Activities at Hollyfields Care Home

Hollyfields residents and staff have been working to create their Harvest Festival display for 2020.

Residents and staff joined forces to create some lovely leaf painting prints, which are up on the wall next tour display.

Residents really enjoyed getting messy with the paint and loved mixing all of the autumnal colours. Residents made salt baked dough decorations too, including a wreath, a pumpkin, grapes and knots.

Our local mid-counties Co-op donated £20 worth of food to help us with our display, and donations for our local food bank continue to pour in.

As the week goes on, we shall be continuing our theme of harvest with walks in nearby fields looking at the varieties of crops that are growing, as well as a virtual Harvest Festival service on Friday afternoon.

Staff and residents enjoyed a day of all things apples recently. The trees from our orchard were harvested by staff and residents throughout the week, which was a big job for everyone, as this year saw our trees blossom a fantastic crop.

Usually, a team of volunteers from Wyre Community Land Trust would support us with the day, but due to current restrictions, were unable to join us, however, that didn’t stop us from loaning their equipment and doing it ourselves.

The whole team got involved to make the day a huge success. Maintenance and garden teams helped residents to pick the apples, chefs and kitchen assistants made homemade chutneys and sauces, the housekeeping team assisted residents to bottle the juice and care assistants helped to jar up the chutneys.

A big thank you to everyone at Hollyfields for such a great day!

The rain and wind did not deter the staff and residents from participating in their annual sports day. Residents and staff joined forces to fight for the winning title of champions of champions at this year’s sports day.

Events included the sack race, three-legged race and the egg and spoon race. One resident in particular found a varied approach to keep his egg on the spoon.

The day was enjoyed by all and the fight for the title continues for a very special Christmas sports day this winter.

Staff and residents have been enjoying virtual church services from our friends at Bewdley Baptist Church. Simon Harry, Minister of the church, has put together a service adapted to meet the needs of those who live at the home.

The services are about half an hour long and give residents who wish to attend the opportunity to practice the faith of which they believe. The services have been a huge success and very beneficial during the current climate.

Team members are appealing to their local community to join forces with them to help generate food parcels for their local food bank.

Michael Butler, Activities Coordinator, contacted Wyre Forest Food Bank after seeing a post on their social media pages looking for volunteers to help out with deliveries of parcels to those who need them in the surrounding areas.

Michael had shared a post on his own social media profile and, within 24 hours, both he and the care home were inundated with donations from all over the Wyre Forest.

The food bank is currently seeking donations of store cupboard staples and every day essentials, as well as fresh fruit and vegetables too. Hollyfields will continue to act as a drop off point for all donations and will ensure they are safely delivered to the food bank team in time for their next deliveries.

Garden visits are underway at Hollyfields. Residents and their loved ones have been reunited after spending months apart during the current COVID19 Pandemic. Sticking to current guidelines, relatives were able to meet their loved ones face-to-face for the first time since March. One resident Celebrated his 81st birthday on the day he received a visit from his wife and son, which was wonderful!