Activities at Spen Court Care Home

Liz enjoyed going out of the care home, and a visit to a local café was a lovely way for her to spend her time outside of her usual surroundings.

These trips give the residents a change of environment, fresh air and the chance to engage with the local community, which can be uplifting for mood and wellbeing.

Visiting a café also encourages social interaction, whether chatting with staff, other residents, or members of the public.

Overall, these outings help the residents to maintain a sense of independence, boost confidence, and add variety and enjoyment to daily routines.        

The home had a smell of flowers and freshly baked cupcakes. Cards were spread around the entirety of the home. Many were blessed with visitors, some enjoyed video calls and some enjoyed the atmosphere of the day.

The residents were entertained by Melissa. They sang and danced the afternoon away before enjoying a homemade cupcake from second chef Kerrie. The home was filled with warmth and joy. All the ladies and gentlemen celebrated the day as we think it’s a day of showing love and care throughout.

Maisie and Julie really enjoyed the afternoon. Maisie said, “It was a wonderful day, the sun was shining, and the home was filled with flowers and chocolates, which are some of my favourite things in life.”

Our memory lane residents enjoyed aqua painting and showing their creative flair, this therapeutic activity encourages feelings of calm and peace. 

On Pennine community, it was eyes down as we enjoyed our weekly game of bingo which our residents love to play - for a sweet prize of course!

Elvis is in the building!

With hips swinging, classic hits filling the room, and plenty of swooning from the crowd, our residents and visitors were transported straight back to the golden age of rock ‘n’ roll. Laughter, singing, and a whole lot of dancing made it a truly memorable afternoon for everyone.

Ralph is a new resident here at Spen Court, bringing with him a warm personality and a lifelong passion for singing.

Music has always been a big part of his life, and he enjoys sharing his love for songs with those around him. Whether it’s classic tunes or familiar favourites, Ralph’s enthusiasm often brightens the atmosphere and encourages others to join in.

His passion for singing not only brings him joy but also helps create meaningful connections with fellow residents, visitors and team members.

Ralph arrived with a songbook in hand and liked to serenade us all after the evening meal. Ralph was the star of the show when we had Karen in the home to perform her show tunes for us.               

Residents living on Memory Lane generally enjoy a game of balloon tennis, but, today we took it to the extreme. The room was sprinkled with pastel-coloured balloons as the residents started to reach out as the balloons were unpacked.

Such a simple activity that brings such joy and laughter, the soft, slow-moving nature of a balloon makes it gentle on the joints, and it’s suitable for those with mobility or balance concerns. It can also benefit coordination and motor skills. The game requires focus and reactions, and it’s a great way to socialise. Other than the health benefits, it’s great fun.

Eady was passing by as she didn’t want to join in, but returned upon hearing the laughter coming from the lounge. Something so simple but very effective.  

Our residents love to dance and glide across the dancefloor with fancy foot work!  Ballroom is a firm favourite as they waltz around the floor to old time classics, singing as they go. 

Afterwards, over a cup of team they enjoy sharing stories of times spent in the dance halls.

Derrick had always measured time, not in years, but in rides.

His motorbike – a gleaming Royal Olympic, it was more than metal on wheels. It was his first love. Then came Joyce.

Joyce didn’t ask Derrick to give up his bike – not directly. Derrick and Joyce fell in love, upon them getting engaged, the once upon a time first love of his bike was sold for £50.

The bike was sold to save funds to get married and buy a home. Little did they know the home they bought had a shed, which would have been ideal for the bike to live in, but life’s choices had been made.

They went on to have 2 wonderful boys, and the Royal Olympics will forever live in the heart of Derrick.      

The staff and residents have been mixing up batter and flipping pancakes all morning in preparation for their annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Day celebrations.   We marked this year’s Pancake Day with a pancake tossing competition and of course, lots of pancakes! The home chef, flipped more than 50 pancakes, serving them up with sweet and savoury fillings for all the eager staff and residents.

He said: “My secret to the best pancakes is all in the whipping. Give it some elbow grease when mixing the batter and you’ll get perfect pancakes every time. I like experimenting with the fillings – the residents’ favourites are honey, chocolate spread and banana and of course, good old-fashioned lemon and sugar!”

As the temperature falls, Residents of Spen Court have enjoyed the freshness of the new year to potter outdoors and watch out for wildlife.

The crunching leaves and crispness has made this the perfect time for them to take a stroll before settling back to enjoy a warming cup of tea and slice of delicious home-made cake.

The festive fun continued as our residents and colleagues came together to enjoy a wonderful range of Christmas-themed activities. The home was filled with warmth and laughter as everyone joined in the celebrations, creating special moments and lasting memories.

There were smiles all around as residents took great delight in decorating the Christmas tree, carefully placing ornaments and adding their own personal touches. Others embraced their creative side by taking part in seasonal arts and crafts, producing beautiful pieces of festive artistry.

We were delighted to receive a surprise visit from the granddaughter of a past resident of our home.  Kelly and her daughters presented a gift to the home filled with a selection of sweet treats for everyone to enjoy as a special thank you for caring for her grandmother.

Kelly said, “thank you for the companionship, care and love which was given to my grandmother, Jean during her time in the home. It meant a lot to us as a family – thank you”.