Activities at Cheshire Grange Care Home

At Cheshire Grange we love our dogs and are missing their visits during lockdown, so we hosted our very own virtual dog show for residents, family, and friends in the local community to share their furry friends with us all.

Dogs have fun loveable quirks, tricks and general gorgeousness. So, we organised our first ever virtual dog show at Cheshire Grange where we received over 30 entries which residents voted for those which were there favourites in five categories.

The dogs humans sent us photos of their lovable furry friends with a little bit of information so we learnt something about each dog, these little stories raised many a smile alongside the gorgeous photos.

We had a 1st, 2nd and 3rd in each category from Prettiest Pooch, Handsomest Hound, Playful Pup Sleeping Beauty and Best Furry Friend, all the winners had a photoshoot with their certificates, rosettes and prizes and it’s fair to say that if we’d have had a Best In Show winner it would have been Rolo the Chow Chow, who won the residents hearts along with being quite a local celebrity.

It can be a challenge to tailor activities for our residents in later stage dementia, we need to look at connecting with the senses so now along with the amazing magic and after the purchase of some new equipment, we can turn the lounge into the perfect sensory haven. There is a very gentle light project showing slow muted tonal lights this with a calming music CD and lavender vaporizer, are residents were very relaxed as were the staff, the new equipment has also included a number of DVDs showing woodland & seaside images and coral reefs & tropical fish.

It was a privilege to be able to celebrate the 60th Wedding Anniversary of one of our special ladies and her husband. Of course this had to be done lock down style, but there were still balloons, cards, cake, a socially distanced family visit and a card from The Queen. The couple married on August 23rd 1960 and honeymooned in Colwyn Bay.

Cheshire Grange held their very first Virtual Dog Show this month and were overwhelmed with over 30 entries from staff, relatives and the local community. They made a display of all the gorgeous doggie photos on a notice board along with some funny and quirky little stories about each dog and residents voted for the dogs they thought were The Prettiest Pooch, Handsomest Hound, Playful Pup, Sleeping Beauty and Best Furry Friend. It was great fun and the residents loved getting to know all the dogs and the winners were very proud to have been chosen.

A relaxing afternoon was had painting flower plaques in the sun. Earlier in the week we had made the plaques by pressing flowers into wet clay shapes and then letting them dry out leaving a relief print. As the sun shone we had a little production line going painting them in summery pastel shades so they could be hung in residents rooms.

Along with the organised scheduled activities, of which there have been several this month, American Independence Day, Bastille Day, World Chocolate Day and Wimbledon, all of which have been celebrated with various delicious food and drink, games quizzes and lots of conversation, the moments that make the most impact are those special moments that make us and the ladies and gents whose home Cheshire Grange is smile the brightest. The balcony area is blooming at this time of year and to see a lady make her way out to smell her favourite coloured flower was heart-warming, as was seeing another lady chatting away to Eunice, one of our empathy dolls, making sure these moments are available to all our ladies and gents is very important and there are many ‘smile’ moments throughout every day.