Activities at Orchard House Care Home

We had the pleasure of hosting a wonderful readers’ and writers’ gathering here at Orchard House Care Home, together with talented Isle of Wight authors.

Our chef treated everyone to some delicious homemade cupcakes, and we are delighted to now have personally signed books in our home library. In the morning, Kevin Wilson read from his book and shared the inspiring story of how he became an author.

In the afternoon, we welcomed Kathryn Rossati-Brown, an autistic writer, who bravely spoke about how autism has inspired her writing. It was truly fantastic to hear her talk so openly about her feelings and what it means to be an autistic author. 
It was a very successful and heart-warming day, and we are proud to have welcomed such talented local writers. We look forward to repeating this event again in October.      

Orchard House was full of furry fun as we celebrated International Cat Day! 

Our lovely manager, Kim, brought in her gorgeous kitten, Daisy – and she completely stole the show.
With her soft paws and cheeky purrs, Daisy melted hearts and put smiles on every face – residents and staff alike. 

We’re big animal lovers here, so spending the day with this little bundle of fluff was pure joy!

We danced, we laughed, and we indulged in the most delicious Alice in Wonderland-inspired treats. The fabulous Paulo kept us all entertained — and everyone absolutely loved him!

There was singing, dancing, and smiles all round. Such a joyful afternoon filled with fun, laughter and magic 

Thank you to everyone who helped make it such a memorable event!   

From Tuesday 10th to Friday 13th, our wonderful carers can enjoy a delicious breakfast in the library starting from 10am. On Wednesday 11th, alongside breakfast, we’ll also host an open clinic with management from 10am to discuss anything that matters to our team. 

A big thank you to our amazing carers who make a difference every single day. Our residents and the whole team truly appreciate everything you do. 
Happy Carers Week!  

On the 8th May, we marked a special occasion with a fabulous Garden Party and Street Party to celebrate the 80th VE Day! Our beautiful Union Jack cake was the star of the refreshments, and the wonderful Paulo entertained us with his incredible music, creating a true street party atmosphere. 

Our residents had an amazing time dancing, sharing stories, and reminiscing about their memories from the time of the Second World War’s end. It was a joyful day filled with laughter, connection, and reflection. A huge thank you to everyone who helped make this celebration so special!  

Our residents were treated to a truly special experience here at Orchard House Care Centre: a wonderful Proms-inspired harp concert performed by the incredibly talented Bella Brown. 

Bella delighted us not only with her beautiful playing, but also by sharing stories about her life in music and the inspiration behind her work. The soothing sound of the harp created a magical atmosphere, and it was a joy to see so many smiles and happy faces amongst our residents. 

Moments like these mean so much to our community. Music has a unique way of bringing people together, sparking memories, and lifting spirits. We are very grateful to Bella for joining us and giving our residents such a memorable afternoon.  

The celebrations began with a delicious fish & chips lunch— always a favourite with our residents — before everyone settled down for something very special: a deeply calming sound bath session. With the soothing tones of gongs and singing bowls, Mel created the perfect atmosphere to relax, unwind, and let go of stress. Our residents described it as peaceful, magical and uplifting — a real treat for both body and mind.

Moments like these remind us how important it is to pause, breathe, and enjoy the simple joys of life together.

A huge thank you to Mel for her time, talent and kindness — it was a beautiful experience we’ll never forget!

The residents of Orchard House made the most of the beautiful weather (and that glorious sea breeze!) with a little outing for some well-deserved ice cream.

Of course, we couldn’t let the rest of the home miss out – so our fantastic Deputy Manager and the brilliant Activities Team rolled up their sleeves and turned into our very own ice cream vendors for the afternoon! Scoops were served, smiles were shared, and it’s safe to say… everyone loved it! So much so, we’ve decided to do it all over again tomorrow! 

Special mention to Emma, who was suspiciously good at serving ice creams… Please don’t open your own gelato shop – we need you here with us!

This extraordinary event was lovingly arranged by Chantelle and Juliette, daughters of one of our cherished residents, Keith. Keith, a former dance instructor, was given a heartfelt surprise as the dancers brought his passion for dance back to life. The beautiful performance by Graeme and Sarah left smiles on everyone’s faces and was a poignant moment for Keith, filled with nostalgia and joy.

Adding to the magic, Graeme and Sarah also took the time to teach a few dance steps to our residents, who eagerly joined in. Seeing everyone dance together was a heart-warming highlight of the day, spreading joy and laughter throughout the home.

The day proved truly unforgettable, especially for residents, who wholeheartedly enjoyed every moment of the experience.

Adding a touch of charm to our picnic was the feeding of the pigs – residents brought along a generous supply of fresh carrots, which the little pigs devoured with great enthusiasm. These interactions not only brought joy to everyone involved but also highlighted the unique bond between people and nature.

The day began with apple picking from the care home’s own garden, where the trees were full of ripe, juicy fruit. 
After gathering baskets of apples, residents got hands-on in the kitchen, making a traditional homemade apple strudel, a seasonal treat enjoyed by all. Adding to the festivities, the home’s much-loved therapy dog joined in, bringing smiles and extra cheer to the celebrations.

Staff said the day was filled with laughter and community spirit, making it a memorable way to embrace the season.  

We had the honour of welcoming SBW Raptors and their stunning owls to Orchard House, in celebration of Owls Awareness Day.

The residents and staff were absolutely thrilled to meet these majestic birds up close — it was a truly magical experience!

We were introduced to:
Hoggle – an 8-week-old Tropical Screech Owl
Moon – an 8-year-old Tawny Owl
Nimbus – a 10-week-old Snowy Owl

Each of them stole the hearts of everyone they met. Their calm presence, beautiful feathers, and quiet wisdom brought awe and joy to our home. A heartfelt thank you to SBW Raptors for making this unforgettable day possible! 

Before moving into Orchard House, one of our residents was a passionate fisherman. Due to limited mobility, he hadn’t had the chance to enjoy his favourite hobby in a long time — until now.

With the help of our fantastic maintenance team, Paul and Matt, we made his dream come true with a special fishing trip to East Cowes.

He spent the day by the water, casting his line just like old times, surrounded by great company and the sound of the sea. To top it off, we gifted him a fishing magazine to keep the excitement alive long after the rods were packed away.

It was a truly wonderful day, full of smiles and memories — a reminder of how small efforts can bring immense joy.    

What a day to remember! On Saturday, we took some of our wonderful residents to the Isle of Wight Festival – and it was extra special for one very important reason… Ken celebrated his 93rd birthday – in true rockstar style!

Wearing a hat that proudly said “Happy 93rd Birthday Dad” and floating along with two giant birthday balloons, Ken was truly the star of the festival. Everywhere we went, festival-goers cheered, sang, and wished him a Happy Birthday – one group even burst into song just for him! But the magic didn’t stop there… 

Stuart, one of our residents, had a personal reason to cheer: his nephew was performing with the Reckless Band, a fantastic Bryan Adams tribute act. We were right there in the crowd, singing along, soaking up the music, and supporting our family in the best way possible. And to top it all off, Ken’s daughter and son joined us for the big day – and we’re sure they’ll be talking about it for a long time to come.

A heartfelt thank you to the festival organisers for helping make this happen – and to the amazing people who made Ken feel like a true VIP.

Orchard House was abuzz with energy and excitement this Bank Holiday Monday as we welcomed a professional boxing trainer for a special workout session. The session brought a refreshing start to the week, offering our residents a chance to get moving, laugh, and enjoy a unique activity together.

Led by the fantastic Mark, the training session was tailored to suit everyone’s abilities, ensuring it was both inclusive and engaging. Our residents had a wonderful time learning new moves, sharing plenty of laughs, and feeling energised by the end of the session.

This collaboration marks the beginning of what we hope will be more visits from Mark in the future. His passion and professionalism truly made the day special, and we are so grateful for the joy he brought to our community.

At Orchard House, we’re always looking for ways to inspire and uplift our residents, and this Bank Holiday boxing session was a perfect example of how physical activity and social connection go hand in hand.