Activities at The Wingfield Care Home

Our residents were treated to an extra special surprise this week when Earl Grey the lamb trotted into the home for a heart-warming visit. Earl Grey quickly became the star of the day, charming everyone with his gentle nature and soft, woolly cuddles. Residents loved the chance to stroke him, cuddle him, and enjoy the simple joy that only a baby lamb can bring. 

The room was filled with smiles, laughter, and plenty of “awws” as Earl Grey made his way from person to person, happily soaking up all the attention. Animal visits like this are always a highlight for our residents. They spark conversation, bring back fond memories, and create a wonderful sense of calm and connection. Earl Grey certainly did all of that — and more.     

We had an absolutely fantastic afternoon at the home as we welcomed representatives from Guide Dogs UK for a special talk and meet-and-greet session. Residents loved hearing all about the incredible work these dogs do - from supporting independence to providing companionship - and they were full of great questions. The highlight, of course, was meeting the beautiful guide dogs themselves. 

There were plenty of smiles, gentle pats, and lots of wagging tails. It was a truly heart-warming experience that sparked lovely conversations and memories throughout the home.       

The home recently had the pleasure of taking part in a trial involving the use of virtual reality in our homes. Our residents absolutely loved using the virtual reality headset to embark on exciting new adventures straight from the comfort of their bed or armchair! With support from staff, residents were able to choose where they wanted to go before being transported to a number of different locations, including National Trust sites, UK Coastlines and farms/zoos. 

Residents in all of our units are engaged in technology, with many exclaiming: “Wow! That was amazing! The picture was so clear I really felt as if I was there”. This technology is particularly beneficial to our residents, who spend a lot of their time in their rooms/beds and are either reluctant or restricted to spend time outdoors or attending regular bus trips/outings with staff.

Residents enjoyed a very special animal handling session at the home recently with Melissa from Creature Cuddles. Melissa brought in a vast array of different animals for everyone to see and was on hand to answer everyone’s questions and teach us lots of new interesting facts! 

Residents particularly enjoyed cuddles with Pomeranian Tia and there were some mixed opinions on the Giant African Millipede, with only a few of our residents feeling brave enough to hold it!     

We have been making the most of the lovely weather we have been having and spending more time out in our beautiful gardens.

Our Magnolia and Cherry Blossom trees have bloomed beautifully this year and residents loved taking part in a little still life drawing and watercolour painting.    

There’s nothing quite like a beautiful sunny day to lift everyone’s spirits, and our residents have been making the most of this lovely weather by enjoying more time out in our gardens. With the sun shining and a gentle breeze in the air, residents recently gathered outdoors to enjoy a chilled glass of wine, great company, and plenty of laughter. The atmosphere was full of warmth as music played softly in the background, creating the perfect setting for a leisurely afternoon. To add a little friendly competition, we hosted a garden quiz, which brought out everyone’s playful side. 

Moments like these are what make our home feel so special — simple pleasures, shared together, creating memories and brightening days.  

At our home, our weekly bus trips have quickly become a highlight for many of our residents, offering the perfect blend of fresh air, fun, and community connection. Over the past few weeks, we’ve enjoyed a wonderful variety of outings that have brought plenty of smiles, laughter, and memorable moments.

One of our most popular destinations is the local pub, where residents have relaxed with a drink, shared stories, and enjoyed the welcoming atmosphere. These visits offer a lovely change of scenery and a chance to socialise in a familiar, friendly setting. We’ve also been making the most of the beautiful weather with scenic walks through local parks, giving residents the opportunity to stretch their legs, enjoy the sunshine, and take in the sights of nature. A particular favourite was our recent trip to the Bath Botanical Gardens, where residents explored the stunning grounds, admired the colourful displays, and enjoyed a peaceful afternoon surrounded by nature.  

These weekly outings are more than just trips—they’re opportunities for residents to stay connected with the community, enjoy meaningful experiences, and create new memories together. We look forward to many more adventures in the weeks ahead.   

We have had a lovely time at the home celebrating Easter this year. Residents enjoyed lots of sweet treats and time spent together with other residents across the units. Families and friends enjoying afternoon tea and live music. 

The home kindly donated Easter eggs by local business Travail Employment Group and ensured inclusivity across the home purchasing alternatives as required and ensured everyone’s dietary needs were met. It’s important to the home that everyone feels included when celebrating these seasonal events.        

We had a fantastic time at the home celebrating St Patrick’s Day this year. Residents enjoyed a special ‘luck of the Irish’ lucky dip in the morning followed by an afternoon of Irish music, Guinness and ‘Shamrock Smoothie’ tasting.    

We had the pleasure of granting resident Jennifer’s wish. Everyone that knows Jen would have heard her stories of the great memories she has dancing to the old rock ‘n’ roll music at Trowbridge Town Hall when she was a young woman. In Jen’s own words: “Those were the days!”

We were able to grant Jen’s wish to go back to Trowbridge Town Hall dancing when Age UK hosted a daytime disco there recently. Jen couldn’t believe it when we said we were taking her back to the Town Hall and had a fantastic time singing and dancing the afternoon away with staff and a close friend and resident from the home.        

Residents and team members came together this year for truly memorable VE Day celebrations, filled with music, nostalgia, and plenty of smiles. Ahead of VE Day, we were delighted to welcome the wonderful D-Day Dolly, Bethany from Mini Concerts, whose live performance brought the spirit of the 1940s right into our home. With her beautiful vocals, vintage style, and infectious energy, Bethany had everyone tapping their feet, singing along, and reminiscing about days gone by. 

Her performance was a heartfelt tribute to the era and a highlight for all who attended. On the day, the celebrations continued with a ‘street party’ themed afternoon tea. Residents enjoyed a delicious spread of scones, cakes, and classic British treats, all served in a beautifully decorated setting complete with bunting and flags. The atmosphere was full of joy, laughter, and shared stories as we honoured the bravery and resilience of the wartime generation.    

Our ladies really enjoyed a wedding-themed reminiscence session with Sandra from Charmworth Miniatures at the home recently. Residents thoroughly enjoyed traveling through the ages admiring handcrafted miniature wedding gowns ranging from the 1930’s straight through to 2000. 

The session finished off with a little dressing-up fun as residents June, Jean and Patricia donned wedding gowns and veils. It was a lovely afternoon filled with joy and laughter throughout.      

There has been a wonderful sense of anticipation in the home recently as we welcomed a special delivery of eggs ready to hatch. The incubator took pride of place in one of our communal lounges and residents gathered throughout the day to see the first tiny cracks appear. The excitement didn’t end once the chicks hatched and over the following days, residents loved watching them grow and change before they went back to the farm. The home worked in collaboration with ethical egg provider Incredible Eggs based in Cornwall to be able to offer this amazing experience to our residents.

The home also welcomed local preschool, See Saw Nursery and St John’s Primary School children in to meet the chicks during their stay, with us offering valuable intergenerational sessions to our residents. Both animal therapy and intergenerational sessions have been proven to have significant benefits, such as reducing stress and anxiety and supporting emotional health.      

We had a lovely time recently flower arranging on our Forget Me Not unit. 

The room was full of joy as we created beautiful flower arrangements and enjoyed singing along to a medley of songs together.   

We had a fantastic time ice-skating at Better, Link Centre in Swindon recently! Wrapped up warm residents braved the cold and happily made laps around the rink with staff. 

Resident Keith who had never been ice-skating before particularly enjoyed it and said: “Today has been one of the best days of my life, I will never forget it. It’s things like this that are great for the old ticker!”