Activities at Meadowbeck Care Home

Residents of Meadowbeck enjoyed a variety of activities over the Easter weekend, decorating the home with Easter chicks and bunnies, residents enjoyed this through resident centred activities in the comfort of their own room or in small groups in the homes lounge.  There was also a lot of reminiscing over hot cross buns and chocolate eggs from childhood memories and traditions of Easter.

For residents at Meadowbeck care home in Osbaldwick, the long awaited reunion with one family member has become a reality, as one single named visitor is now allowed to visit each resident in their bedroom.

There has been much anticipation of this moment by families and residents alike.  Guidance was issued by the Government on March 4 and Barchester Healthcare, who run Meadowbeck care home, is proceeding with a safe and cautious approach to visiting. Strict protocols are in place with all visitors required to have a negative Lateral Flow Device test result before being allowed into the home, and infection control measures and social distancing in place for every visit, with hand holding allowed but not recommended.

Despite the need for testing and social distancing, it was still welcome news for so many residents and their family members to be able to meet in the comfort of their bedroom. Residents and their relative enjoyed getting together and catching up face to face.

Who doesn’t love a little chocolate!  Residents enjoyed National Chocolate Cake day by taking part in decorating cupcakes. It was a lovely afternoon as they shared special childhood memories of cakes their Mother’s made and of baking days with their grandchildren.  We even had a little fun naming all our favourite chocolate treats from Rowntree’s and Terry’s.

Residents enjoyed a Chinese evening meal as they celebrated the Chinese New Year and bringing in the Year of the Ox. The evening was a success as they tried a variety of mouth-watering dishes especially prepared by the homes Chef.  It was a very social evening as they enjoyed dishes which they had not tried before, accompanied by a glass of their favourite tipple!

Residents at Meadowbeck enjoyed Valentine’s Day visits with loved ones in our visiting suite as well as video calls with each other leaving a little treat bag for them to take away with them .  For one happy couple, Edith and Raymond who have been happily married for 69 years say how their love for one another is still as strong after all these years. They tell us the secret to a happy marriage is about give and take, compromising and listening to one another

The Meadowbeck Care Home in York has recently brought a bit of magic to residents by providing a new ‘Magic Table 360 and the Happiness Programme’ as a way to improve residents’ quality of life.

Designed and manufactured in the UK, the Magic Table 360 uses interactive games to connect residents with staff and with each other, and research shows it improves the wellbeing of people living with dementia. Using interactive light projections, the Magic Table 360, which can be played independently or in a group, stimulates movement by inviting participants to take part in all sorts of different fun activities such as popping bubbles, playing the piano, colouring in pictures, sweeping leaves or interacting playfully with fish. Games are rich in colour, movement and detail, and allow people of all ages to play in a safe and comfortable environment.

The Magic Table 360 is portable so it can be used wherever residents feel most comfortable, it can be projected onto the floor, ceiling, walls, a whiteboard or even the bed. The Happiness Programme allows for a range of games that change seasonally and have country-specific versions covering 14 different categories, so there will always be something new for residents to try.