Activities at Wheatlands Care Home

Residents enjoyed the arranging of VE celebrations across the week in both our residential and memory lane communities. Residents enjoyed sharing memories together. There was a lot of joy and laughter in and around the home with a few sombre moments as we remembered the sacrifices that were made.

Albert attended our church service with his medals as he wanted to represent all those that couldn’t be with us and the Fallon soldiers. Carolyn from Kiddletdivey music therapy treated us to the best of British morning residents and the staff danced and sang the morning away together in true Wheatlands style! It really was a week not to be missed. 

As part of our make a wish initiative, Joan wanted to go somewhere special as part of her 102nd birthday celebrations. She chose a trip to Blist Hill Victorian museum where she met her niece, who enjoyed the day with her and fellow resident Mary.  

It really did feel like we had all stepped back in time, walking through the streets of a Victorian town, visiting the local shops and taking in all the tights and sounds of yesteryear. Joan especially enjoyed a trip to the general store and reminiscing about all the old brands ‘Tate and Lyle’ brought lots of memories flooding back, as Joan’s dad and Grandfather used to work at its Liverpool factory. She said they were the backbone of the business. 

Joan and Mary then enjoyed a trip to the New Inn Pub where they sang Happy Birthday to Joan and everyone in the pub enjoyed a good old-fashioned sing-song around the piano enjoying old Victorian songs. One of Joan’s favourites was ‘boiled beef and carrots’, a traditional Victorian song played around the piano. We finished the day off with traditional fish and chips cooked in beef dripping and a good old-fashioned cuppa!  

We are so lucky to live in an area stooped in history. Our residents enjoy having guest speakers, and we were delighted to welcome Chris from the Wenlock Olympian Society for the morning. 

The Wenlock Olympic Games date back to 1850 and was founded by Dr William Penny Brookes to provide annual competitions in sports and the arts and continues to be held yearly.

The Wenlock Olympic Games inspired the modern Olympic Games. Did you know one of the mascots of London 2012 was named Wenlock? Residents enjoyed a fascinating talk and even got to hold an Olympic torch!

Here at Wheatlands Care Home we are always thinking of new ways to enrich the lives of our residents. We decided to upcycle an old meds trolley and turn it into a mobile tuck shop. This new venture quickly evolved before taking it on its maidan voyage around the home. 

After listening to our residents at a recent resident's meeting, we have added some extra items, including magazines and a selection of cards to Activity Co-Ordinator Kate's mini shop and mobile library, which will go all around the home on a weekly basis.

We are looking to improve our library, so if you have any books or old magazines you could donate, please give them to Kate or drop them off at our reception. Who can then pass them onto our new resident librarian?

Here at Wheatlands we are great animal lovers. Lots of our residents have farming backgrounds and or have grown up in the countryside. We couldn't pass up the opportunity to have some ponies in our home. Moomin and Lollipop from Lollipop Pony Parties visited our residents. Can you imagine their faces when two ponies walked into the lounge? It was priceless. 

They even visited those residents in their bedrooms and went in the lift, so everyone within the home had the opportunity to say hello and feed them a carrot or three! Pet therapy animals have a wonderful calming effect and our residents love to pet them. 

It brought so many memories back, especially for Racheal, as her husband used to be a VET who specialised in horses and was well known in the farming community.

Life enrichment here at Wheatlands Care Home is a whole-home approach, from our amazing kitchen team through to our fantastic carers. 

We have decided to lay down all tools each and every Friday afternoon,  so every member of staff within the building, including our office team, spends some quality time with our residents.

'Frivolous Fridays' was born a few weeks ago. These one-to-one or group activities are very person-centred.

Residents have enjoyed talks about girl guiding, the local Gorge Museums, pamper sessions, walks around the grounds and even feeding our fish!  Time on our Rainbow tablet for a cuppa and a good chinwag!