Activities at Juniper House Care Home

Today was a truly special day as our communities brought together the ages-old tradition of bread making that tantalised the senses. Led by our talented head chef, this activity not only provided hands-on baking skills but also offered an immersive sensory journey through the delightful world of smells, flavours and textures.

We all gathered in Buckingham dining room. The chef Andy introduced us all to the essential ingredients: Flour, yeast, salt and water. Each element played a critical role, and as they mixed, the sweet smell of flour mingled with the earthy aroma of yeast, creating an inviting atmosphere that instantly lifted spirits.

As the dough began to come together the residents rolled up their sleeves and dove into the tactile world of bread making. Kneading the dough required physical engagement and provided a satisfying, rhythmic experience. Everyone felt the elastic texture of the dough beneath their fingers, revelling in the transformation from a sticky mixture to a smooth, pliable mass. 

Once the dough had risen to perfection it was time to shape our bread. Everyone has their own individual idea. Then into the oven they went. The smell in Buckingham dining room was out of this world freshly made bread. Residents got to enjoy this with their evening meal.

Today's bread-making session was more than just cooking, it was a celebration of the senses, taste, smell and texture.

Helen has always mentioned how much so had longed to take a bus ride just to look at the views. During a heartfelt one to one conversation, she expressed her desire to experience a simple adventure abroad the mini bus. We knew right then we had to make that dream a reality.

We planned a morning out and soon enough, we found ourselves stepping onto our minibus.

As we rolled along the roads Helen enjoyed looking out the window, singing along to Daniel O’Donnell music and tapping her hand to the music. We stopped off at a café which Helen enjoyed a slice of her favourite cake coffee and walnut with a cup of coffee.

When we returned Home to Juniper House, Helen couldn’t contain her happiness. She expressed how wonderful her morning out had been. Her eyes sparking with delight as she recounted the monuments we shared. It was clear that our little adventure had created a cherish memory.

Making Helen’s wish come true turned a simple bus ride into something extraordinary, reminding us of the joy that can be found in life’s small adventures.

Junes wish was simple yet deeply heartfelt, she longed to return to her village, the place she called home before coming to Juniper House.

June used to visit a small café in the village weekly. Even though the sky was overcast and the air carried a chill, we refused to let the dreary weather dampen our spirits. Our mission was clear to bring joy to June by fulfilling her wish.

As we entered the café Junes face lit up. It was as if a light had been switched on, illuminating her features with happiness. June moved  through the familiar space exchanging greetings and laughter with those she hadn’t seen in what felt like a lifetime. Her eyes glistened with emotion and tears of Joy streamed down her cheek.

June couldn’t thank us enough for making this day possible. Her smile was a testament to the power of connection and the comfort of returning to a place filled with love and familiarity, even if it was just for a short while.

Every Monday at 11 we meet for exercise. We start with correct breathing, the only 15 minutes of warm-up and 30 minutes exercise to strengthen the neck, arms and legs. 

All our residents love getting involved and are always eager to get moving. I hope we all will be able to exercise for 45 minutes when we are this age. Well done Exercise Club!

One of the cornerstones of our life enrichment program is expert-led physical exercise. Resident involvement in choosing genres along with feedback after each session means that we are able to constantly improve our activities calendar.

A big thank you to everyone that came to celebrate Juniper’s Hawaiian Summer Fete there was a great turn out from residents, relatives, friends and the wider community. We had a wonderful afternoon in the sun with everyone enjoying the ‘Trio of Ukuleles’, BBQ, Raffle, Tombola, face painting and henna tattoos. 

We also had several stalls from local businesses including… Cherwell Cats Protection, Bubble-T of Brackley, Becca Clark Crafts, Aaliyah’s Sweet Side and Colourful creations. 

All proceeds from the BBQ, Tombola and raffle have been donated to the local South Northants Youth Engagement group.

Our Activities Team is dedicated to ensuring that we organise events that encourage our residents to host their families and friends at *Care home*. Our home is always to open to loved ones who wish to take part in our life enrichment program. 

A wonderful morning trip to the Bell Plantation Garden centre. The residents enjoyed walking around all the beautiful flowers, one resident expressed great interest in the reptiles as she had previously visited with her son and was eager to see them again. The residents also enjoyed picking up some of the birds favourite seeds to refill the feeders in our monthly wildlife club. 

Once everyone was well and truly shopped out we stopped off at the lovely restaurant for a cup of tea and a big slice of cake.

Regular outings are just one aspect of our life enrichment program and all the trips we take are at the request of the residents. Our monthly activities calendar boasts a range of outings and entertainment.