A Jam-Packed July

We have been very busy so far this July at Longbridge Deverill Nursing Home, with lots more exciting things to come.

Wimbledon Season

We started July by making sun hats in one of our arts and crafts sessions, in eager anticipation of lovely, sunny weather. We wanted residents to be able to wear them while they sipped on their Pimms and enjoyed some strawberries and cream while catching up on Wimbledon.

This planned group craft activity assisted residents with creativity, conversations and reminiscences of various types. The craft evoked imagination, dexterity and sensory-related chats about the colours and textures used in making the sun hats.

Residents also helped decorate the room where the craft activity was held. This in itself brought cheer to people as they were gently reminded of this milestone time of supporting their favourite tennis players, and reminiscences of summertime and holidays with family and friends. There was cheerful music and atmosphere in the room which residents enjoyed too. 

Continuing with the Wimbledon theme, residents were offered to decorate their own cupcakes with edible Wimbledon decorations and savour their own cupcake creations too! The activities team included each individual by going around the home with the goodies on a Wimbledon-decorated trolley to provide this delicious sensory experience. Residents also enjoyed the quintessentially British “strawberries and Cream”, to add to the summertime Wimbledon theme, where we chatted about some other British traditions and past times. 

Another Wimbledon-themed planned activity was a Wimbledon party where residents were invited to the rooftop terrace room for Pimms and lemonade while watching or participating in a game of balloon tennis. There was appropriately themed décor and music in the room, and residents enjoyed the relaxed social gathering. On offer was the choice of Pimms and lemonade or non-alcohol Pimm’ and lemonade which some residents had helped to make by following a recipe and trying and testing it along the creativity process. This activity was well-received, as well as the enjoyment of the balloon tennis which offered some motor skills and fun ways to keep fit.

A Warm Welcome to our Volunteers

At Longbridge Deverill Nursing Home we warmly welcome the support of volunteers, and we are delighted to have Zak and Henry with us this summer for their work experience.

Zak and Henry are supporting residents by being involved with activities and getting to know the residents through conversations, adding to the relaxed, community atmosphere we have here in the home.

Activity Scrapbook

We value the benefits of activities here at Longbridge Deverill Nursing Home, and we strive to provide residents with a variety of opportunities.

We wanted to find a way to showcase our activities and decided to make an activities scrapbook for families, residents and visitors to browse through.

Residents enjoyed seeing themselves in the photos of various activities over the last few months as we sorted the photos into themes. Much discussion was had as we chatted about each activity and remembered the persons involved. It was a wholesome time of group inclusion and reminiscence for all involved.

Sensory Sculpting

Another activity we planned for this month was sensory edible sculpting, where residents were encouraged to roll and form shapes from the different coloured edible dough.

It was a fantastic sensory experience as residents were interacting with different colours, eating and tasting the dough, and creating shapes to create a finished three-dimensional work of art on a plate. There was relaxing music playing in the background, which added to the calm atmosphere of the activity.

Pottery Class

We welcomed a potter with her wheel to offer a demonstration and allow residents the chance to create a clay item on the wheel or to make and decorate a clay tile.

This activity proved highly therapeutic and beneficial in many ways. Some residents showed a natural flair and talent with clay on the wheel. A former headmaster commented that he’d always seen his pupils doing pottery and never had the chance, but now he has the chance to do it himself.

It was lovely to hear and see such positive feedback. We shall definitely invite the potter back with her wheel!

Peacock Art

One of the units has recently had some beautiful new peacock-themed wallpaper applied to the walls of the dining room.

To encourage a sense of inclusion in the decorating, residents participated in some “Peacock Art”. It was lovely to see residents who usually hesitate to be involved in creative projects, just relaxedly paint some glitter paint onto pictures of peacocks. This level of creativity seemed appropriate and suitable for a variety of residents, and some were surprised at their own achievements.

Musical Recreation

We like to include some musical recreation in our activities programme, and this month the activities team arranged a visit from the talented and entertaining Martin Smith.

Residents were engaged in guessing the country of the songs’ origin, participating in actions, as well as singing along to the familiar tunes, with a refreshing cuppa and snacks. The terrace room was still decorated with the Wimbledon theme and, as always, residents enjoyed the extensive vistas from the rooftop terrace room, which really added to the occasion.

Supporting the overall wellbeing of our residents remains a top priority for us here, and we value the opportunities we get to make special memories with our residents, relatives and staff.