Activities at Reigate Beaumont Care Home

Our ladies here at Reigate Beaumont have longed to go to RHS Garden Wisley for some time now. It was a unanimous wish which came about discussing the ideal morning outing. There was so much excitement as we boarded our minibus and set out on the motorway for our perfect outing. It was so worth the trip as we all agreed - it was a fabulous morning out. From the friendly staff, to the different items in the store to the incredible variety.

We love to celebrate and share our diverse culture with our residents so our staff celebrated Onam Festival in our home, designing a 'pookhalam' on our lounge floor. The staff wore traditional dress and they looked absolutely stunning! The Onam Festival is celebrated in the Indian state of Kerala, and is one of the biggest and most spectacular festivals involving a range of celebrations, music & dance performances, and flower carpets to name a few. Our staff shared an incredible personal celebration with residents and colleagues – dancing and sharing their culture with the residents who were absolutely in awe of their traditional dress.

Sometimes our days can be so busy with so much going on that is so nice to just relax and chat with other residents on a lazy Bank Holiday. So we chose some relaxing soft music and got on with it. Easing into the week with a bit of 'Mindfulness with Michele'. The theme for our Arts & Crafts Club was a bit of relaxing colouring in with Michele, our lovely receptionist. I wonder though...was there more colouring or chatting going on? One thing is for sure, there was delicious cake & tea this afternoon in our patio garden!

At Reigate Beaumont, one of the favourite activities for residents to attend is the weekly Pilates class led by Jacquetta. Even though the class is a seated one, residents can improve their posture, joint mobility and can strengthen their core. This also gives residents a chance to relax and refocus their minds on their bodies. Jacquetta says: "It has been exciting and so delightful to see the improvements in the resident's mobility due to the regular attendance of the chair Pilates classes, together with their unwavering enthusiasm. They often surprise themselves with their range of movement and their flexibility! These classes are also a wonderful opportunity for residents to get together and to enjoy each other's company while hopefully lifting their spirits as they listen to engaging music, which they can often reminisce to! We all have a chat at the end and catch up with news about their families."

Afternoon tea party in our glorious blossoming patio garden. Our residents and staff enjoyed a lovely afternoon of delicious tea cake delights, thanks to our fabulous Senior Head Chef Roman and his team. A few relatives that popped in asked what special event this was, and our reply was 'Just because we can'. The weather was stunning and we had great company! Our staff love to engage with residents during activities and what a perfect day to do just that. We listened to our favourite music, sang along to songs and some even danced! Great enthusiasm from our team!

Reigate Beaumont residents and staff visited the Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex to meet some of the team and to hear about the fantastic work that they do. The Air Ambulance Charity KSS operates 24/7, 365 days a year. If there is a life-or-death call, they bring specialised doctors, paramedics and treatment to the scene, fast. Every day, they respond to on average of nine calls a day, giving people the best chance of survival and keeping families together. And they can reach any part of Kent, Surrey or Sussex in under 30 minutes. Without funding, they cannot get off the ground and therefore cannot save lives. A huge thank you to Mike, a paramedic and to Rachel, the Community Fundraiser for Surrey, for a warm welcome and for showing us around. Special thank you to Jo, our volunteer for arranging such a fantastic outing for our residents.