Activities at South Chowdene Care Home

During the course of the virus so far, the children from Oakfields school have helped us to keep smiling by sending us letters and cards. We were devastated that we couldn’t brighten the place with flowers for Mother’s Day, but our smiles were restored when we received letters with lovely pictures which we put up in all the lounges and corridors.

We received a visit and cards from a few children from the school (who stayed outside) and we all sang ‘Happy Easter to you’ through the windows of the conservatory.

They also left us some lovely Easter wreaths and we gave them a mobile we made of rainbows and the ‘Unity’ message.

Thank you Oakfields! We have also been keeping spirits up singing and dancing along to DVDs.

Over the last few weeks, residents have been busy getting ready for Easter in many ways. Hat decorating was quite a favourite and the place looked very bright when we all wore them on Easter Day.   

We also made chocolate Easter nests which went down very well on the tea trolley.

Residents had a great time getting themselves ready to look their best on Easter Sunday by making our own hand creams, choosing the scents to put in or citrus fruit peel. A fair few new flavours of cream were created and we hope to think up some more soon. If nothing else, just inhaling the different and memory provoking scents was great.

From 16th – 20th March, residents at South Chowdene considered what nutritional and hydration needs they have and how to best meet them. We tried different ways of making water taste more exciting, made our own orange juice and a whole raft of ‘supersnacks’ to keep us going.

We learnt a lot from each other, especially about what has happened in the past to keep nutritional needs met and what drinks were made at home in order to quench people's thirst. Residents enjoyed trying different thirst-quenching fruits.

This event actually started a good 2 weeks before the actual event in our craft sessions. An egg tray was ‘acquired’ from the kitchen, cut up and painted different shades of yellow.

The next craft session saw the petals drawn and cut out and, in the nick of time, all the parts were matched up to create daffodil brooches, which every resident received as they arrived for breakfast, where they were greeted in Welsh and serenaded by Welsh male voice choirs.

The hospitality team pulled all the stops out and kept the theme going throughout the day, with Welsh flavours, dishes and a magnificent Welsh honey cake. Residents had a great time reminiscing on holidays in Wales and their favourite areas or places of interest.

On March 5th and 6th, South Chowdene invited local community to its Dementia UK Coffee and Cakes event. Cakes were made by staff in competition for first prize with a team of residents judging entries. Residents made and iced traybakes for the event containing many gooey and oh so tasty ingredients.

The event kicked off in conjunction with the weekly Dementia Café and continued into Thursday afternoon and Friday with plenty of takers as well as discussion around Dementia and how it affects an individual and their friends and family and what can be done to ease this.

During the event, Little Movers came in from Oakfields primary school donned in ‘World book day’ costumes. We played and sang, learned from each other and a great many memories were rekindled for the residents. Both residents and children had a great time – proved by the huge smiles and excitement on all faces.

A total of £45 was raised which will be sent to Dementia UK for research into this condition.

Many memories were rekindled during this activity, Valentine's memories, as well as, other events and outings from 2019, through pictures.

There was also an awards ceremony with various residents recognised for not only the entertaining things they have done but also for all the help and support they give us. We had a drink to 2019 and Steve Richards took us through some hits of the 60s and 70s prompting much singing along and dancing.