Activities at Laurel Bank Care Home

Staff and residents at Barchester’s Laurel Bank care home in Lancaster met their purr-fect new friend last week when ‘Toffee Apple’ the robotic cat arrived.

Robotic cats and dogs are the latest advancement in pet therapy and have been proven to combat loneliness and relieve stress and tension. They work particularly well with elderly people who can no longer keep real animals because robotic animals don’t need feeding or cleaning up after!

Toffee Apple was donated to Laurel Bank by Lancashire County Council’s 50+ Assembly, who have raised £1800 to purchase 10 cats and 10 dogs, and she is very lifelike- she purrs when you stroke her, meows when you stop and even rolls on to her belly for a tummy tickle!

Activity Coordinator, Jamie Hodgson said: “Our residents absolutely love Toffee Apple already- she has a very calming effect, and is great for those who don’t like to get involved in our activities as much because she is always there. Her purr is particularly soothing!”

A resident at Laurel Bank said: “I love her! She’s so soft and cute, you really do forgot that she’s not a real cat- I find myself chatting away to her, just like I used to with my old cats! Even the staff have taken to her, stroking her whenever they pass!”

Not only has Toffee Apple had a soothing effect on residents at the home, she’s also got everybody talking as well. The residents are always excited to see her in the morning and ask after her if she’s visiting somebody else. We hosted a Cheese & Wine Evening that included a naming ceremony, and it was great to see everybody come together and reminisce about their previous pets. Toffee Apple certainly has gone down a treat!

Residents at Laurel Bank had a great day out last week as they visited the local village of Glasson Dock. The ladies went for a walk around the marina to have a look at all the boats before stopping for a nice cup of tea.

All of a sudden the ducks swam over hoping for some crumbs of food, but we had none. Luckily for the ducks, a kind passer by gave us some of his left over bread and so everybody was happy!

Trips out in the minibus are an amazing way for our residents to feel they are still part of the community, and are always spoken about afterwards for weeks!”

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The circus came to town for our Summer Fair, with staff and residents dressing up for the day. The Mayor of Lancaster officially opened our event, and a magician made an appearance too! There were also clowns making balloon animals for the children, and a raffle, a tombola and a cake stall. Local legend Stevie Kay closed the day with a selection of big band hits, and nearly £400 was raised for the residents' fund.

Residents Laurel Bank care have been getting crafty recently in aid of the collage competition for Lancaster Health Festival. As part of Lancaster Health Festival which takes place between 19th-22nd September and with a theme for this year as ‘The Lost Art of Living’.

There will be numerous speakers and events around the city, and local care homes have been invited to take part in a collage competition as a way to stimulate residents and allow their creative sides to come out. Our residents loved creating their submissions to the festival as arts and crafts is a popular activity within the home.

Residents were treated to a magical performance from harp and vocalist duo, ‘Iced Gems’. The music was lovely and melodic and residents even got to have a go on the harp afterwards. ‘Incredible’ is how the birthday girl described the afternoon!