Activities at Milford House Care Home
Our teams are trained to enrich the lives of residents through stimulating the mind, body and soul, and taking the time to learn about each person to ensure everyone receives support that adds enrichment to their life.
The Activities Team at Milford House are dedicated to providing a range of stimulating activities for both groups and individuals, that promote both physical and mental wellbeing based upon resident's interests both past and present. As a member of the National Activity Providers Association (NAPA) the team are always striving to incorporate best practice into the array of activities on offer and to enhance their own skills through qualification with NAPA to NVQ Level 3 in Activities Provision. The team combine weekly activity favourites such as sherry mornings with special events, musical entertainments, slide shows, outings in our own mini-bus as well as interacting with local community groups such as Plain Arts Salisbury to showcase resident art and creativity and others who come into the home to interact with our residents. Milford House also benefits from a strong network of volunteers who support the Activity Team as they deliver their programme and who, along with friends and relatives, are always welcome to come and join in our sessions and outings.
Gale Louw
Gale joined the Milford team in 2019, initially as a carer but has gradually transferred over to the Activities Team where she is now the full time Coordinator. Gale has a passion to create a comprehensive and inclusive programme of vibrant events for residents, family
members and friends to enjoy and, along with the rest of team, ensure that each resident is able to participate in meaningful activities tailored to their likes and dislikes.
Originally from South Africa, when not at work Gale loves nothing more than exploring the UK, catching up with family and friends, being creative across a variety of disciplines and keeping her eyes out for great activities and events she can bring back to the home for
residents to enjoy.
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 Milford House Care Home
Milford Sparkles for the New Year
With our dining rooms dressed to the nines, residents assembled to toast the New Year, let us into their new year resolutions and enjoy the delicious meal prepared by our talented team of chefs which was the perfect way to kick off 2024 before everyone came back down to earth with a bang and found themselves in January! Our Christmas and New Year was filled with sparkle and fun and our new year’s resolution as a team is to keep the fun going throughout 2024.
Milford Takes Part in St Thomas's Church Christmas Tree Festival
The anticipation had been building and the Milford Christmas House - along with its Christmas Trees - was painted, decorated and finally delivered to the beautiful setting of St Thomas's Church, Salisbury where it has joined 93 other exhibits! We have been receiving lots of lovely compliments from visitors to the exhibition who have seen our tree and residents have also visited during the week . Alongside the trees there was a full programme of activities going on from choirs to bell ringing - the festival was open for five days and was a really festive occasion in the heart of Salisbury that was guaranteed to get everyone into the Christmas Spirit.
Milford Christmas Market Is a Hit!
Milford residents and staff got their Christmas festivities off to a flying start with a Christmas Market held on what might have been the coldest day of the year so far, the home was delighted to welcome Councillor Nick Baker, Chair of Laverstock & Ford Parish Council to declare the Market open. Residents, family and friends then enjoyed a fabulous set from Musical Theatre Salisbury before everyone got stuck into browsing the stalls and enjoying mulled wine, hot chocolate and mince pies!
There were green table decorations made by residents, selection treat boxes, bath smellies, lots of lovely art, creative and decorative items as well as a fantastic raffle that was so kindly supported by a host of local business from in and around Salisbury as well as family and friends who donated prizes. The array of goodies were gleefully claimed by lucky ticket holders and all proceeds will go to the home’s chosen charity for 2023, River Bourne Community Farm
Residents and Staff Support Christmas Box Appeal
Residents, family, friends and staff at Milford have all been supporting a local Christmas Box appeal that sends shoe boxes of small gifts to families in southern Europe who otherwise would receive no gifts at this special time of year. Each box is curated for a particular age group with a whole array of small gifts: toiletries, gloves, hats and scarves and of course sweets and toys. Milford has put together over 30 boxes which were delivered to the House of Opportunity who are running the programme at their collection point at River Bourne Community Farm. As well as delivering the boxes a group of staff also volunteered at the collection point for a morning sorting and checking the boxes before they get sent on their way. Thank you to everyone who contributed items to the appeal – it was a fantastic effort all round.
Sister Ela's Art Exhibition is the Toast of Milford
Residents, visitors and staff celebrated the opening of our latest art exhibition at Milford House featuring work by artist and Milford Registered Nurse Ela Anthony. It was fantastic to see so many people turn up to admire the stunning works as well as cards and other gifts that Ela had on display and the exhibition has been a real talking point for residents and visitors alike who are really enjoying looking at the beautiful pictures brightening up our home. We are delighted that the exhibition will run right through into December and will be there for our Christmas Market together with the gifts. Sister Ela, who has been sharing her talents by running art and craft sessions for the residents, is generously donating 10% of any sale proceeds to the home's chosen charity for 2023 River Bourne Community Farm.
Veterans Visit Milford to Mark Remembrance Day
Milford House was honoured to host a group of army veterans who gave up their time to join residents for lunch,reminiscence and a Service of Remembrance.
Lt. Bridget Hamilton, Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps: Lt. Colonel Robert Hamilton, Royal Artillery: Lt. Colonel Andrew Gillespie, Royal Artillery; Colonel Kevin Arnold, Royal Artillery and Lt. Colonel Barry Fairbrother, Royal Logistics Corps shared their experiences as serving officers as they chatted to residents over lunch, many of whom had brought along their own keepsakes and remembrance sheets highlighting their personal experiences or those of loved ones.
After sharing lunch in the dining rooms everyone convened downstairs to hear some amazing stories from the veterans as they described particular aspects of their service, talked about soldiers from the past and showed their memorabilia.
Everyone then shared in a Service of Remembrance where the two minute silence was observed and the Last Post played.
Before enjoying afternoon tea many residents placed their Remembrance Sheets onto the home's Remembrance Wall created in the Art Gallery area.
