Activities at Red Oaks Care Home

Red Oaks care home in Henfield is celebrating National Nutrition and Hydration Week (16th – 22nd March) with wholesome food and thirst quenching beverages. Despite supermarket shelves being empty and food supply chains struggling to keep up with demand it is still possible to produce nutritious menus with a good range of beverages.

During the week the home has devised an exciting, challenging and fun week of activities and events.

Monday was Brilliant Brekkie where we had different breakfasts available like natural yogurt with fresh Blueberry’s.

Tuesday was Super Snacks where the residents made Flapjacks, Ginger Bread and Millionaires shortcake, all homemade from our kitchen.

Wednesday was Funky Fruity where the residents had a range of pancakes from traditional lemon and sugar to fresh fruit filled pancakes cooked with the residents and activity team on our pancake maker.

Thursday was Thirsty Thursday where the residents tasted and discussed some unusual flavoured drinks.

Friday was Afternoon Party for the residents with a vast collection of different small bites and plenty of dancing.

We had a visiting activities coordinator from one of our Barchester homes, who is actually a professional dancer. He decided to teach the art of Zumba to the residents, staff and relatives.

For the 6th consecutive year, some of the residents from Red Oaks, helped the children of 4 local schools to take part in the Chanctonbury Challenge. There are 4 elements to the challenge cooking, first aid, survival skills and IT. Red Oaks residents helped with the IT element. The children had to chat with the residents about their past or about something that matters a lot to them and they had to create a PowerPoint presentation.

To help celebrate the Chinese New Year, our Head Chef came up with a Special Chinese Supper menu, consisting of Chinese chicken noodle soup, followed by pork in black bean sauce served with special fried rice, spring rolls & prawn crackers or mixed oriental vegetable stir fry with a sweet chilli sauce; and for pudding Chinese coconut pudding topped with cinnamon cream. All the residents thoroughly enjoyed the event!

Mia came to Red Oaks as our new official PAT dog. She was originally from Ireland and was rescued by the Allsorts Rescue Centre in Fulking. She is now 5 years old. She is a Yorkshire Terrier cross that loves to sit on residents' laps and has a calming effect on everyone.

Local chef, Glenda Williams who works at Red Oaks Care Home in Henfield, has won a Christmas cake competition with an amazing culinary creation, which wowed judges with its display of skill and originality.

The cake secured first place in an annual Christmas Cake Competition for Barchester care homes in South East. There are two categories in the competition, one for care home chefs and another for people who live in the homes.

The cake was a two tier cake with the theme being the Snow Queen with blue icing and decorative snow flakes.