Activities at Hickathrift House Care Home

Residents across our homes had a fantastic time exploring the Eden Project virtually - an educational charity and visitor attraction based in Cornwall, featuring sprawling outdoor gardens and breathtaking biomes that house the largest indoor rainforest in the world.

During the session, residents who joined were reconnected with nature through their senses, memories and stories.  A big thank you to the community team at the Eden Project for the wonderful event.

Staff at Hickathrift House have opened up their doors to welcome the emergency services personnel in their local area.  As a way of saying thank you to the paramedics, nurses, police officers and other emergency services workers who don’t always have time to go home or back to their workplace on their break, the team and the residents of Hickathrift House Care Home provide free food and drink to all emergency service staff.

It was our genuine pleasure to celebrate all the wonderful men at Hickathrift House on Father’s Day. They were truly treated like royalty and became Kings for the day with our royal-themed party.

At lunchtime, families joined their fathers for a scrumptious Sunday Roast made by the talented Hospitality Team. In the afternoon we were joined by the fantastic KJ & The Catt, who helped make our male residents feel extra special.

Barrie said, "It's been such a great day with my daughters and wife. The whole team has made it so great". 

On the 20th of June, Barchester’s Hickathrift House Care Home in Marshland St James, Wisbech hosted an exciting community talk from Ryston Rachel’s Hedgehog Hotel. Ryston Rachel’s Hedgehog Hotel helps to rescue, rehabilitate and release hedgehogs from all over Norfolk and Cambridgeshire.

Residents, staff, and 26 pupils from the local Marshland St James Primary and Nursery School were thrilled to learn all about hedgehogs from Jan, a volunteer from Ryston Rachel’s Hedgehog Hotel. The talk included the life cycle of a hedgehog, the exceptional actions taken by the charity and how to help these spiky creatures in the garden. With host Jan leading the way, the residents and pupils examined the various photographs and items provided which led to fascinating conversations within our care home.

Residents and staff are celebrating National Carers’ Week, which takes place from June 10-16. Residents wanted to thank all the wonderful staff at the home, whose hard work and dedication make a real difference to the lives of those living in their care.

Carers’ Week is an annual event to raise awareness of caring, highlighting the challenges carers face, and recognising the contribution they make to our residents, families and communities throughout the UK. The theme for Carers’ Week this year is ‘Putting Carers on the Map'’ - to shine a light on all those who work tirelessly behind the scenes to care for vulnerable people in our communities

This month Gladys' wish was granted by our Post a Wish initiative. Gladys is very close to her family, so we discussed several ways to celebrate the four generations of her family. After several ideas we came up with a sensory art session to represent each member.

Gladys, her daughter, two granddaughters and the newest member of the family came together to create these memorable canvases. Each family member selected their favourite colour and left their handprint on each canvas which they'll be able to keep for many years to come. This was a very beautiful, enjoyable moment that'll forever be a fond memory for everyone.

Gladys said, "Thank you so much for organising this. It’s been lovely spending such quality time together doing something different".