Activities at Mount Vale Care Home

We had a lovely time joining Paul Hawkins and Steve Wilkes from Unilever for an exciting immersive Christmas experience.

Our residents were welcomed with chocolate treats as Paul and Steve took them on an exciting chocolate truffle making and biscuit decorating journey.

To finish off the Christmas special event, our residents enjoyed a themed quiz and a singalong.

We all had a wonderful time.

Barchester Healthcare has teamed up with Oomph!, an organisation that aspires to improve older people’s quality of life.

The activity sessions are based on a range of themes, from chairobics and chair cheerleading, to ‘Strictly Fun Dancing’ – a class which uses well-known dance moves and popular songs.

Barchester Activities Co-ordinators have been trained by Oomph! in a Level 2 'Exercise Leadership in Care Homes' qualification, which is endorsed by Skills Active – the sector skills council for active leisure and learning. These sessions are designed to help residents build relationships with one another, increase their mobility and enhance mental stimulation.

Regular exercise improves cardio-respiratory and muscular fitness, bone and functional health and reduces the risk of unhappiness and cognitive decline. The Barchester homes taking part in the pilot are already noticing a difference to residents' quality of life, with classes showing a proven increase in levels of social interaction and mental stimulation among those taking part. From the most recent surveys, 100% of residents have stated that the Oomph classes have had a positive effect on their health and happiness.

We all had a wonderful time joining Jennifer Owen - founder of Goldfinch Floral Studio for a creative floral bauble workshop.

Jennifer transported our residents to the out of the ordinary world of flowers and crafts and demonstrated how to create stunning hand-made baubles filled with dried flowers and grasses.

Our residents enjoyed filling and decorating their own glass baubles and their unique creations will be displayed at the home for everyone to enjoy.

We experienced the Christmas extravaganza of Blenheim Palace with Social Historian - Antonia Keaney, who took us on a recorded tour around the Christmas sights at the palace this year.

Our residents were able to discover the story of The Nutcracker re-imagined within the palace rooms, each one exquisitely transformed and filled with hidden surprises – from the toymaker’s workshop on a frosty Christmas Eve; through the glistening Land of Snow and onto the candy-cane Kingdom of Sweets adorned with the sweetest of treats and larger-than-life gingerbread men.

Then the residents explored the after-dark illuminated trail in the palace’s picture-perfect gardens. A feast for the senses, as we witnessed glittering tunnels of light, dancing lakeside reflections, trees drenched in jewel-like colour and mesmerising flickering flames in the fire garden.

It was a truly magical experience, enjoyed by all.

Pinch, punch first of the month!

Who doesn’t enjoy opening their advent calendar’s, whatever the age!

Let the Christmas celebrations commence!

Mount Vale's residents and staff have been busy creating and putting together garlands and wreaths to make the home as festive as can be. 

Residents and staff have also been crafting home-made decorations for the Christmas tree which they all helped to decorate, the trees are looking truly magnificent covered in beautiful Christmas lights and baubles.

Activities Coordinator, Becky has also stepped up the festivities this year and are taking part in Elf on the Shelf and it’s safe to say the residents and staff are having plenty of fun with it!

Christmas is such a magical time and our residents love nothing better than to spend time creating decorations for the home and then we all help to put them up together.