Activities at Elm Bank Care Home

Residents at Elm Bank care home were pleasantly surprised when a mobile animal petting party came to visit the home which was full of animal mischief.

To see animals such as chickens, guinea pigs, cats, dogs and many more roaming around their beautiful lounge as Michelle’s Animal Petting Party paid a visit. Doris the chicken was very well behaved along with all the animals, residents and staff were immersed in an afternoon of fun. Animals have a huge benefit for all, Simon the cat even paid a special visit to residents in their rooms. 

Resident Norman was very excited and touched by all the animals and it was not long before he was surrounded by them all: “I love all the animals, and this is lovely, I am so happy today, everyone is smiling and it would be great to have all these animals back again to visit.” 

General Manager Marvellous Bindura said: “Our residents have really enjoyed their unusual visitors today.  We knew that having the animal petting party here would be a bit of fun for all our residents and staff, especially as some find it difficult to go on many outings in our minibus.  We are always looking for new activities for the residents and today we have seen the enjoyment and the therapeutic influence animals can have on everyone.”

Animal therapy is one of the cornerstones of our life enrichment program and features regularly on our resident-led weekly activity planner.

The residents at Elm Bank care home in Kettering stepped back in time with a beautiful late summer afternoon at the Blitz Tea Room and Jazz Lounge in Kettering.

The sun was out and that called for an afternoon of stepping back in time, as residents visited the Blitz Tea Rooms and Jazz Lounge in Kettering. It was amazing for all the residents as they were surrounded in unique magical memorabilia from the Blitz in the 1940’s. The tea room is an amazing time capsule serving up delicious food, with truly outstanding service, all residents enjoyed a delightful afternoon. Stories of the blitz in the 1940’s were shared among the residents, and with all the quirky items on display it was not long before the props were out and costumes on. All the residents enjoyed lovely cakes with a pot of tea and coffee, with milk served in delightful glass milk bottles.

Pam, a resident at Elm Bank said, “I have never been here before, and this place is truly something, I love all the little items on display and the ration books as menus. I have loved the food and I cannot wait to eat the scones that I have purchased when back at home. I will definitely be coming back here again.”

Marvellous Bindura, General Manager said, “It is lovely to see our residents enjoying being out in the local community, The Blitz Tea Room and Jazz Lounge, is somewhere that our residents have truly enjoyed, we have many more trips planned throughout the coming months to this delightful place.

Our residents here at Elm Bank care home in Kettering, are truly embracing the great outdoors as the summer is coming to an end. ‘The Green Patch Community Garden’ based in Kettering is a haven that allows the residents to explore the great outdoors.

As the summer is coming to an end, our residents are making the most of the early morning sun, starting the day looking around the fabulous 2.5 acre site at ‘The Green Patch Community Garden’. There, they can take in the fresh air, the sights and sounds whilst embracing all that nature has to offer. For many of the residents at the home, gardening back in the day was important, being part of the community was also important and this magical place provides all that and so much more.

The sunflowers were out, but coming to the end of their bloom, however still creating a magical display. The herbs provided the ideal sensory experience for all our residents, whilst poly tunnels were bursting with home grown produce that got the residents talking and fully engaged in learning about the different varieties of vegetables. The bee hives provided a chance to reminisce on times past and learn about the importance of bees in our world.

One of our residents, Molly, said, “I love being outside, and this place is amazing, it is my first time here and I would love to come back, I just love it. The people are so nice here, and the tea is lovely.”

General Manager Marvellous at Elm Bank said: “The Green Patch Community Gardens, have provided an amazing space for our residents, as the summer is coming to an end, all of our residents will continue to attend the magical space and embrace all that it has to offer. Our residents have expressed their wishes to be out in nature, mixing with the local community and The Green Patch Community Gardens provides so much for our residents, right on our doorstep.”

Residents at Elm Bank care home in Kettering are embracing the great outdoors, while the weather is nice trips to ‘The Green Patch Community Garden’ based in Kettering are a must.

The day started with a lovely look around the fabulous 2.5 acre site, a meditation and yoga session along with Tai Chi were underway, with people of all abilities joining in.  The residents picked fresh blackberries and were thrilled to be a part of the community garden session, the sunflowers were out in full bloom and were a huge hit with the residents. The poly tunnels were bursting with home grown produce that got the residents talking and fully engaged in learning about the different varieties of vegetables. A walk around the Harmony Garden was delightful with the beautiful sights, sounds and smells of nature, it certainly touched all senses. The chickens reminded residents of times past and so to be up close and spend quality time with the chickens was very important for all.

Resident Pat said, “I love being outside in the fresh air, seeing everyone out, the chickens, the sunflowers, it is so nice to get out and stay active, keeps the mind going, I just love it.”

Celebrations have been in full swing at Elm bank as one of our residents reaches her centenary in style.

Heather was joined by residents and staff, as she ventured out on a trip to West Lodge Rural Centre in Desborough. The trip had been organised as Heather herself grew up on a farm, with her love for animals it was a fitting day out.  Heather certainly had a fun packed day and was still full of energy at the end of the day with reading her telegram from the King in recognition of her landmark birthday. Heather also enjoyed a special chocolate birthday cake made by the home’s talented chefs, as chocolate is Heathers favourite.

We have been hosting the local community dementia café for 3 months in our beautiful home gardens. The numbers attending the amazing café have increased, with guests being treated to complimentary tea, coffee, sandwiches and delicious cakes.

Taking place every fourth Tuesday of the month, starting at 14:30pm until 16:30pm, guests will have a chance to meet other carers supporting others living with dementia. Free to all, the dementia café at the home provides small respite and social support for all that are touched by dementia. In its third month of being hosted at Elm Bank, the café has gained many more attendees and it has simply gone from strength to strength in numbers attending.

During the monthly get together at the Dementia Cafe, guests will enjoy live entertainment and refreshments, and also have a chance to meet the team at the home, to discuss any questions they might have about care that is available. This month’s Dementia Café was held in the lavish home gardens, with the sun shining and amazing entertainment from Emily and Nick from mini concerts. The dementia café was organised with the help of Yvonne Robinson Tingle, a local community figure.