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.
Read our brochure 'Life-enriching activities' for more information about life in our care homes.
Read our brochure
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
Cocktails and Canapes
Residents have enjoyed a delicious selection of canapes and delightful cocktails that have been prepared by our excellent catering team and activities team here at Ashminster House. Along with the snacks and delicious drinks, the residents enjoyed a quiz related to different types of cocktails and what drinks are used to make them.
Elvis is in the building!
Residents, families and staff at Ashminster House got to meet the king as he sang for our community. Elvis performed a fantastic selection of tunes from the legend of rock and roll. The residents had a marvellous time, singing and dancing to his greatest hits!
Enable go Live!
Ashminster House is delighted to announce that as of this week we are now using ENABLE, the digital e-care planning. “Enable” as a tool that Barchester Healthcare is making as part of its digital transformation strategy. I would like to thank each member of the team for embracing the new digital system, Enable. A big thank to all our transposers, both our home staff and the regional support team for all your efforts and hard work of creating support plans and risk assessments.
Time with tiggy
Ashminsters in-house cat Tiggy brings out love, joy and happiness for our residents.
On a daily basis residents feed, brush and play with him.
Bill often comes down from our memory lane unit to visit our feline friend.
This activity has a calming and relaxing effect as this reminds bill of his own pets
Bird watching
This time of year Ashminster houses garden is full of wildlife.
The binoculars come out and residents love to observe and record the birds that visit.
One of our residents is always looking out for red squirrels as he was born in Scotland.
Our recordings this month are robins, starlings, thrush, and great tits
Gin tasting session
Residents and the community experienced an afternoon of gin tasting.
Residents expressed the taste as tingling, sweetness, fruity with a hint of spiciness.
The aroma of the gin brought back fond memories for one resident who shared memories of how to make sloe gin.
We sampled the traditional gin and tonic, orange, lime, strawberry and ginger.
