Activities at Ashcombe House Care Home

Residents enjoyed a three hour trip along the Basingstoke canal. Boarding ‘DAWN’ in Odiham , residents enjoyed the beautiful scenery, wildlife and wonderful weather sharing memories. Canal Barge DAWN has wheelchair access and is run by the Accessible Boating Association, a charity run by volunteers the charity maintain two specially equipped boats,  allowing anybody with mobility or socialising difficulties to enjoy day trips or longer cruises with carers, family and friends on the Basingstoke Canal.. We were captained today by Volunteers of the charity who shared their knowledge of the canal and its history.

We set of East towards Winchfield passing the picturesque Old Thatch Cottage before reaching the Barley Mow Wharf and winding hole just beyond where we moored up to enjoy a picnic lunch on-board.

Peggy Gary a resident of the home said “I’ve had a truly fantastic day, with great company and lots of laughs along the way. I even had a try at being the captain and steered the barge which is something I have always wanted to do”

Mellisia Irwin senior carer said “ Its lovely for residents to be able to get out and enjoy the beautiful scenery and tranquil setting, everyone has had a lovely time, I know I’ve really enjoyed myself.”

World Cocktail Day is a global celebration of cocktails, the date marks the publication of the first recorded definition of a cocktail on May 13 in 1806 as a ‘stimulating liquor, composed of spirits of any kind, sugar, water and bitters’.  World Cocktail Day invites everyone to try something new, and perhaps a little exotic, this special occasion is celebrated by cocktail lovers worldwide.

Whether you’re a tequila fan, a whisky lover, a gin aficionado or you just like to mix it up and try something new, World Cocktail Day has something for everyone. It was certainly a day of fun-filled tastings for the staff and residents.

To mark the day, residents had so much fun drinking their own Mocktails, from Fruity Sunrise, Non Alcoholic Sangria and virgin Mojitos there was something for everyone to enjoy. Once the Mocktails had been shaken or stirred they were taken around the home on a cocktail trolley making the activity fully inclusive to everyone at the home.

Joan Howes a resident commented: “This was brilliant fun, seeing the cocktail trolley all decorated and getting to sample some mocktails, there really isn’t anything better.  I very much enjoyed trying some different mixes, I always like to try new things”

We have been working alongside Queens Marys College as part of the health and social care course, students were tasked with designing a weekly planner full of activities for our residents. From these activities residents selected those they would like to take part in, so students came and delivered a pot decorating session at the home. Using decoupage techniques residents decorated ceramic plant pots, the students provided all the equipment and delivered the session. Residents really enjoyed the interaction and the students were fantastic, explaining what they were doing and taking their time to help. Students asked if they could come back the following week and assist the residents to plant the pots with seeds.  The planting session was a huge hit with residents and the room was full, everyone planting seeds of either flowers of herbs. The students came up with a competition to see who could grow the tallest sunflower so every resident at the home had a seed planted and the students will be returning to see how they are growing and when ready will be assisting to planting in the homes garden.

Resident Sally has always loved animals and alpacas are one of her favourites. A special wish trip was arranged with the local Alpaca farm Pennybridge Alpacas who assisted us to make Sally’s wishes come true. On the day Sally was just told she was out for the morning on a trip with no idea where she was going. Sallys face lit up as we pulled into the farm car park and she saw the baby Alpacas.

We were able to meet and greet the babies before seeing the mother alpacas being fed, Sally chucked as the females charged over the field and ate their breakfast it was a very funny sight. Sally met, brushed and fed the baby Alpacas and learnt more about them before having a much needed cuddle. The day was perfect and sally said it really did make her day, week and even her year!

Celebrations at the home for a very special ladies 102nd birthday . Lilian enjoyed staff and residents celebrating her special day with her and chef Tracey made a beautiful birthday cake. Children from the local primary school made a huge card to celebrate the milestone and sent lots of birthday wishes. Celebrations continued into the afternoon with a visit from Wings of freedom, a bird of prey rescue society. Lilian held Kevin the Kestrel something she said she never thought would happen on her birthday let alone at 102 years old

Resident Peggy was very excited to become a student again as she joined a local college. We have been working with Queen Marys College for an intergenerational project involving students on a social care course. The students were given a presentation by our activities coordinator Michelle in delivering a weekly program of activities for the residents, what elements to think about and what the activity will provide for a resident. The students had a week to plan their projects, Michelle and resident Peggy returned to the college and the students presented their ideas, Peggy loved some of the ideas and was talking the students through what benefits she thinks their ideas would have at the home. Peggy said she would like to invite some of the students to the home to perform their activity as some sounded like good fun and very different. We are looking forward to progressing further with this project and having regular contact with the students.