Activities at Ashminster House Care Home
Activities at Ashminster are based on residents' life histories. We host music workshops and encourage participation in a number of other activities, including gentle exercise, bingo and gardening. Monthly live singers entertain everyone with music from the 50s, 60s and 70s and residents are encouraged to interact with the musical instruments. Sensory sessions with fibre optic lights and touch & feel blankets are provided, which can be calming to those living with dementia. Residents participate in cooking sessions and enjoy the aromas of bread, scones and cakes - and, of course, sampling the finished product over a cuppa! We promote family values at Ashminster, and those we support can enjoy reminiscing about family events in the past, including weddings and previous occupations.
Elaine Hilden
I have worked at Ashminster House since 2003, first as a carer then progressing to activities coordinator, which has know as 'Head of Lifestyle'. I have a wealth of experience in my role, as well as NVQs in Health and Social Care, Activities in the Care Setting and Dementia.
I am passionate about fulfilling residents' lives by getting to know each individual with a person-centred approach, learning about their experiences and helping them to express themselves, such as through reminiscing with items of old.
My interests outside of work include antiques, dogs and spending time with my family.
Activities and Events Partnerships
As part of our bespoke life-enrichment programmes, we host a number of live virtual events in the home on a regular basis through a number of partnerships with places of interest and world class performance companies
Life at Ashminster House Care Home
Valentine's Day Celebrations!
Ashminster House was filled with flowers, cards and balloons as we celebrated the day of love with sweet treats and thoughtful gifts to the sound of classic songs.
Our lovely speak up champions, Sorwaney and Reena arranged a variety of heart-warming gifts to appreciate our staff on the day of love for all their hard work over the past month!
National Pizza Day
We celebrated National Pizza Day in style. What a delight to see everyone rolling up their sleeves and crafting their own pizzas with their topping of choice.
Everyone got to try a variety of pizzas, from juicy Hawaiian to loaded meaty mixes, finished with a selection of sweet and savoury treats.
International Chocolate Cake Day
Watch out for one of the best days of the year… International Chocolate Cake Day!
From chocolate cupcakes and fudge to sticky chocolate and ginger syrup sponge as well as tasty biscuits in-between, we had a fantastic day filling our tummies with all things chocolatey, all prepared by our talented kitchen team!
Christmas sing-a-long and mince pies
Residents gathered in our reception to enjoy some lovely piano music of classic Christmas tunes such as ‘White Christmas’ and ‘Most Wonderful Time of the Year’.
We also ate some classic shortbreads, delicious cupcakes and mouth-watering mince pies, helped down by a cup of tea, coffee or some wine!
Christmas Card Making
Residents of Memory Lane and Rose Court got together to make their very own special Christmas greetings cards for the coming holidays this year.
They crafted their own decorations onto the cards inside for those they want to give them to as well as writing their own personal messages inside them.
Singing along to Christmas songs in Folkstone
Our residents headed off to Folkstone for an afternoon of musical tunes and mince pies with Sunflower House's Christmas Singalong presented by Shapeshifter Productions Ltd!
Pat said: "It's so lovely being in the community and singing all these Christmas classics! The mince pies and hot drinks were a nice little addition too!"
