Activities at Atfield House Care Home

This month Atfield House enjoyed a Saturday afternoon of Music, accompanied by our Art and Craft sale. As the weather had kept so warm at the beginning of this month, we still could call our Fayre a summer Fayre.

Residents enjoyed the music from the Richmond Brass Band with Refreshments and home-made cakes and biscuits, that residents had made. The kitchen staff also presented savoury finger foods and those lovely cream cakes with strawberries. There were cold drinks to serve and ice cream to cool us all down. Residents at Atfield House were very busy putting the last touches to our coloured rocks and finishing of our painted vases.

The Sunflower paintings looked fabulous! Quite a few items got sold to visitors and staff members and the money raised will be given to our Residents chosen charity: the Prince Alice Children`s Hospice.  We are looking forward to visiting them next month and to gift the Trust with our earnings!

It was a very beneficial for our Residents self-esteem and feeling of usefulness, to produce items worthy to be sold. We all enjoyed the work, and a basket with these handmade items is on display in our welcoming launch, and can still be purchased. Prices are up to the individuals contribution.

Thanks goes also to the Richmond Brass Band, who came to us, travelling from all kind of places in London, and thanks to the kitchen staff and all help from staff members, who were ready to assist with any needs to make the afternoon so pleasant.

At Atfield House Care Home, we recently started our Rock Art project. We had some lovely rocks, that we purchased from the garden centre, to paint. Many Residents got involved painting a layer of colour unto the rocks. Residents from our Memory lane also enjoyed getting involved, and did a great job! After this was done, we had special acrylic markers, which were just right for the second step: painting a design. We had residents, who enjoyed this process and even visitors got involved on the day too! There are some lovely designs and colours< that caught the eye of some staff members already. We have given the rocks a final glaze and they are awaiting to be sold at our Craft Fair this Saturday the 9 of September. The Craft Fair will be accompanied by the Richmond Brass Band, who will entertain from 2.30 pm till 3. 30 pm. There will be cakes and juices for sale, as well as, a table of brick a brack. We are looking forward to raise money for our 2 chosen charities on this event: The Princess Alice Children’s Hospice and the Food Bank!

Our 1920 themed Jazz Tea Party at Atfield House, was very much enjoyed by Residents, Visitors and Staff members alike. Our Entertainer sang the songs from the 1920 so well and electrifying, that soon everybody started to clap along and move to the beat. The food looked so inviting and Residents and Visitors enjoyed the Party food and drinks, served to them on the tables. The Drinks were varied from Water, to Juices. Then hot drinks were served with cakes and cream tea. There was also red and white wine available. In the second half, we were becoming so enthralled by the music, that staff members and Residents started to get up and dance together. It was a lovely afternoon< that we spend together, the room decoration took everything to another level too! There was a lovely feeling and atmosphere in the room of joy and social Interaction. Many thanks to the hard work and commitment of all our staff members , and of course our lovely Entertainer Lucy!

During this Summer season our Residents got busy, writing down their best summer holiday memories in form of a poem. We felt inspired and enjoyed listening to each other’s favourite holiday destinations and experiences. These were written down with our Residents own handwriting where possible. They are on display in our poetry corner and visiting family members can read them too. As part of our summer holiday themed activities our Residents produced collages, exhibiting their favourite Destinations in picture form. In these sessions we learn about each other’s life stories and enjoy the richness of experiences and their diversity too. During these times our Residents were also encouraged to dig up lost memories and picture them in life real memories with sound colours and actions and people, this activity can enhance memories and bring positive stimulation.

At Atfield Care Home, we recently enjoyed a lot of gardening projects. Many of our Residents used to be keen gardeners and still enjoy roaming around the Garden here and make themselves useful. G .has enjoyed weeding the beds and clearing dried leafs from the ground. She used to have a lovely garden and enjoys the outdoors at Atfield Care Home. S. knows a lot about the names of plants and has enjoyed watering our freshly planted herbs with the watering hose. T. is very interested to know the names of plants that grow in our garden, while M. and the Group found it very interesting to hear about the healing qualities that the plants in our garden are known for. Our newest project was, to plant house plants into pots and look after them, until we would like to offer them for sale at our planned table top sale on the 9 of September. Our Residents feel excited to produce these items and are looking forward to donate the received moneys from these sells to their chosen children`s Hospice charity.

At Atfield House the Residents have been very busy for the last months, making mosaic coasters! This was a new and interesting activity for many residents. It required planning and concentration to place the mosaics unto the coaster. Many Residents enjoyed this activity and produced some lovely work. One could notice that with each coaster practiced improved the outcome. This art and craft project is part of our aim, to produce items that we like to sell in our summer table top sale. Our Residents are proud to have completed this project and are happy with their achievements!

We are looking forward to showcase more of our Residents work and are also looking forward to welcome guests and happy byers to our planned sale on the 9 of September at Atfield Care Home.