Activities at Overslade House Care Home

Residents in our Memory Lane residents enjoyed a visit from Annette from Creative Mojo who guided them on how to create a beautiful Dragon for Chinese New Year, the year of the Dragon. They all did an amazing job and Peter was artist of the day. Our Dining areas were transformed with kimono serviettes, Chinese name cards and Chinese lanterns. Residents enjoyed a dance from carer Lydia before lunch was served. This was Sweet and Sour chicken with rice made by head chef Joanne Kolat-Furca. After lunch residents enjoyed videos of the Chinese Dancing Dragon, The Chinese Lantern Festival The Forbidden City, The Great Wall of China and New Year fireworks. Everybody also learned whether their birth year fell on the year of the dragon and were keen to know what animal year they were. New Year celebration is centred around removing the bad and the old, and welcoming the new and the good. It's a time to worship ancestors, exorcise evil spirits and pray for good harvest.

Today it's celebrated also by Chinese communities outside the country. Lion dance, dragon dance, temple fairs, flower market shopping and so on are just a few of these rich and colourful activities.

In the run-up to the new year people will clean their houses to get rid of dirt, rubbish and other unwanted items. They will redecorate them with red couplets, lanterns, new flowerpots and furniture, and will shop for foodstuffs for banquet specialities. Members of the family sit around a big table to have a New Year's Eve dinner

Older and senior members of the family give the younger ones good luck pocket money contained in a red envelope

Everyone would have a thorough bath to cleanse themselves and wash away the bad luck before the end of the year. Children and adults would change into new clothes, new shoes, new outfits for the festive period.

At midnight on New Year's Eve, noisy firecrackers would be set off to usher in the New Year. On New Year's Day and the few days that follow, friends would visit each other's homes and offer good luck wishes to each other, exchange seasonal greetings.

Ann the  resident Ambassador  said: “I loved the dance that Lydia gave us, I love the vibrant costumes and learning about the Chinese Zodiac animal traits. A person born in the Year of the Dragon is said to be kind, confident and strong.  I find it fascinating to learn all about different traditions, and I thought our dining areas looked beautiful.”

Overslade House was filled with flowers, cards and sweets in celebration of St Valentine’s Day.

Residents enjoyed a live virtual event provided through Barchester Healthcare demonstrating flower arranging for Valentine’s Day with Kathryn Delve.

3 tables were set up with beautiful flowers suggested by Kathryn and residents went for a Valentine’s Day colour theme. The Laurel greenery was from our own lovely gardens

Residents were shown how to cut their flowers to make them last longer and how to arrange their displays and each one looked very different with their own personal touch . Everybody thoroughly enjoyed the session and were pleased with their results , as some residents had never done it before, it was lovely to welcome the men and relatives to join in also.

Residents enjoyed an armchair Zumba session full of love songs including Shakira, Kiss Kiss and Brotherhood of Man, Save all your kisses for me, finishing with deep breathing and relaxation to Saving all my Love for You.

Staff and residents celebrated the day of love by telling their personal life stories with most saying they had a wonderful marriage. The dining areas were turned into romantic restaurants ready for a lunch of salmon, followed by chocolate dipped Strawberries, heart shaped shortbread and fabulous fairy cakes sprinkled with love, made by Head Chef Joanne Kolat-Furca.

The corridors have been filled with love songs and in our Memory Lane we made Valentines balloon baskets to send some love to heaven. Residents were also treated to chocolate hearts and marshmallows as our Activities Team delivered from room to room sharing the love everywhere in the home.

Maureen, a resident said: “It has been a lovely day. It was wonderful to see everyone go to so much effort to get involved with the day’s festivities. I really liked how the dining area was decorated with lots of personal touches, the chocolate heart sweet dishes, and chocolate covered strawberries were lovely.”

Staff and residents at Overslade House joined fellow keen quizzers from over 250 Barchester care homes and hospitals across the whole of the UK, including Wales, Scotland, Jersey and the Isle of Wight, to put their collective general knowledge to the test.

The inaugural Barchester Big Quiz of the Year took place on 9th January 2024 when Overslade House got super competitive and took on its sister homes from all over the country to find out which Barchester home or hospital had the best quizzers.  From historical humdingers and musical musings to pictorial puzzlers and connective conundrums, the homes battled it out to find out who would prevail.

Nathan, resident at Overslade House said: “It has been a lovely afternoon. We scored a very respectable 27/30 questions. It was wonderful to see everyone in all the other homes joining in. I really enjoyed getting together with my fellow residents to take on the other homes – it is amazing how competitive everyone gets!”

Celebrations have been in full swing at Overslade House, as one of it’s residents reached her 90th Birthday in style.

Liz Nixon was joined by staff, relatives, friends and other residents as she received a champagne reception at the home and guests enjoyed a special birthday cake made by the home’s chef Joanne Kolat-Furca.

Liz was a keen golfer and originally came from Lancashire before coming to Overslade House, where she is enjoying a new chapter of her life.

The birthday girl, said: “Am I really 90? Well I don’t feel it are you sure?” when asked her secret to staying young Liz said “well you have got to keep active while you can and for as long as you can, haven’t you”

Overslade House had a wonderful Christmas Day, 84 presents were delivered to all of our residents. It was so lovely to see friends, relatives and the local community enjoying Christmas Lunch at the home. Many thanks also to Paddox Primary School for their lovely handmade Christmas cards for our residents. Following this Julie Bateman Activities Lead and Activities assistant Martin Higgs  headed off to the Ben charity in Railway Terrace where they were serving Christmas Lunch to people alone on Christmas Day, to hand out Christmas Goodie Bags containing soup, coffee, mince pies, cake, chocolate, marshmallows and a pair of warm socks.

Overslade House wanted to give to the Benn Charity to say thanks for all they do and to give the gift of Christmas to those spending Christmas alone.  The Benn Charity welcomed visitors into their hall in Railway Terrace and supplied Christmas dinners for people who were alone Christmas Day.  The Charity helps Children, young, people, elderly/old people, and the General Public, with Education/training, Arts, culture, heritage and science, Economic/community, Development/employment by providing Human Resources, buildings/facilities/open space, and advice and information services.

John, resident at Overslade House said: “Christmas is a time for giving but also for being with your family and friends I hope that those who were alone this Christmas will have some comfort and Joy from our gift bags”

William Thompson (Bill) was joined by staff, relatives, and friends as he celebrated another landmark birthday. Guests enjoyed a special birthday cake made by the home’s chef Joanne Kolat-Furca.

Bill came from a family of 10 siblings but has survived all of his siblings.

Bill worked on planes as an RAF Engineer and was drafted to India during his service. Bill’s first job at the age of 14 was at a butcher’s in Rugby town centre delivering orders on a bicycle. Bill tells how his father had a cow in a paddock behind the house that helped to keep the grass down, they had no running water or electricity and the toilet was at the bottom of the garden in Lower Street, Hillmorton. Bill married Florence in 1947 and they were married for 68 years.

Bill became the Manager at Paddox butchers and was there for 35 years, we managed to find a newspaper article from 1979 showing Bill at the butchers, we couldn’t believe the price of the newspaper!   Bill also owned a small holding with pigs and chickens. This was jointly owned with his brother, along with five shops in Hillmorton, the fish and chip shop, a veg and haberdashery shop that was run by his mother another shop was rented out as a post office. Bill received his Telegram from the Queen on reaching 100 years of age and apparently married the same year as the Queen and Prince Phillip.

During their happy marriage Bill and Florence had four children, 3 daughters and one son.

When asked the secret to a long life Bill said, “I never smoked, I like a good whiskey, keep a good appetite, and most of all keep working and keep going as long as you can”

All sounds like good advice to us Bill we shall do our best.