Activities at Camellia House Care Home
We understand that the people we support have passions and interests that could be difficult to pursue after moving into a care home – but that doesn’t mean we don’t encourage them to try! Some hobbies can define a person, so our Activities Coordinators are dedicated to ensuring that everyone we support is able to do what makes them happy to the best of their abilities. Social events are organised with individual tastes in mind and with the idea that residents have the opportunity to try new and exciting things.
Linda Wilkie
I have worked in this home for nearly 30 years, so it is very much part of my life. I started as a part-time Domestic when my children were small and, as time has gone by, I have become a Senior Carer and the Activities Coordinator.
I have NAPA and OOMPH qualifications, as well as an NVQ Level 3 Health and Social Care.
I am very passionate about my role, as it is very important to us as a team that every individual is able to live the life they wish, feeling fulfilled in their mind, body and soul, maintaining past hobbies, yet have the opportunity to try new experiences.
I have built up a very good rapport with our team, our residents, family and friends, and I have built many links with the local community, which all help the residents get the most out of life at Camellia House.
I enjoy every day; the smiles on the faces I see are reward for doing a job I love.
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 Camellia House Care Home
90th Birthday Celebrations
Residents at Camellia House had a brilliant day on Saturday 16th January as they marked the 90th birthday of resident, Jean.
Head Chef, Trudy Presland, prepared a fabulous afternoon tea of cucumber sandwiches, mini vol-au-vents, scones, cakes and chocolate treats.
Birthdays are very special events at Camellia House, especially milestones such as Jean’s 90th. It was especially important at this time to make the day really special for Jean, so that she could spend it with her friends, and it was lovely that her family paid her a window visit to sing 'Happy Birthday' to her and deliver gifts. Everyone had a fantastic time!
Jabs Arrive at Camellia House
Staff were delighted to be invited to have the vaccination by New River Health, which has lifted everyone’s spirits after what has been a very challenging year for everyone.
We’ve had a year like no other and the vaccine feels like the light at the end of the tunnel. Our teams have been magnificent in how they have risen to every challenge during this pandemic and we are proud to play our part in this next phase to ensure the most vulnerable are protected.
Links with the Community
We have had lots of interactions with the local community through donations of knitted squares to make our knitted tree; and our hands of friendship tree, where families have sent in their hand prints so they can 'hold hands' with their loved ones. Local schools have made advent presents and sent in presents cards and letters for our ladies and gentlemen.
Christmas Creations
Residents at Camellia House recently made a knitted Christmas tree with the help of the local community.
Residents love a challenge, and this was a great project to bring them together. It has also encouraged some residents to knit again, and is a wonderful exercise for the hands and raising morale.
For the last month, the clicking of knitting needles has echoed through the home, and we have received regular parcels of knitted squares from our family members and friends of Camellia House. The result is a tree we are really proud of and have it displayed for all to see.
Window Visitors
Residents at Camellia House recently had a window visit from students of the nearby Middleton School, which is an outstanding state special school for boys and girls from age 4-11.
We often see the children pass by on their walks around the local area, and one day they posted a lovely letter to us saying that they would be bringing us letters and pictures.
This started our residents thinking of what they could give in return, and the vote was unanimous that they would bake cakes to give to the children.
Residents that were able to assembled around the front windows in eager anticipation of the children passing by. It was a very touching moment to see the children eagerly putting their hands to the window to 'hold hands' with our ladies and gentlemen and chatting through the windows.
The children were delighted with the cakes and are coming back next month to sing Carols. The benefit to both generations is incredible and the emotional boost it gave residents was truly amazing.
Remembrance Day
Residents at Camellia House recently centred their activities around Remembrance Day.
Ranjit Karavadra, General Manager at the home said: “In these unprecedented times, ensuring residents feel engaged and connected within our local community is more important than ever. We have witnessed the importance of being remembered through the love shown to us by the local community during these difficult times , from sending in videos and letters to donations of toiletries and flowers.
Our residents’ generation have experienced a hardship beyond anything we know, having lost loved ones in conflict and wished to honour them by creating a memory wall , selling Poppies and painting memorial stones. The staff respected the Silence on the doorstep on Sunday at 11am as well as supporting the residents to pay their respects on Armistice Day. The residents raised over £10. We provide a wide range of physical, mental and spiritual activities at Camellia House as part of the life enrichment programme for residents, and this one was very popular! We have also adapted ways to keep residents active, whilst ensuring that the group activities are smaller, adhering to social distancing advice”
Pam, a resident at the home said: ”We must never forget“.
