactive games to connect people in the mid-to-late stages of dementia with each other, their family members and friends, all the while stimulating movement. Using interactive light projections, the Tovertafel, which can be played independently or as a group, invites participants to pop bubbles, sweep leaves or interact playfully with fish. Another game generates a series of well-known sayings and phrases, which often sparks discussion and brings back memories. Games are rich in colour, movement and detail, and allows people of all ages to play in a safe and comfortable environment.

Movember is an annual event involving the growing of moustaches during the month of November to raise awareness of men's health issues, such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and men's suicide. Doing its own bit to help raise awareness of this worthwhile cause were the staff at Ouse View who used their considerable (and we can't emphasise 'considerable' enough) artistic talents to adorn their disposable masks with a variety of moustaches that would be sure to give Salvador Dalí a run for his money.

Ouse View residents paid their respects to the heroes of the First World War by commemorating Armistice Day with a two-minute silence in the home's cinema room. They enjoyed watching television coverage of the special service held at Westminster Abbey to mark the centenary of the burial of the Unknown Warrior. One resident remarked: "I may not be able to go to church at the moment, but this was the next best thing