Activities at Glebefields Care Home

We had a wonderful time celebrating Mother’s Day with a special afternoon tea at the care home. The lounge was beautifully set, and residents enjoyed a lovely selection of tea, sandwiches, and delicious cakes.

It was a truly heartwarming afternoon as families joined their loved ones to celebrate together. There was lots of laughter, conversation, and special moments shared as we recognised and appreciated all the amazing mothers, grandmothers, and mother figures in our community.

We continued the celebrations when our residents enjoyed a special Mother’s Day supper here at the care home. The dining room was prepared to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere, allowing everyone to come together and celebrate the occasion.
Residents enjoyed a delicious evening meal, along with plenty of smiles, laughter and good conversation around the table. It was a lovely opportunity for everyone to relax, socialise and celebrate all the wonderful mums, grandmothers and mother figures within our home.

Thank you to our fantastic team who helped organise and prepare such a lovely evening for our residents. It was a wonderful way to celebrate Mother’s Day and create more special moments together.

We held our very first Professional Networking Breakfast this morning! While it was a quiet start with just a couple of local professionals joining us, it was a fantastic opportunity for some quality informal conversations.

A massive shout-out to our dedicated Chef and Hospitality Team! They laid on a truly impressive breakfast spread that was second to none. We are so proud of the effort they put into making our guests feel welcome and well-fed to start the day! 
Calling all Banbury Professionals why not 

Save the Date for our next networking breakfast. The last Tuesday of every other month, We look forward to seeing more friendly faces (and sharing more great food) next time! 

We want to take a moment to shine a spotlight on the incredible Jo, who brings so much more than scissors and rollers to our home. 

For many of our residents, a visit to Jo in her hair salon within the home is a vital part of their wellbeing. This is especially true for our bed-bound residents. When Jo brings the salon experience to their bedside, it’s a moment of pure, dedicated care. It’s about the soothing sensation of a head massage, the familiar scent of styling products, and the gentle, non-clinical touch that is so important for comfort.

Jo has been part of the team with Barchester, 4 years based in Glebefields and 6 years at one of our sister homes in Banbury. Jo stated “Hair care is essential and makes our residents look and feel like "themselves" gives a huge boost to their self-esteem. We know that there is a therapeutic, almost meditative quality to having your hair done. It reduces anxiety, encourages relaxation, and truly calms the soul, whether it’s in the salon or bedside”.

Jo provides a wonderful space for a natter and a laugh, providing that vital social connection that brightens the whole day.

General Manager Benazir said “Thank you, Jo, for your patience, your talent, and the gentle way you care for every single person in our home. You don't just style hair; you lift the spirits of our residents

The mouth-watering aroma of melting cheese and Italian herbs filled the air as residents and staff joined forces to celebrate National Pizza Day.

In a true team effort, the home’s talented Chef and the Life Enrichment activities team hosted an interactive "Pizza Party," inviting residents to become chefs for the afternoon. From kneading the dough to spreading rich tomato sauce, the dining room was a hive of activity and laughter.

Residents were treated to a colourful array of fresh toppings, ranging from classic chicken and peppers to the more controversial pineapple, sparking a lively "Hawaiian" debate among the amateur pizzaiolos! Once the bespoke creations were prepped, the Chef took over the baking duties, returning them bubbling and golden.  The afternoon concluded with a communal tasting session that received a unanimous "big thumbs up" from everyone involved.

Benazir, General Manager shared "National Pizza Day was the perfect excuse to get everyone together for some sensory fun. It wasn't just about the tasty bites; it was about the social chatter and the joy of creating something from scratch. Our Chef did a brilliant job, and seeing the residents so engaged and happy is exactly what life at Glebefields is all about."

Staff and residents at Glebefields enjoyed staying healthy and whatever they are trying should always taste this good. 

Our amazing chef was busy blending these vibrant, creative smoothies for our residents.
Not only were they delicious, but also packed with vital vitamins and nutrients to keep everyone feeling their best and perfectly hydrated, small sips make a big difference!

We had a wonderful Easter craft morning with a creative bonnet-making activity in the home. Residents enjoyed designing and decorating their own unique Easter bonnets using a variety of colourful materials, flowers, ribbons, and seasonal decorations.

There was plenty of laughter, conversation, and shared memories as everyone got involved and supported one another. The finished bonnets looked fantastic, and we were so proud of everyone’s creativity and effort.

A lovely morning filled with fun, friendship, and festive spirit 

What a brilliant turnout today for our Healthy Hearts Event! It was wonderful to see so many familiar faces from the local community joining our residents for a day dedicated to heart health. 

We had Seated Exercise with Jo Symons Move Together Manager from Cherwell District Council. We’re not sure what worked harder our muscles or our laughter! Jo had us all "puffing and panting" through some great stretches and lifts. The biggest giggle of the day? Let’s just say a certain hole in Jo’s sock provided some unexpected entertainment! 

A huge thank you to Edward Frape, Senior Healthy Place Shaping Officer from 'Cherwell District Council for visiting and sharing vital information on how Cherwell District Council supports our local neighbours. It’s so important to know what help is available right on our doorstep. Edward left lots of leaflets so please pop in to collect.

Our Registered Nurse stayed busy providing free blood pressure checks, while our CRM Louise Ramage hosted a fascinating discussion on how food impacts our bodies. Did you know walnuts don't just look like the brain, but are amazing for it too? 

We then refuelled with a delicious spread of nutritious smoothies, fresh fruits, honey-drizzled avocado toast, and refreshing flavoured waters. Who knew healthy eating could taste this good? 

Residents, staff, and the local Banbury community came together for a heart-warming series of Valentine’s Day celebrations, featuring live musical performance, interactive entertainment, and some very special four-legged visitors.

Valentines began early with a charming visit from the Lollipop Ponies, who arrived dressed in their finest Valentine’s outfits. To ensure everyone could share in the joy, the ponies visited residents in the nursing community directly in their individual rooms, providing comfort and a delightful surprise for those unable to join the main communal areas.

The highlight of the week was a Sparkling Valentine’s Afternoon Tea, where the home was transformed with a feel of romance with arrangement of roses and heart-themed decorations. The home hosted guests from across the local community joining in with the afternoon’s entertainment with the home’s residents. A gourmet spread of elegant selection of sandwiches, biscuits, and heart-shaped cakes was prepared by the home’s talented chef.

Refreshments including tea, coffee, and chilled pink prosecco, with lots of toasts to Love. The residents and guest were then treated to a lively performance by the Move On Band, encouraging residents and guests to sing along and socialise. The event received glowing praise, with the dining room comments book filling up with compliments for the culinary team and the joyful atmosphere.

General Manager Benazir Shakkir said "We believe in the power of connection, seeing our residents socialising with friends and neighbours while enjoying the music with the added bonus of our friendly ponies visit which was truly special"
 

Pamper Sessions - Nail Care and Chat 

Zoe the homes new Activities Coordinator has been getting to know the residents, their likes and wants as she spends quality time getting to know each and every one of them.

This week she has been providing pamper sessions with nail care, which is much more than a just a quick trim! A fresh manicure or tidy up of the mails can provide a lift in mood and confidence. It's also a significant benefits of just looking good. It maintains infection control and prevents the residents from accidentally injuring or tearing fragile skin which is so common for those at risk of thinning skin.

We are also aware that in a nursing home physical touch can be much about clinical care, where the pamper session provides therapeutic touch, sensory stimulation with hand creams and brings social interaction and reminiscence and quality conversation

We’ve been having a wonderful time getting ready for Easter in the care home this week! Residents enjoyed a variety of baking, decorating, and art activities, all filled with creativity, laughter, and a lovely sense of togetherness.

The Residents made and sampled some tasty nest cakes, we’ve been putting Easter Decorations around the home followed by individual art & craft time.

It was heart warming to see so many smiles and to share such special moments together. A big thank you to everyone who took part and helped make the celebrations so memorable!

Residents and staff at celebrated International Women’s Day with an extraordinary event highlighting the diverse career paths and community impact of local female leaders.

The event featured guest speaker Maria Holden CEO Sunrise Multicultural Project and Susan Bradley, partner at Marks & Clerk. Who both spoke passionately about their careers, Maria shared how the project has been running for 30 Years in Banbury. Funded by the National Lottery, the project promotes independence, running dedicated ladies' sessions and a breakfast drop-in to increase confidence and self-esteem. Bridging women from all backgrounds together through shared activities and trips.
 

Susan Spoke about her career path that led her, at aged 40, becoming a patent attorney, from early work fixing and recycling old technology for schools “We need more girl inventors,” Susan stated, explaining that a science degree is a condition for becoming a patent attorney. She discussed the dynamics of her field, noting that while you can't patent "maths," she finds immense joy in working with wave and tidal energy patents.

General Manager Benazir Shakkir said "Susan is a true role model for the next flock of girls choosing careers in predominantly male-dominated fields. Her story, alongside Maria's extensive community work to enable women in Banbury to be feel confident and enhance their abilities, provided our residents with a profound look at how far women's empowerment has come."
 

Louise Ramage gave a special recognition to Anila, who produced a commemorative video of the event that has since been shared within the community.

The competitive spirit was in full swing yesterday as residents, staff, and visitors gathered to celebrate Shrove Tuesday with a high-energy pancake flipping competition.

The home’s communal dining room was transformed into a pop-up pancake station, where the talented kitchen team served up golden pancakes. However, the real excitement began when the "Great Glebefields Flip-Off" got underway.

Residents took turns testing their wrist action, with many showing the staff exactly how it’s done. The event quickly turned into a cross-generational challenge as visiting family members and staff joined in, attempting to break the record for the highest flip of the day. Residents, staff and friends enjoyed fun filled day with deliciousness which included pancake decorating with a variety of toppings.

A live pancake-making demonstration allowed everyone to enjoy the sights, sounds, and smells of freshly cooked pancakes, creating a warm and homely atmosphere.

Benazir, General Manager at Glebefields Care Home, commented "Pancake Day is always a firm favourite here, but this year the energy was incredible. It was wonderful to see our residents, their families, and our staff all laughing together and getting stuck into the competition. Whether the pancakes landed back in the pan or provided a bit of a laugh on the floor, the smiles on everyone's faces were the real highlight."
 

There is nothing quite like a change of scenery and a warm welcome! Our residents had a wonderful morning out at the monthly Drayton Village Hall Community Coffee Morning.

It was a delight to step out into the heart of the village and soak up such a friendly, welcoming environment. Our residents loved the chance to engage with friends old and new from beyond the home, sharing stories over plenty of tea and delicious biscuits.

Building these local links is so important to us, and the lively chatter and smiles certainly showed how much everyone enjoyed being part of the village buzz!

A huge thank you to the organisers at Drayton Village Hall for having us we already can’t wait for next month! 
 

The magic of the theatre arrived at our Home as the home hosted a vibrant and high-energy production of the classic fairy tale, Cinderella, performed by the popular Tickled Pink Productions.

The communal dining room was transformed into a ballroom as residents, staff, and guests enjoyed the colourful costumes and upbeat musical numbers. Far from just being spectators, the residents became part of the show, singing along to familiar tunes and playing along with musical instruments provided during the performance.

Benazir, General Manager at Glebefields Care Home, said "It was a truly wonderful morning. The energy that Tickled Pink brings is infectious, and seeing our residents so engaged. We are already looking forward to welcoming the troupe back later this year for more performances."