Activities at Upton Bay Care Home
Activities are an integral part of life at our care home. We want to ensure that the people we support have as much fun as possible during their time with us, so it’s important that our activities programme is created with the interests of residents in mind. Our skilled Activities Coordinators bring a certain uniqueness to the home that can’t be found anywhere else, and which is reflected in the activities they organise.
Karen Grant
I first worked in the care sector in 2010, starting in domiciliary care and progressing to Care Coordinator. I have since gained a wealth of experience in dedicated dementia and residential activities, working as a peripatetic activities coordinator in 16 out of 20 homes within a group, and then in 2018, I was part of a team that commissioned a new luxury care home, where I was an Activities Team Leader.
I enjoy making wishes come true for residents: in February 2015, I organised my first wedding in a care home. The lady resident who was living with dementia was unable to travel to Hertfordshire for her granddaughters wedding, so I brought the wedding to her. I organised a wedding blessing at the home; we had a vicar, a choir, all of the bridal party, the flowers, a buffet, a wedding cake, champagne—the full works.
In 2017, I organised a smaller wedding in the garden, and this was a special wish for a gentleman resident to see his granddaughter married. Organising these special moments gives me a lot of pleasure, knowing I have made them feel special and to give families that happiness and see them smile.
I cannot wait to welcome our residents into their wonderful new home and help to bring smiles, joy and laughter to each day.
Karen is also one of our dementia champions
Read our brochure 'Life-enriching activities' for more information about life in our care homes.
Read our brochure
Activities and Events Partnerships
As part of our bespoke life-enrichment programmes, we host a number of live virtual events in the home on a regular basis through a number of partnerships with places of interest and world class performance companies
Life at Upton Bay Care Home
Christmas Jumper Day
The Upton Bay Family couldn’t have looked anymore festive this Friday, as we all dressed up in our finest festive knitwear for Christmas Jumper Day, to raise money for Save the Children!
Every team member and resident alike paraded around the home in their most colourful jumpers, some with lights, tinsel, and bobbly bits galore! And our ladies have all been to the salon for their festive manicures too!
We are well and truly into the swing of Christmas at Upton Bay!
Winter Wonderland at Blenheim Palace!
Upton Bay residents experienced a truly palatial Christmas extravaganza this week, via a virtual tour of Blenheim Palace’s world famous light display.
We discovered the story of The Nutcracker, reimagined within the palace rooms- from the toymaker’s workshop on a frosty Christmas Eve; through the glistening Land of Snow and onto the candy-cane Kingdom of Sweets adorned with the sweetest of treats and larger-than-life gingerbread men.
Into the grounds and gardens, over a million lights, lasers and seasonal sounds filled the air with festive fun in this Winter Wonderland. Our favourite display by far was the enormous Cathedral of Light!
Just a little off the top..!
Gents at Upton Bay were treated to a visit from the Grade 92 mobile barbershop, as the van made its inaugural trip to our home!
A huge Thank You to experienced barber George Hatch, who was so kind and accommodating to our gents, and made sure each resident came out looking and feeling their best!
Complete with step-free access and a traditional, adjustable barber chair, George’s van was fully equipped to make a simple haircut accessible to all, no matter their mobility, and only metres from the front door!
One of our lovely residents, David, said, “It was fantastic, I’ve never seen a whole barbershop on wheels before!”
3...2...1... Lights On!
Members of the Poole community joined residents and staff at local care home, Upton Bay, Hamworthy, for their Christmas Light Switch On celebration, marking the start of the home’s first Christmas.
Residents, families and guests gathered together in the gardens to witness the lighting up of Upton Bay’s outdoor festive decorations, including two Nordmann fir trees.
Following the countdown by Pat Bullock, Chair of Friends of Hamworthy Park, the crowd dived into homemade mulled wine from Upton Bay’s Chef, Mark Jeffries, and a selection of artisan mince pies.
Organised by Home Advisor, Sophie Payne, Upton Bay is running a raffle throughout December, for the chance to win a luxury Christmas Hamper, with all proceeds donated to the Hamworthy Community Food Store, situated in Turlin Moor.
“It’s lovely that a care home this size is using its resources to give something to local people, especially the food store which is vital for a lot of our families this time of year,” commented Pat.
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…!
Residents at Upton Bay enjoyed a very merry 1st of December today, getting into the festive spirit with a day full of tree decorating!
They sprinkled lights and laughter all over the home, from our residential suite to Memory Lane, and with Christmas carols and classics filling the halls, carefully placed an array of beautiful baubles on each tree.
And we couldn’t celebrate our first Christmas without a true showstopper of a tree in our entrance hall! Rockefeller – eat your heart out!
Getting Festive over Christmas Wreath Masterclass
This week, we took part in an interactive virtual Christmas-themed floristry masterclass courtesy of Master Florist, Michal Kowalski, from Blooming Haus.
Blooming Haus, is one of the UK’s most innovative floral design and artisan studios, which keeps sustainability and seasonality at the core of their designs.
Working on their wreaths together, residents reminisced over decades worth of Christmas’s enjoyed. “I’ve hosted Christmas for 60 years,” commented Ivy, resident. “It will be nice to put my feet up this year instead!”
The beautiful embellishments for the wreaths are from Julia’s House Hospice Charity Shop in Creekmoor, whose Christmas shop is raining funds to support children with life-limiting illnesses.
Upcoming events
Networking Breakfast - Monday 13th April 2024
Join us for a fun breakfast meeting like minded business colleagues. Make new contacts and important business connections.
Knit and Knatter community group
Join us for a fun morning with residents and community in our coffee shop. Bring your knitting and have a good knatter. Every Thursday. 10.30-12.00
Gin, fizz and quiz
Join us for entertainment by pianist Simon who will play classics, jazz and musicals. Then a 15 minute quiz. Gin and fizz included
