Activities at Appletree Grange Care Home

Resident of the Day at Appletree! Today, our lovely Resident of the Day was approached by the Activities Team to find out what she would like to do for her special day.  

She excitedly made a shopping list and said she’d love to go shopping for some gardening items. We headed out to Dobbies, and she had such a wonderful time picking out her favourite plants and garden decorations. Her smile said it all — a truly joyful and fulfilling day.  

We had a lovely day outing to Penshaw monument where we took a lovely stroll along to lake side.

We fed the birds and decided to go for a lovely tasty treat at there site café. So much fun and laughter had by all.   

Today our residents enjoyed celebrating National Cream Tea Day with an afternoon of delicious snacks!

Our residents enjoy lively and engaging experiences and this week ‘fish’ was the theme as part of our quiz of the day. The discussion began with fun and educational conversations about different types of fish, their habitats, colours, and unique characteristics. Residents were encouraged to share personal memories and experiences related to fishing or enjoying fish dishes, which sparked laughter and storytelling across the group.

As part of the interactive segment, residents took part in a magnetic fishing game, where they tested their skills at “catching” colourful fish using magnetic rods. The game brought a friendly sense of competition and plenty of smiles, as residents celebrated each successful catch. For those who preferred a quieter, creative activity, drawing materials were provided. Several residents enjoyed sketching and colouring their favourite fish, expressing themselves through bright and imaginative artwork.
 

Our Deputy Manager, Naomi, has been crowned Divisional Learner of the Year for the North East & Scotland Division in the Barchester Care Awards 2025 and is through to the national round of judging.

The Barchester Care Awards celebrate the staff who go the extra mile for the benefit of the 13,500 residents living in Barchester’s 267 care homes and private hospitals across the country. Categories range from ‘Registered Nurse of the Year’ and ‘Carer of the Year’ to ‘Dementia Care Champion’ and ‘Activities Coordinator of the Year’. 
 

Our residents gathered and joined in setting up the Halloween decorations. 

Everyone is excited to see the final spooky setup, and we can’t wait for the Halloween party!   

We had a fantastic visit from ‘The Zoo Lab’, where they brought a variety of different creatures. This was a huge hit as our residents really enjoyed this afternoon. 

Some of our residents were even brave enough to hold some of these animals. 

We recently visited the local pub to celebrate one of our residents' 90th birthdays!

We had a lovely afternoon in the sunshine!

We are delighted to celebrate the outstanding achievement of Marian Chimez, who has successfully completed his Level 3 qualification!

This accomplishment is a testament to Marian’s hard work, determination, and commitment to personal and professional growth. Throughout this journey, he has shown resilience, focus, and a passion for learning that truly inspires those around him.
Well done, Marian—you’ve set a shining example of what dedication and perseverance can achieve. We are proud of you and look forward to seeing the amazing things you will accomplish next.
 

A few of our residents had a lovely afternoon in Barley Mow pub to celebrate a resident's birthday and soak up the sunshine recently. Everyone had such a lovely time. We also took some residents to our local garden centre to see all the lovely flowers and plants. We stopped off for a nice cake and hot beverage. We all had a delightful morning. 

Now the nicer weather is approaching, we decided to get our paddling pool out to splash our feet in it. This was a garden afternoon well spent and a perfect way to cool us all down. 

During a lovely chat with our residents, we talked about the things they love doing and the hobbies they used to enjoy. Many of them mentioned how much they’ve always loved playing bingo and how nice it would be to visit a bingo hall together as friends to relive those wonderful memories. Our amazing staff team made it happen! 

The residents had an absolute blast at Buzz Bingo — the evening was filled with fun, laughter, a few drinks, and lots of smiles. They came back to the home buzzing with excitement and couldn’t stop talking about the experience all day!  

This is a photo from our special outing to Chester Le Street Park summer fair. 

Our residents enjoyed sightseeing and having some lunch at the café. Before coming back home, we decided to buy some tasty candy floss which they loved.    

We recently had a wonderful time celebrating World Chocolate Day! Everybody enjoyed indulging in some sweet treats. 

There’s been plenty of laughter and friendly competition in the lounge as our residents enjoy a lively game of dominoes. With four active players fully immersed in the action and one lovely observer cheering them on, the atmosphere was nothing short of joyful.

It’s more than just a game; it’s a time for connection, conversation, and a few playful rivalries. Watching the concentration on each player’s face, the excitement when a perfect tile is placed, and the shared moments of celebration remind us how important these activities are for both mind and spirit.

We have had a special visit from Birtley library. 

They helped us go back in time to reminisce 'the good old days' around Gateshead and Birtley. This brought our home so much joy and laughter. We will be delighted for them to visit us again.