Activities at Dovedale Court Care Home

Residents and staff at Dovedale Court have been busy sharing the love for Valentine’s day by creating personalised cards to send to their loved ones along with making heart shaped decorations to display throughout the home.  Residents enjoy the craft session and shared stories of their most romantic gestures received, loves lost and cherished.

Dovedale Court Care Home in Preston has recently brought a bit of magic to residents by providing a new ‘Magic Table 360 and the Happiness Programme’ as a way to improve residents’ quality of life.

Designed and manufactured in the UK, the Magic Table 360 uses interactive games to connect residents with staff and with each other, and research shows it improves the wellbeing of people living with dementia. Using interactive light projections, the Magic Table 360, which can be played independently or in a group, stimulates movement by inviting participants to take part in all sorts of different fun activities such as popping bubbles, playing the piano, colouring in pictures, sweeping leaves or interacting playfully with fish. Games are rich in colour, movement and detail, and allow people of all ages to play in a safe and comfortable environment.

The Magic Table 360 is portable so it can be used wherever residents feel most comfortable, it can be projected onto the floor, ceiling, walls, a whiteboard or even the bed. The Happiness Programme allows for a range of games that change seasonally and have country-specific versions covering 14 different categories, so there will always be something new for residents to try.

Residents from Dovedale often get together to enjoy their regular art and craft sessions which supports their creative ideas and encourages different methods of Art. Residents have been busy showing their own style of colourful designs this week with card making.

Residents enjoy the colouring and crafting as find it very calming and therapeutic. It enhances mindfulness and promotes a positive mental well-being.  

The ladies at Dovedale recently enjoyed a beauty day at the home courtesy of the staff from the home swapping roles for the day to treat residents to hair and beauty treatments.   Honouring the women residents at the home, colleagues supported with a range of beauty kits in the salon to pamper and beautify. The hospitality team at the home also served a spread of teas and cakes for all to enjoy to the delight of all!

Residents enjoy a game of dominos at Dovedale as part of their popular games afternoons. A number of residents at Dovedale had a great time playing a game of dominos with each other and squeezed in a quick natter and a cuppa in between games.  Everyone had fun as they showed a little friendly competition each game!

Residents from Dovedale enjoyed an afternoon of chocolate crispy making as part of their baking club, which took them back to their younger years.  Baking sessions are a popular activity for the home and the activity had taste buds tingling.

The homes activities coordinator, said: “The residents enjoyed getting creative with their decorations as it not only brings back memories of their childhood, but also times when they’ve baked with their own children and grandchildren. Once all the cakes were decorated, we all enjoyed sitting down with a cup of tea and a home-made cake.”