Activities at Elm Bank Care Home
Our teams are trained to enrich the lives of residents through stimulating the mind, body and soul, and taking the time to learn about each person to ensure everyone receives support that adds enrichment to their life.
We understand that the people we support have passions and interests that could be difficult to pursue after moving into a care home – but that doesn’t mean we don’t encourage them to try! Some hobbies can define a person, so our Activities Coordinators are dedicated to ensuring that everyone we support is able to do what makes them happy to the best of their abilities. Social events are organised with individual tastes in mind and with the idea that residents have the opportunity to try new and exciting things.
Tina Prosho
Hello. I am Tina, I have been a team member at Elm Bank since 2023 and began my career as a Team Leader and was upskilled to Head of Care before moving my role to become Activities Coordinator.
I am passionate individual with vibrant character and my goal is all about life enriching activities that enhance the lives of our residents. I ensure that the entertainment is stimulating and is inclusive of all our residents no matter their challenges. It is important to me that our weekly calendar offers rich experiences with music from live entertainers, visits to various locations outside the home of interest, as well as arts and crafts tailored to individual abilities. We are a pet friendly home and fully support the benefits animal therapy can bring to the lives of our residents and welcome animals of all kinds to the home on a regular basis.
Getting to know our residents better is so important to me, and through regular family and friends’ meetings we can gain a greater understanding of their loved ones' interests and life prior to joining Elm Bank that will make for a richer activities program to be developed. I look forward to getting to know you, and your loved ones.
We are always open to new ideas. If you would like to get involved in any of our Life Enrichment activities or have a skill, or project you'd like to share with our residents, please click here to contact me direct. New entertainers and community links are always welcome.
Activities and Events Partnerships
As part of our bespoke life-enrichment programmes, we host a number of live virtual events in the home on a regular basis through a number of partnerships with places of interest and world class performance companies
Life at Elm Bank Care Home
Christmas Fete visit to St Thomas Moore School
The residents and staff at Elm Bank care home in Kettering were delighted in attending the St Thomas More School Christmas Fete. A magical afternoon that allowed the residents to immerse themselves in the joy of Christmas and all that it has to offer.
Residents were very excited to have been invited to a wonderful afternoon at their local St Thomas More School’s Christmas Fete. The residents enjoyed an amazing afternoon of browsing many stalls and purchasing gifts for loved ones. Residents also had a lot of fun in chancing their luck on raffles and many other fun stalls to win prizes. It was a wonderful opportunity for all to reminisce of Christmas when they were younger, engaging with each other and the children of the school, sharing stories on how things have changed. Resident Hilda was delighted on hearing that Santa was attending the Christmas fete that a ticket was purchased instantly to ensure that a visit was had before returning to Elm Bank care home.
Resident Hilda said, "It was lovely, to see all the children and to be able to buy gifts and treat myself as well, seeing Santa was wonderful, I loved it, the whole thing, was amazing."
Marvellous Bindura, General Manager said, “It was lovely that the local school opened their Christmas Fete to our residents, it means so much to the residents, it allows for the young and the old to mix and the wonderful experiences are shared. Hilda was overjoyed on her return, as were all the residents, because Hilda got to see Father Christmas. I believe as do we all here at the home it is crucial to create links with our local schools and within the community to continue for our residents to remain a part of the community.”
Festive Biscuits with St Moore School
It was another busy day here at the home for all, with young children from St Thomas Moore School coming in to help with festive biscuit creations in the morning and festive arts and crafts conducted in the afternoon.
It was delightful to see so many children come to help our residents spend the morning decorating biscuits as well as enjoy our newly created sensory Santa's Grotto (more on this next week).
In the afternoon it was time to get crafting with making personalised Christmas tree decorations. The residents relaxed whilst putting their creative skills to the test. It was just simply wonderful for all to relax and reminisce about Christmas's past and memories from when younger.
The photos below captured just a fraction of the wonderful day around our home yesterday as we continue to enjoy the festive month
At Elm Bank Care home we know that intergenerational activity is hugely beneficial to all involved as it encourages communication and social skills. Intergenerational contact also helps to develop language and reading confidence through shared activities, as well as increasing confidence and self-esteem. Lastly it helps children to develop empathy, care and kindness, helping them to understand and talk more positively about ageing and older people.
Singing for Pleasure
Yesterday the ladies from U3A 'Singing for Pleasure' came to the home for a beautiful afternoon of singing. It was a lovely start to the month of December. With the residents full of Christmas spirit the afternoon was full of joy, warmth and magical voices that echoed through the community.
After all the delightful songs, it was just lovely to be able to sit and enjoy warm drinks with delicious scones and cakes. We are excited to welcome the wonderful ladies back to Elm Bank after the New Year.
Our Activities Team is dedicated to ensuring that we organise events that encourage our residents to host their families and friends at Elm Bank Care home. Our home is always to open to loved ones who wish to take part in our life enrichment program.
To receive a copy of our weekly/monthly calendars please email Tina and the Activities Team; ElmBank.Activities@barchester.com
Scouts create an evening off festive fun for Residents
Residents and staff were delighted in welcoming the 23rd Kettering Scouts over to their home for an evening of festive fun and games.
Scout leaders, Donna Rockett, Steve Hammond and Mary Docherty came to Elm Bank care home along with 20 very happy and excited cubs. The 23rd Kettering Scouts will be celebrating 10 years of running next year, they are based in the William Knibb Centre on Montagu Street in Kettering. Donna contacted Elm Bank care home to see if an evening of festive fun and games would be something that the residents at the home would appreciate. The activities co-ordinator at the home was more than delighted to hold an evening of fun and games. All the cubs came along with some of their favourite games and the evening was a huge success for both residents and for the cubs themselves.
Resident Norman, said, “It is great, they have so much energy and it is nice to see them actually playing with real toys.”
Resident Christine, said, “When I was younger I used to look after war time babies, I love little ones and to have the little ones with us and play games, it is so nice. I have learnt how to play the fishing game and it just makes me smile”.
The cubs wanted to bring some joy to the residents at Christmas time, by coming in to play games and simply have fun. They all have had such a nice time.
Taking part in intergenerational activities such as social engagements and interactions, bring together younger and older generations for a common purpose. These activities build on the strengths that different generations have to offer, as well as nurture understanding, respect, and challenge ageism.
Amazing Jazz and Swing Singer Ollie Corbett brings joy to Residents
Residents at Elm Bank care home in Kettering were filed with joy and moved by the talented ‘Jazz and Swing’ singer Ollie Corbett who came to perform at the home for the first time.
We all know the importance of music and the impact it has on a person’s mental wellbeing, not only can it bring back memories of the past, it provides a feeling of warmth within. The residents were overjoyed to have experienced such exceptional singing from Ollie, who sang at the home to start the festive season off. Ollie delivered a unique performance for each resident, the delight on the faces of the residents was just clear to see. Residents were lost in the musical moments, some with a tear in their eye, listening intently to each word, transported for a moment in to complete happiness.
Marvellous Bindura, General Manager said, "it was lovely to have Ollie come and sing for us all, his voice was wonderful, the residents and staff were blown away with every song he sang. We have not had a Jazz and Swing singer at the home, so this certainly was something spectacular and we are definitely looking forward to welcoming Ollie back to perform for us after the New Year. Music plays a key part in the home activities and it provides many benefits to all, and as a home we look to offer varying types of music that caters for everyone’s taste.”
One of the cornerstones of our life enrichment program is live musical entertainment. Resident involvement in choosing genres along with feedback after each performance means that we are able to constantly improve our activities calendar.
Open Day Celebrations with a visit from the Mayor
To celebrate the start of a new era, we held our Open Day on Saturday 30th November following significant investment to the home.
Visitors were welcomed to view the home’s stylish new interior and take a tour of the home. Kettering Town Mayor, Cllr Craig Skinner attended the occasion to launch the re-opening of the home. The Mayor spent time with the general manager discussing the care that the home provides as well as the amazing facilities on site.
The Mayor also spent time with some of the residents at the home, John who is a resident at the home had a great time chatting with the Mayor, sharing many stories from Johns past. It was wonderful to hear that both had some military background, which made for a wonderful conversation. John also was honoured to stand alongside the Mayor and the homes General Manager Marvellous in the ribbon cutting ceremony that opened the doors of the home.
The home’s General Manager was available to answer any questions guests had about finding the right home and about the services offered at Elm Bank.
We were very honoured to have the Mayor come to join us for this special day. The home is looking better than ever after the recent investment and it was a pleasure to showcase the elegant new interior at the Open Day. The home’s hospitality team provided complimentary refreshments and a tasty spread of healthy snacks. Elm Bank offers its residents a host of premium activities throughout every day of the year and provides outstanding community engagement links.
Upcoming events
Monthly Church Service
Come and join in worship and singing with our residents, held in the home lounge every 4th Thursday of the month.
Dementia Sings Out
Dementia Sings out is a regular event for our residents at Elm Bank, all are welcome to attend at the Compass Church in Wellingborough.
