Activities at Balclutha Court Care Home

The team at Balclutha have been recognised for their incredible hard work, flexibility and commitment during this challenging period for everyone. Every member of staff within Barchester have received a special thank you card and rainbow wrist band for their work in being able to continue to put the care of our residents and patients first. 

As residents embrace new technology and keeping in touch with their loved ones via Skype they also been busying with traditional methods and sharing messages with postcards to send to their family and friends, who doesn’t love to receive a postcard!

Residents have also been making use of Skype and FaceTime so that they can video call their relatives – although some still aren’t too sure about the new technology!

General Manager, Alison Dickson said “It is vitally important that we ensure that our residents can remain in contact with their family and friends during this time. New technology is great for this purpose, but of course a good old fashioned letter writing is just as welcome!”

Some of our residents enjoyed doing some crafts. We have placed the rainbows in our window at the front of the home.

Residents of Balclutha Court have been busy making rainbows, which they have displayed on windows throughout the home to bring a smile to someone as they pass the home. The idea is that members of community display rainbows in their windows so that children can go ‘rainbow spotting’ when out for their exercise with family. The colourful displays are brightening up everyone’s day! The Facebook group has over 90,000 members and the home is delighted to be part of the community spirit.

Residents of Balclutha Court have decided to make its garden more attractive to birds by planting shrubs and flowers that will benefit wildlife throughout the year.

Everyone came together to enjoy a morning of crafts, making and painting nest boxes for their feathered friends as part of National Nest Box week, which is an annual event that takes place every year with St Valentine’s Day, as this is traditionally when birds pair up for the new breeding season. Putting nest boxes in the garden is brilliant news for birds!

It was a case of west is best as Balclutha Court staged a USA-style country party for residents and staff, with everyone donning their Stetsons to become cowboys and cowgirls for the day.

There were also Red Indian squaws — and teeny guests from the home's pals at Glen Park Nursery. Country and western music got the party started and everyone tucked into burgers, hot dogs and southern fried chicken.

We hold theme days from time to time, but we've never had a wild west theme before. We had a photo booth with ‘Wanted' posters, country music, games, a tin pan alley and all the staff, and residents threw themselves into the spirit of it.

Everyone got involved, from the reception to kitchen staff and HR. The children from Glen Park Nursery come in here regularly, and the intergenerational work we do with them is fantastic. The nursery is very good in trying to bring the same children in each week, so they can build up a rapport with residents.