Activities at St Thomas Care Home

Nellie celebrated her 103rd birthday in style. Following a request to the local community via Facebook to try and get Nellie 103 cards for her 103rd birthday, they overwhelmed the Home with their response.

Nellie received 450 birthday cards, personalised birthday cakes and cupcakes. Morrisons donated a cream tea for all of the residents and staff to celebrate with her, and she even had her own balloon sculptures made.

Local and national newspapers picked up the story, which saw Nellie then appear in the Daily Express.

Nellie also received a personal video message from the Mayor of Basingstoke and Deane, Cllr Dianne Taylor, which she enjoyed watching with her daughter and son, who were able to visit her for the first time since March.

Nellie told us all that the secret to a long life is hard work and gin!

We recognise that both our residents and relatives have now not seen each other for a considerable period of time. Although the residents keep in touch with their loved ones through Zoom and phone calls, it is a difficult time for all.

St Thomas sent out this poem and a ‘hug’ keyring to loved ones. Residents also wrote or dictated messages to their loved ones on the poem, just to give them that extra personalised touch.

St Thomas has been receiving calls from families saying how touched they have been to receive them. We want to thank all our relatives for their continued support of the home. The kind comments and gifts, which have been sent in for the staff have meant so much to them.

Staff brought in pictures of themselves in their younger years. We then printed off pictures of the staff now, and residents had to pair the pictures up. This was an activity that brought about a lot of reminiscing from the residents, with the main subject being what they wore when they were a child and where they grew up. There was also a lot of giggling around pictures of the team when they were younger.

St Thomas has been keeping in touch with the community during the lockdown, and have been thrilled to receive cards of kindness and support.

We have also received a personalised plaque, after one of the care team joined a community Facebook group.

These cards and the plaque have given a real boost to the residents and staff, and the residents love reading the cards and talking about the pictures.

Where the senders of the postcards have given their address, the residents have written back to them to say hello and thank you.

Summer is finally upon us, and with the help of some of the residents, the maintenance team have done a stirling job of getting the garden ship shape

It took a week's hard work from all involved to bring the garden back from a long winter rest.

The residents have been enjoying the glorious sunshine with the occasional shandy, spritzer and coke float.

Residents and staff had a wonderful day celebrating VE Day. Our conservatory was turned into an area where we could have a 'street party'. Residents enjoyed lunch together, with a special VE Day menu, followed by an afternoon of dancing and singing. A VE Day afternoon tea then was served with Victoria sponge cake and scones, jam and cream.

The home was filled with laughter as the residents looked at ration books, as reminisced about their younger years and remembering the celebrations which took place.