Activities at South Chowdene Care Home

Barchester’s South Chowdene care home, got in to the Christmas spirit by dressing the Christmas trees throughout the home adding a little glitz and sparkle for everyone to enjoy.  Residents were also delighted to receive a gift from their community friends at Oakfield Primary School.

Once the final bauble was hung residents sat back to enjoy with a cup of tea and delicious mince pies as the conservation flowed as they reminiscence about childhood Christmases.

Residents at South Chowdene Care Home, in Low Fell recently opened their ‘Fairy Door’ with the help of regular volunteers Jane, Mandy, Grace and Annie the PAT Dog. Whilst residents could not go out to the tree, they watched through the windows as Annie declared  the door open and were overjoyed to see her in person rather than virtually.

Honouring a tradition of ‘Fairy Doors’ in Low Fell, residents painted stones to put round the door for visitors to pick up and enjoy as well as making Christmas decorations which were pinned to the tree for children to pick up.

Residents also made Christmas decorations for every class at the local school and cards for all the shops on Low Fell High Street.

Staff at South Chowdene Care Home  Care Home in Low Fell swapped their uniforms for costumes on National Elf Day (Friday December 4) in an effort to raise funds to help people living with dementia.

Launched by the Alzheimer’s Society and delivered direct from the North Pole, Elf Day was created to sprinkle some festive cheer on fundraising towards finding a cure for dementia. From stripy socks to head-to-toe elf outfits, anything goes – there’s snow better way to raise money to help beat dementia.

On the day, residents and staff at South Chowdene Care Home were able to enjoy elf-themed games including an ‘Elf Quiz’ including virtual participation from our Volunteers, Elf doughnut making and tasting and a fancy dress competition judged by residents. The money the home managed to raise will be sent to Alzheimers UK to help with their research and support.

Barchester’s South Chowdene was a den of ghoulish activity as the home’s spooky Halloween party got in to full swing.

Staff and residents got in to the spirit of things with fancy dress, music and games before tucking into some treats especially prepared by the homes hospitality team.  

Residents at South Chowdene Care Home observed Remembrance Sunday on 8th November by watching the televised service at the Cenotaph together, before watching a mass ‘Tribute to Vera Lynn’ via Zoom featuring Ros Friend, a resident at South Chowdene Care Home, organised by ‘Smiling Sessions’.

It was part of an initiative which saw residents from care homes across England come together virtually to sing ‘White Cliffs of Dover’. The individual footage was recorded at each care home and sent in to Shapeshifter productions who put it all together resulting in an amazing full performance in time for Remembrance Sunday which residents at South Chowdene enjoyed immensely.

Annie has been visiting us for nearly 4 years and is a very valued team member. Residents love feeding her carrots (to keep her off their biscuits) and making a fuss of her. Recently, the tables have turned and we have been visiting Annie in her own home via Skype where she continues to soothe and entertain us. This year was her 10th birthday so we decided to send her a card and thought that a bag of carrots might be an unusual but useful gift. Annie has sent us lots of cards over the year which have kept us smiling and positive so we were glad that she enjoyed hers.