Activities at Springvale Court Care Home

Residents joined together with the rest of the UK to watch the televised service at the Cenotaph and also watched a live streamed performance of songs from the war as part of their Remembrance celebrations.

It was a day of great sadness but one they celebrated by remembering the fallen, sharing memories and participating in the 2-minutes silence.  Residents were also overwhelmed by the artwork sent to them from the local primary school Fell Dyke Primary, who had sent in personalised decorations and brilliant pieces of artwork to decorate out the home! Lest We Forget.

The residents of Springvale enjoy our intergenerational link with local dance school, Little Mascots who have shared donations, art work and visited the home prior to lockdown have now started a pen pal group with the residents and they couldn’t be happier to comply!

Many of the homes residents are over the moon with this idea and are very happy to participate. Letters and art work are yet to be sent but a group have already got together to begin their letters and cards.

Residents are overjoyed at Springvale Court care home in Wrekenton, as Barchester Healthcare has implemented a designated visiting room for residents to continue to spend time with their loved ones for the autumn and winter seasons in addition to the outdoor visiting that has been on offer for those able for many months.

Balancing resident wellbeing and safety is at the forefront of Barchester Healthcare’s thinking and they understand how important it is for residents and their family and friends to be able to spend time together in the safest way possible.

There has been much careful planning and preparation for this moment by Barchester Healthcare, who run Springvale Court care home. It was welcome news for their residents and family and friends as we enter the colder season meaning catch-ups can continue to take place, instead of, or in addition to, outdoor visiting already offered for those able.

We often have personal chats with our residents sharing an interest in their previous affairs and lives. One of our much loved resident, Winnie finds it difficult to communicate vocally but can use certain body language, eye contact and the occasional word or two to chat to well-known staff. Our staff gathered all her old photographs and personal items and chatted with her using the objects for her reaction. Winnie Had shown great reaction to her wedding photograph, smiling and holding it in close, Winnie now has this photograph by her bedside and often will give it a little hold before bed. We also spent time discussing her job as a cleaner which she was for many years. She even laughed at my own story of shrinking my partners clothing!

It is with the greatest of pleasure that we can announce Springvale’s window visits have once again began! We here could not be happier and the emotional response from both our residents and their families have been overwhelming. Residents have wrote notes of thanks for the opportunity and as we continue to book in more visits our amazing residents are already began planning their favourite outfits to wear on that day. We are also very lucky to have staff at Springvale whom are trained in hairdressing and have ensured every residents looks their best for both their visit and Up and coming Christmas events.

Our new arts and Crafts club has taken off brilliantly, residents whom have joined are using it as an expression of emotion! And each week as we paint and create together we chat amongst friends and open up about our inner feelings. Most residents leave our sessions feeling relaxed and as those a weight has been lifted. It has shown many benefits to our beloved residents.