Activities at Emily Jackson House Care Home

Recently we took a group of gentleman residents to play tenpin Bowling.  The men had a great time.

They enjoyed the bowling, socialising and most importantly,  their favourite tipples after the game.

The men got very competitive and the scores at the end were very close.

We look forward to taking them again.

We got into the ‘Valentine’s’ spirit today by making various decorations and creating a ‘Memory tree of love’. Residents wrote their loved one’s names on hearts and decorated our tree. It was lovely to hear everyone’s story of how they meet their loved one whilst we did the activity.

We also had the pleasure of celebrating a resident’s (and husband’s) 65th wedding anniversary!! The catering team made a beautiful cake which we all got to share.

So lovely to share these precious moments.

This week, we bundled up, hopped on the minibus to Coblands Garden Centre & Cafe, and enjoyed the fresh air despite the rain. Residents admired beautiful plants, shared cake, tea, and chatted about favorite flowers and gardens. Volunteer Dionne from North Kent College joined us, happily discussing flowers with everyone.

Here at Emily Jackson house, we took part in the big RSPB garden birdwatch. We made homemade bird feeders which we put out then sat with binoculars and recorded the birds that visited our lovely garden.

To follow on from this, we were visited today by Hartley Owls.

Neil was very knowledgeable about these wonderful birds and the residents got to get close and admire these beautiful creatures.

Resident Elaine was so pleased to see them. ‘I love Owls!’ she exclaimed ‘it was just lovely!’

Amy our volunteer from Hillview School For Girls also joined in the fun.

Recently we were visited by the great, great great nephew of Emily Jackson.

Emily Jackson was a nurse who devoted her life to working with children crippled by Tuberculosis and wanted a purpose-built hospital for them. The hospital was designed in 1901 by TG Jackson, Emily Jackson's brother. It was built in William and Mary style to a butterfly plan which is very unusual for a hospital. It was originally called the Children's Hip Hospital. It is now a care home.

Originally the ends had veranda’s for wheeling the beds into the open air.

Emily Jackson House became a care home in 1994.

Near to our home, we have a wonderful church that in addition to their usual services and Holy Communion, offer lunchtime recitals every Wednesday.

There is always a wide range of musicians and singers that perform at the church.  From Classical piano to a String Quartet to a Skiffle band to pop music to name but a few..

Residents braved the cold to enjoy a Christmas Concert with local singer June B. Not only was this good exercise as we walked to the church but we breathed in the fresh air and let the music lift our spirits.

It is wonderful see how the music effects everyone and they respond.