Activities at Hundens Park Care Home

With a long shopping list in hand, our residents and team headed off to Morrisons to stock up on all the essentials. There was plenty of browsing, choosing favourites, and enjoying the buzz of getting out and about together. Of course, no trip would be complete without a well-earned stop at the café where everyone enjoyed a lovely lunch, a cuppa, and great company. 

Lots of smiles, chats, and full tummies all around! Days like these are all about making memories, staying active, and enjoying the little things together.

Despite the unpredictable weather… sunshine one minute and rain the next, we brought the beach indoors and made the most of every moment. Everyone enjoyed delicious fish and chips, followed by a special visit from the ice cream van. It’s been a fantastic day filled with smiles, laughter, and plenty of happy memories. 

A truly positive dining experience had by all, and a great way to carry on our Carers Appreciation Week.    

VE Day Celebrations at Hundens Park. The incredible visiting entertainer, Pete Johnson, kicked things off with a fantastic live performance. He had everyone singing along and reminiscing about some classical favourites. 

The celebrations continued with a delicious freshly prepared afternoon tea, lovingly created by our talented Head Chef, Sarah.      

A Wishful Fulfilment. Tommy played bowls for many years, and the game has always been close to his heart. Although a summer visit to South Park last year brought a touch of disappointment when no one was playing, it didn’t take away the memories he holds there. These days, Tommy prefers life a little quieter… A game of dominoes, the daily paper, and keeping away from the bustle of big events. 

So when we discovered an indoor bowling green and told him about it, his excitement said it all. He couldn’t wait to go! Tommy had the chance to bowl again himself, watched a competition with interest, and enjoyed every moment — all with a sausage roll in one hand and a beer in the other. The best part though, is him thanking us over and over when we got home. That tells is just how much it meant to him. Days like that aren’t about grand gestures…they’re about feeling included, remembered, and able to enjoy something you love again.

It was mentioned in our Monthly Residents Meeting that a few of our residents would like to go to the beach for ‘proper’ fish and chips… so that is exactly what we did! As planned, we hopped on our Barchester minibus and travelled to Seaton Carew for the day. 

Despite the freezing cold crisp air from the North Sea, we were nice and warm in a delicious restaurant where we enjoyed fish ‘n’ chips. We then decided we would enjoy our ice creams back on the minibus with our heating on full blast. We had a gorgeous day and look forward to continuing our weekly outings. 

Our ladies were so happy to have a browse around the store at all of the beautiful flowers and plants. 

A visit to the aquatics centre was a must before we headed into the cafe for a cuppa, cake and a chat. Seeing how well our ladies enjoyed the outing has led to us visiting other garden centres including Strikes in Northallerton.         

We enjoyed a lovely outing to Pendragon in Northallerton for a fantastic sensory experience. With fully equipped hoists available, every resident was able to take part and enjoy a calming and relaxing session. 

Not everyone chose to relax though, some of us had great fun exploring the ball pit and enjoying the slide!        

A return to Seaton Carew! Each month at our residents' meeting, going back to the beach is always a highly requested trip! So, with the recent good weather, Hundens Park residents and staff decided to cease the opportunity and make it happen.     

Fish ‘n’ chips followed by lemon tops and lemonade by the sea was nothing short of delightful. Even Willow the beagle joined us for the occasion, enjoying a Mr Whippy ice cream. A truly beautiful day had by all.

KL Pony Therapy! We were delighted to welcome Katy and her beautiful miniature American pony, Hazel, to Hundens Park. Hazel visited all of our units and brought smiles to everyone she met. She even had her little hooves painted with sparkles for the occasion.

Pony therapy can have many positive effects for people living in care homes, especially older adults and those with conditions such as Dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Miniature ponies are particularly suitable because they are calm, gentle, and small enough to safely visit indoor environments.  

Throughout February, our General Manager, Ana, has been spreading love and appreciation for our wonderful team! Each day, a staff member is randomly selected as our winner and gets to choose a gift from a wide variety of chocolates and wines. 

A small thank you to show how much their hard work, kindness, and ongoing commitment to Hundens Park are truly appreciated.     

We are so excited to share our newly refurbished activities room on our Darnton Suite. From modern décor to beautiful new furniture, every detail has been thoughtfully designed to create a warm, welcoming, and comfortable environment for our residents. 

We’re delighted that our gents are able to enjoy a vibrant, inviting space. Our residents can come together, get creative, and enjoy meaningful moments every day in our activities room. Engaging in activities like arts, music, and puzzles helps maintain brain function and can slow cognitive decline. A dedicated space brings people together, reducing isolation and helping residents build connections and friendships.

Once the rain cleared, we decided to relive our youth, visiting Hardwick Park. 

Swinging on the swings with the wind blowing through our hair brought back so much nostalgia. We also enjoyed a lovely walk around Hardwick Park, where we spotted lots of baby geese and ducks       

Hundens Park had lots of celebrations throughout May – as per usual! Firstly, our wonderful General Manager, Ana, has been promoted to Senior General Manager! Ana’s journey is nothing short of inspiring. Starting at Hundens Park as a carer over 15 years ago, she has shown unwavering dedication and passion every step of the way, progressing to senior carer, qualifying as a Nurse, then taking on roles as clinical lead, Deputy General Manager, General Manager, and now reaching this incredible milestone. We are so very proud of her.     

On the same day, we celebrated our wonderful Care Assistant, Mary, who had recently tied the knot. We came together to congratulate Mary, and to wish her a marriage filled with peace, love, and happiness. 

Spring Sunshine at South Park with our four-legged friend, Willow the beagle. We enjoyed hopping aboard our Barchester minibus for a trip to South Park. We enjoyed looking at the gorgeous flowers, feeling the sunshine on our faces and the wind blowing through our hair. We also had a yummy Mr Whippy ice cream, with a flake, of course. 

We also observed the Crimean War bronze Russian cannon.   

Valentine's Day Celebrations at Hundens Park.

Our staff were kindly treated to some beautiful handcrafted chocolates that were gifted by the daughter of one of our lovely nursing residents. 

We also took some time to come together and chat about the secret to a happy marriage and what truly makes us happy in life. It was such a lovely opportunity to share stories, laughter and reflections.