Activities at Drummond Grange Care Home

Drummond Grange was transformed into our very own little corner of the Edinburgh Fringe as residents, relatives, friends and team members came together for an afternoon of music, laughter, incredible performances and plenty of dancing!

We kicked things off in spectacular style with the brilliant Hoop Babes, bringing an amazing cabaret performance full of acrobatics, comedy and a little audience participation! Our very brave volunteers certainly gave everyone something to laugh about! Then it was time for our fabulous main act, Lady Phoenix, who brought Fringe Care Fest home with a powerhouse performance that had the whole room singing, dancing and celebrating together!

From dancing and conga lines to cocktails, questionable audience participation and a lounge absolutely packed with smiling faces, the atmosphere was incredible.

A huge thank you to the entire Drummond Grange team who helped make the day possible — from setting up, to supporting residents to joining in the fun, keeping everyone refreshed and embracing the wonderful chaos!

Events like this really are a whole-home effort. Thank you as well to all the families and friends who joined us and, of course, to our amazing residents who threw themselves into Fringe Care Fest and made the day what it was.

And finally, a massive thank you to Hoop Babes and Lady Phoenix and the Fringe Care Fest team for bringing a little piece of the Fringe right into our home.

Who says you have to go into Edinburgh to experience the Fringe?

This week at Drummond Grange, we celebrated Careers Week by recognising and appreciating our amazing carers. A huge thank you to all our carers for their kindness, dedication, patience and hard work. Your support, compassion and commitment make a real difference in the lives of our residents every single day. We are incredibly grateful for everything you do and proud to have such a caring team at Drummond Grange.

Thank you for making our home a warm, safe and happy place for everyone.     

Sam (Pictured) and Riley are our two therapy dogs who visit on alternate weeks, ensuring residents continue to enjoy the benefits that therapy dogs bring throughout the month their visits encourage conversation, reduce feelings of loneliness and anxiety bringing a sense of calm to the home. 

Therapy dogs can also stimulate memories and encourage gentle movement.     

The energy was sky-high at Drummond Grange when the brilliant Tubby Horse Company stopped by! 

This fantastic accordion and guitar duet treated our residents to an afternoon of absolute classics, filling the home with music, smiles, and incredible community spirit.        

As part of our commitment to ensuring our residents remain connected to their community, our memory lane enjoyed a trip to the Gilmerton Community Centre for their brand-new monthly Dementia café hosted by Roger’s Afternoon Tea and Coffee in collaboration with Erskine Veterans Charity. 

They enjoyed singing, games, a light lunch and coffee, along with lots of lovely conversations with members of the community. It was a warm and welcoming afternoon, full of smiles, laughter, and connection. A very positive experience where everyone had the chance to socialise, take part in activities and enjoy each other’s company.        

This month we returned to the Dementia Café with the Erskine Veterans and Roger’s Café at Gilmerton Community Centre.  We enjoyed celebrating Scotland with tartan crafts, singing along to Scottish favourites and a Scottish picture quiz. There was plenty of good food, laughter and lovely conversations, making it a wonderful afternoon together. This monthly trip continues to be a highlight for our Dalhousie suite.

In June, we showcased the CLEF pillar of “Good Nutrition and Positive Dining Experience” with a variety of wonderful activities supported by the catering team. We started with a dining meeting to discuss feedback and suggestions for new menu items and a wonderful ice cream trolley visit around the home with premium flavours. Next up was a picnic…   

Though due to the weather, it was an indoor picnic with wonderful flavours, music and games! On Father’s Day, residents enjoyed a “Pub Experience” with pub snacks, games and drinks throughout the afternoon. We finished on a high of Italian cuisine with an armchair trip to Italy. We experienced the culture, landmarks and, most importantly, the cuisine!    

Our residents enjoyed a fantastic afternoon of live entertainment with DJ Hilly. There was plenty of singing, dancing, refreshments and lots of smiles as everyone came together to enjoy the music and each other’s company.      

Drummond Grange proudly cheered on the 200-mile Tour de Barchester charity ride. 

From custom goody bags by our resident ambassador, Susanne, to themed cupcakes, garden music, and sports massages from our physio team, we made sure the riders left with full bellies and a massive boost of local energy!    

Our residents enjoyed a relaxing and rewarding session in our new Gardening Club. Every Tuesday afternoon we get hands-on with planting, potting and tending to flowers. 

There was plenty of laughter, conversation and shared memories as everyone worked together, finishing with a real sense of pride in what they’d created.           

We welcomed Drummond’s Favourite DJ back to the home with another action packed performance full of “visitors” and comedy sprinkled throughout. DJ Hilly wowed us with his best Elvis impression and several other characters we look forward to welcoming him back next month.

Residents, families and members of the local community came together for the fourth annual Power of Music Festival at the home. The home's grounds were transformed into a vibrant festival venue, complete with a stage, stalls and live music throughout the afternoon. 

The event once again highlighted the power of music to bring people together, creating meaningful moments for residents and visitors alike. We would like to give a special thank you to everyone that helped make it happen, from the bands to the staff who volunteered to help to the businesses who donated prizes for the tombola. Thank you! 

As part of Dementia Action Week, Drummond Grange had the true honour of welcoming the Erskine Veterans Charity for a beautiful, meaningful afternoon of connection. 

Residents, veterans, families, and staff came together to share delicious food, games, karaoke, and wonderful conversations. It was a powerful, heart-warming reminder of how vital companionship, inclusion, and shared experiences are for those living with dementia—filling our home with music, laughter, and lasting memories.           

Our residents and families had a fantastic time celebrating Easter with an afternoon full of fun, laughter and music! 

Residents, families and staff enjoyed a lively Easter egg hunt, creative crafts and brilliant live music from the talented Bedlam House Band. Smiles all round, plenty of treats and a great atmosphere — a truly egg-cellent day for everyone involved!      

A favourite among residents returns, our newly reintroduced art club is an opportunity for residents of all abilities to create masterpieces together! Residents enjoyed a relaxing and creative Art Club session, exploring painting, colouring, and crafts. 

The session offered a wonderful opportunity to unwind, socialise, and express creativity, with each resident putting their own unique touch on their work. There was a real sense of pride as everyone admired their finished pieces—we’re already looking forward to the next session!