Activities at Marple Dale Care Home
Activities are the cornerstone of a wholesome home experience and our Activities Coordinators are always putting their creative minds to the test by organising new and exciting social events for residents to partake in. Of course, we take into account the likes and dislikes of those we support, so if someone doesn’t feel like trying something new, there will always be something on offer to reflect their personal interests. For the people who may just prefer some peace and quiet instead, we also offer one-to-one time that can be enjoyed with a nice cup of coffee or just a simple chat – whatever they desire.
Lewis Timperley
Hi, my name is Lewis. I joined the team in September 2021 as a general assistant and then moved to the activities team in January 2022. Most recently I became Activities Team Leader in December 2023, it has been a great journey here at Marple Dale and can’t wait to continue. I love my role as one of the homes Activity Coordinators, and love finding out new and exciting ways to engage residents with activities and each other.
Here at Marple Dale we try to do as many different activities as we can, to keep our residents as active as possible, as it is so important to keep active. I love what I do and love knowing that our residents have so much enjoyment from such a wide variety of activities.
Read our brochure 'Life-enriching activities' for more information about life in our care homes.
Read our brochure
Activities and Events Partnerships
As part of our bespoke life-enrichment programmes, we host a number of live virtual events in the home on a regular basis through a number of partnerships with places of interest and world class performance companies
Life at Marple Dale Care Home
Burn's Night
We started the week off with Burns night celebrations, we had a lovely time with a Burns Night Quiz, it was a very difficult quiz but we stepped up to the challenge and answered to our best ability. We enjoyed our evening surrounded by our friends, Shortbread and Whiskey which made it an enjoyable night to say the least, we went to bed feeling accomplished that we took on a very difficult quiz!
Happy 70th Birthday John!
We had a lovely day here at Marple Dale celebrating John’s 70th Birthday, John absolutely adores the Beatles so we decided to have a Beatles themed party with Music and a Beatles Quiz for John! The room was filled with snacks and drinks especially Guinness which was finished by John. John celebrated with everyone around him with laughter and joy. John opened his presents surrounded by all his friends that came along and he even finished his night off with a Chinese takeaway, Yummy!
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!
Preparation for a visit from Santa has begun!! The real and big excitement is surrounding our first time entry into the Christmas Cake Competition. From planning the design, to baking the cake and now finally decorating it, these sessions have generated much interest for the residents. With a big £100 high street voucher up for grabs as a winner, the residents involved believe enough in themselves and their newly learned skills that Marple Dale may have a chance of submitting a credible entry to this competition.
Teddy Tombola!
With Christmas soon approaching we’re hoping that lots of family and friends will come to visit their loved ones here at Marple Dale. We wanted to be able to work hard on engaging with them during their visit and offer them an opportunity to become more engaged with us, providing a chance to engage, chat, join in some activities sessions and entertainment. During December the Care Centre will be holding a Teddy Tombola stand. Each person who has a go (£1 a ticket) will win a soft toy prize, so everyones a happy winner.
We have collected many soft toys, washed and dried them and our residents have actively engaged in sticking on the raffle tickets and folding and putting the counterfoils into the tombola drum. Moira, Tracey and Theresa have been busy with these tasks and will work together to run the stand at each of the events, supported and encouraged by the activities team. We are hoping that the funds raised can go towards a care home special meal where we can all sit together, relax, enjoy some take away food and maybe even a tipple or two!!.
By engaging our residents in this preparation activity they have described how it gives them a purpose in their day. They feel included in a more day to day task and that they have been able to contribute and support the team in some small way.
Fitness and Wellbeing
Every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at 11:00 am Oomph TV provides Marple Dale with the excellent opportunity to work on our core muscles with a pilates session with Ruth, an armchair exercise session with Stephan and finally a relaxation session with Heather. We have this month had different residents attend on each day for each session. It has been great to see as may residents participate as possible.
One of our more recent attendees is Sandra who has begun to attend not only these sessions but more of the other sessions we run as well. Often Sandra was happier remaining in her room and with her own company. With support and encouragement from the Activites Team and other residents Sandra is gradually attending more and more sessions. Her confidence has grown, meaning she is now able to build good friendships with other residents such as Ethel and Beryl. They sit together chatting away or working out together at the fitness and well being sessions. It is great to see how confidence does grow when residents are encouraged and supported to take that first step, Sandra is a good friend.
Meeting Old Pals. Blackpool Trip.
It was great fun to visit Blackpool once again to have dinner and see the illuminations. On this trip were Kerry, Moira and Theresa and excitement was running high. Moira and Theresa are firm friends but Moira had arranged to meet an old friend Pauline at The Brewers Fair, Blackpool where we were having dinner.
Pauline was keenly awaiting our arrival and helped get everyone seated. It was fantastic to listen to the ladies all chatting together, reminiscing old times and the fun they had had together in their youth. The conversation went on and drew Kerry in too, all inclusive!! We didn’t know where the time had gone when we realised we needed to rejoin the minibus and set off to see the lights. Fond farewells said, it was Kerrys turn to be excited!! She has never really been to see the illuminations properly before and it was great to see her fabulous smile and hear her laugh out loud at the things she saw and loved.
The following day we received some feedback from Pauline to say she had had a great time and Moira saying she hadn’t seen Pauline laugh like that in years.
It truly was a great day out and will be remembered by all for a long time to come.
