Activities at Juniper House Care Home

Residents enjoyed a fun-filled afternoon starting with a general knowledge quiz before settling down for our cheese and wine celebration for International Sherry Day! Everyone joined in with the quiz — testing their memory, sharing laughs, and cheering each other on. Afterwards, residents relaxed with a lovely spread of cheeses, crackers, grapes, and a choice of wines or a Sherry.  

To celebrate International Sherry Day, residents at Juniper House enjoyed a relaxing and sociable cheese and wine afternoon. The lounge was beautifully set up with a selection of cheeses, crackers, grapes, and a choice of sherries and wines for everyone to sample and enjoy. Gentle background music and a welcoming atmosphere for all to enjoy. The afternoon was filled with laughter, conversation, and smiles as residents compared flavours and reminisced about how some used to enjoy a sherry before bed. For those who preferred a non-alcoholic option, fruit juices and soft drinks were also available, so everyone could take part.

This month, residents at Juniper House enjoyed a lively session of the Men’s Social Club, a social activity designed to bring male residents together in a relaxed and friendly environment. Residents that joined enjoyed crisps, a cold beer, and classical music, with Frank Sinatra tunes setting a wonderful atmosphere. 

The session continued with games and conversation, encouraging participation, laughter, and companionship. Activities like this support social inclusion, emotional wellbeing, and community spirit within the home, creating a fun and engaging experience for everyone involved.   

Our recent live music entertainment with David Mcfegan brought pure joy and energy to the home! As the music filled the room, everyone was swept up in the moment, singing along to familiar songs, clapping hands, tapping feet, and moving to the songs, even from their chairs.

Smiles lit up the faces of our residents as the songs brought back fond memories and created new ones.

There’s something truly special about working with flowers — the colours, the textures, the fragrance. At our recent flower arranging session, residents tapped into their creativity and left with more than just a beautiful bouquet — they took  a moment of calm and joy. 

With petals on the table and smiles all around, it was a gentle reminder of the beauty in slowing down and connecting — both with nature and each other. This activity also took some residents down memory lane. 

A wonderful sunny morning as we headed to the bus for a trip to our local canal in Banbury. We took a gentle wander down the canal in the lovely sunshine. Boats glided by, slow and steady, their reflection ripping in the water like moving paintings. Barbie commented on how nice the boats were painted and noticed some had little flower pots on top of the boats.

The ladies got to see locks being open and boats going through. We found a little café that felt a long way away from town, nice and peaceful. We all enjoyed a hot drink and a slice of cake. Watching the boats go by and even getting a wave from some people on the narrowboats.

The other highlight which brought lots of laughter was a swan that Alex was feeding, and the swan swam by us as we walked back to the bus.

All the residents commented on what a wonderful time they had and what a beautiful outing it was. Everyone left with smiles on their faces. This outing brought lots of fun and enjoyment to the residents, and they all enjoyed chatting to each other over a hot drink and a slice of cake.  

This afternoon our residents enjoyed a fantastic Halloween-themed live music session with entertainers dressed in Halloween outfits. The room was decorated for the occasion, and residents joined in the fun by wearing witches’ hats and devil horns. The atmosphere was filled with laughter, music, and plenty of singing and dancing.

Residents were fully engaged throughout the performance — clapping, tapping their feet, and singing along to a great mix of favourite songs. A real highlight came towards the end when Paul took the show to the front for the last two songs. He sang and danced along to Sweet Caroline, one of his favourite tunes, and Val, knowing how much he loved that song, sang it especially for him. It was a lovely, heart-warming moment that had everyone smiling.     

On Tuesday 28th October, our residents enjoyed a fantastic Halloween-themed show with live music from Champagne Enterprise! 

There were plenty of smiles, laughter, and even a few dance moves as everyone joined in with some great singalong classics. The atmosphere was full of fun, laughter, and Halloween spirit — with residents clapping, singing, and having a wonderful time together.       

Every first Thursday of the month at Juniper House, we enjoy a truly special "Move to Music" session with the wonderful Amanda, and it was nothing short of magical. Designed to be dementia-friendly, the session invites residents to join in a gentle, guided afternoon of movement and songs. With familiar songs playing and Amanda leading the way, these sessions are more than just fun, bringing measurable benefits to our residents. Social Connection: Singing together fosters community, boosts confidence, and strengthens bonds between residents and staff. 

Physical Engagement: Gentle movement improves circulation, coordination, and overall mobility in a safe, enjoyable way. Memory Stimulation: Familiar songs unlock long-term memories and support communication, especially for those living with dementia. Emotional Wellbeing: Music lifts spirits, reduces anxiety, and creates a strong sense of connection.

Residents were treated to an afternoon of a delightful selection of cheeses, crackers, and chilled wines and relaxed in the coffee shop. From creamy brie to sharp cheddar, there was something to suit every palate. 

This activity brought a social connection. These relaxed gatherings encourage conversation, laughter, and connection amongst residents and staff. It’s a chance to share stories, toast to memories, and enjoy companionship. 

This activity also brought Sensory Stimulation from the textures, flavours, aromas, and visual presentation of cheese and wine providing meaningful sensory experiences which are especially beneficial for individuals living with dementia or sensory impairments. 

It was a cheerful afternoon at Juniper House as we celebrated international beer day. We had larger, bitters and ale to try. Each resident that came along had the choice of which beer they wished to have. We also had a selection of non-alcoholic beers for those that did not want an alcoholic drink. Once the drinks were poured and everyone was happy with the choice of drink, we got stuck in to our beer quiz, which contained 20 questions all about beer. Some questions got a lot of the residents thinking, as a lot of them thought England would have been the answer to what country consumes the most alcohol, but it wasn't. It was China.

Janet stated how she really enjoys a nice cold beer on a sunny day.  

Les was over the moon. He got most of the answers correct and won a bag of chocolates. He also enjoyed a non-alcoholic Guinness.
There was so much laughter this afternoon. Lots of discussions about what everyone had put on the quiz and even cheering each other on when they had answered a question correctly. This activity brought lots of fun and enjoyment and lots of engagement amongst all residents that attended this activity. This activity benefits our minds, social needs, lots of fun and enjoyment and has a positive impact on our wellbeing with lots of enjoyment and laughter.     

This morning’s bingo session brought lots of fun, laughter, and friendly competition among the residents. Everyone was keen to join in, showing great enthusiasm as the numbers were called. 

The room was filled with excitement, chatter, and plenty of encouragement as residents supported one another throughout the game. Residents played three games of bingo and lots of winners along the way. There was a wonderful atmosphere, residents clapping and cheering whenever someone won. A family member who joined the session also took part and even won a line, which brought extra smiles and laughter from everyone.  

Residents were invited to share personal photographs from their past, which sparked meaningful conversations and warm reflections.

One photo at a time was passed around, pictures of loved ones, holidays, hobbies people used to do and pets. The room was filled with laughter, thoughtful silence, and the soft murmur of stories being told. For our residents, it was a beautiful opportunity to reconnect with their past and with one another.

Moments like these remind us how powerful simple things like a photograph can be, enriching lives. It was a truly touching day that left smiles on our faces and warmth in our hearts.   

We believe that meaningful moments often come from the simple pleasures in life — and that’s exactly what our residents enjoyed on a recent sunny afternoon with a cheerful visit to the local pub at the top of our road.

With the sun shining and spirits high, a small group of our residents set off for a relaxing outing on Friday afternoon to one of our local pubs just down the road, Chequered Flag. Once seated comfortably inside the pub, our residents wasted no time getting into the spirit of things. Everyone decided what they would all like for a drink. The conversations flowed freely with stories of youthful adventures, favourite pub memories, and even a bit of football banter.   

On Monday afternoon, we made our way to the local bowls club to go enjoy a game of bowls. May and Jean used to love to play bowls in their younger years. As we got to the bowls club we were greeted by Anne, who showed us where to go. On arrival, the residents that came said they didn't want to play and wanted to watch. We got into the hall and were greeted by two other members of the bowls club, Carol and Bob. 

Residents got talking and took a trip down memory lane to where they used to play bowls. Jean then got Bobby her teddy out and told them how someone knitted it for her husband for good luck when he played bowls, and now she has it to look after. As the residents settled in, they were all eager to get on the court and have a good time sitting down on the wall to have a go. It brought so much warmth and happiness to see the smiles of the residents' faces to stepping back on a bowl court which they used to once enjoy as a hobby. Residents cheered each other on and clapped when they got close. May and Carroll were head-to-head, getting the same points. The room filled with laughter.

Once we were all bowled out, we all sat round a table and enjoyed a cup of tea and biscuits together talking. By the time it was time to head back to Juniper House's home, the residents were glowing, not just from the afternoon sun, but from the joy of revisiting a place that had shaped some of their lives. 

In a resident meeting Carroll had said how she would like a choir at Juniper House. So, we have fulfilled this wish and have also name the choir as Carroll’s choir.

What makes this even more special is that Carroll loves to play the piano so once a month we all met by the piano. Carroll will bring her song book and play some notes on the piano for us all to sing along too.

The blend of Carroll playing the piano, the voices of other resident’s and the setting creates a wonderful soulful atmosphere that feels uniquely ours, testament to Carroll’s musical spirit and our collective love for songs.