Meet our Activities Coordinator, Claire Garrod

Hello, my name is Claire and I am the Activities Co-ordinator here at Ritson Lodge.

I have been working with the care industry since 2015 and as an Activities Co-ordinator since 2017. I love being an activities co-ordinator as it allows me to bring joy into the residents day, build relationships with them and ultimately try to make them smile!! Before starting work I completed a degree in Dance and Drama so I try to include my knowledge of this in my activities. I am also particularly passionate about activities for those living with dementia.

Activities at our home

Our home is always full of life, and we can thank our wonderful Activities Coordinators for this. Dedication to creating a unique and interesting activities programme is what sets us apart from other homes. We always take into consideration that some people would prefer to pursue their own interests, which is why our team strive to incorporative activities that cater to a wide range of tastes and hobbies. Our trips out are always fun and exciting as well, and residents are guaranteed to return with stories to tell their loved ones!

Life at Ritson Lodge Care Home

Birthday Celebrations

We were delighted to help Dorothy celebrate her 100th birthday, with her telegram from the queen family messages from New Zealand, enough flowers to open a shop, the chocolatiest cakes ever made by our Head Chef, Andy. A wonderful afternoon was had by all. Happy birthday to a wonderful lady from us at Ritson Lodge.

Hopton Card Exchange

Pupils of Hopton Church of England Academy and residents enjoyed a Zoom Christmas card exchange, with the pupils offering a lovely rendition of 'We Wish You a Merry Christmas', cheering us all up in these challenging times. We are looking forward to when we can get together in person and wish the pupils a very merry Christmas.

Christmas Fundraising

Busy Christmas Elves at Ritson Lodge have been having fun raising money for the Alzheimer’s Society. We've been hosting elf coffee mornings, quizzes and games, as well as taking part in general elf naughtiness, making lots of people smile.

Our New Visiting Pod

We are super excited to welcome our residents' friends and family to our lovely visiting pod. We can’t wait to see you all; the benefits and joy this will bring will be immeasurable! We look forward to seeing you soon.

World Men's Day

We celebrated World Men’s Day at Ritson Lodge on the 19th November by turning our coffee shop into a pub.

The men had a swift half and snack while watching the 1966 World Cup, bringing memories of where they were on the day when England won the World Cup, followed by a sports quiz afternoon which brought out the competitive nature of our residents.

Remembrance Day

Ritson Lodge held a Remembrance Day service in their garden on the 11th November, followed by hot chocolate and war-time sing along. The Flanders Field poem was read aloud by resident, Leslie. It was a moving day for all; residents appreciated the opportunity to remember war heroes.