Activities at Cheshire Grange Care Home

At Cheshire Grange we like to celebrate artists birthdays by exploring their works and then experimenting in their style. The end of January marked the late American artist, Jackson Pollock’s birthday,  he was a major figure in the abstract expressionist movement. He was widely noticed for his "drip technique" of pouring or splashing liquid household paint onto a horizontal surface, enabling him to view and paint his canvases from all angles. The residents liked his bold use of colour but didn't all agree on if this was 'proper' art or not! However, they did enjoy experimenting and creating their own colourful masterpieces.

We love our musical entertainment here at Cheshire Grange, we welcome our regular singers Sandra Currie Care Home Entertainer, Musical Delights & Joe Cockx - Everyone's Favourite Grandson, they always delight our residents, and we know what each performer brings to the party! When we are looking to invite a new entertainer to the home we have to do our research, get feedback from other homes, look at videos when we can making sure that they will meet our residents needs at the time.

When we opened our doors to Rob Steele, we had a good idea of what to expect, but WOW this gentleman far exceeded those expectations. Rob brought the party to Cheshire Grange!

Singing, dancing, maraca shaking, massive smiles, joyful tears and just a few fluttering eyelashes

Another afternoon, proving the power of music.

We look forward to adding Rob to our regular entertainers providing our residents with a variety of styles to suit their own varied tastes.

As part of our activities program we celebrate world cultural events, and whilst celebrating, discover about the culture too. Chinese New Year is a highlight for the residents. This year, celebrating The Year of the Rabbit, residents, made place mats with their names in Chinese symbols, discover which animal the zodiac they are and what those signs characteristics were, which in some case were very true.

The week of celebrations reached a climax with a Chinese meal created by our hospitality team, with tables decorated with Chinese brocade decorative runners, money purses and fortunes.

Exercise is a regular part of our weekly activities, taking different forms. A walk around the grounds, or even inside, exercising to music or just dancing, playing more physical table top games, balloon tennis and chair based exercises to name just a few. Group exercising has many advantages, keeping joints supple and moving, aiding mobility, increasing confidence and self-esteem, reducing social isolation and of course as with everything we do lifting mood and filling the room with smiles and laughter.

Sophia got some of our ladies moving during a chair based exercise session on Tone Up Thursday. After some gentle stretches the ladies very quickly picked up the routine of head, shoulders, knees and toes. Once the group session had been completed we then took the exercises to those residents, who were unable to attend the group, in the comfort of their own rooms.

Across our services our residents have enjoyed a wonderful live virtual talk about starlings, one of the UK’s most gregarious birds, hosted by Rachel Dowse from The Royal Parks London.

Rachel examined our long history with this bird and the importance of common species to our lives. Our residents had the opportunity to find out more about the great murmuration and why we need to pay special attention to these beauties before it's too late.

The virtual experience was truly enjoyed by all.

…in Cheshire Grange they’re singing.

The corridors, lounges and bedrooms have been filled with Christmas song and music. We’ve sung Carols with the residents as part of our Mindful Monday activities, the children from Statham Primary School visited to sing some modern Christmas songs, the pupils who are members of Lymm High School string ensemble entertained us with a very accomplished programme, John Jones played requests on his accordion whilst visiting residents in their room, Deborah from Musical Delights had residents singing and dancing for our party day and we still have a visit from Joe Cockx, ‘Everyone’s Favourite Grandson’ and home favourite Sandra Currie on Boxing Day.