Activities at Strachan House Care Home

It was a beautiful crisp evening and our residents were donning their warmest clothing…all in the name of what could disputably be the favourite meal for most, a good fish and chips! We took the mini-bus down to South Queensferry where we all chose our favourite meals, the delicious smells tantalised our taste buds as we looked out onto the water, looking at the bridges, the lights and the trains crossing over the water. There was momentary silence while every dug into their meals, enjoyment in every mouthful! It was a very relaxing time and everyone headed home extremely satisfied.

Across our homes we got into the Christmas spirit of things by joining a festive live virtual experience, led by Des and Kelly from Performing Pets.

Our residents were thrilled to meet the charming furry friends and get up close and personal with the reindeers.

We certainly learnt some interesting facts about the animals and had a fantastic time.

As we deep dive into autumn, the residents have found inspiration in nature. Our garden is full of vibrant reds, oranges and yellows and we used these colours to create some beautiful paintings! We sat together as a group, discussing our inspiration whilst looking outside the window into the garden. Some residents painted what they saw; the trees, the leaves, the sky and the greenery, whilst some residents reminisced about places where they often visited, or where they grew up, and decided to paint these landscapes. We were blown away by the talent and diversity of the artworks created. A very lovely afternoon indeed.

Strachan House has had some wonderful wee visitors this month! Our neighbours at Blackhall Primary School popped by for an afternoon of learning, sharing of stories, ideas, and of course, lots of smiles. P7 prepared very interesting presentations on a significant person or event from the past - we were blown away by their charisma and insight, not to mention how well-mannered everyone was! Each student took the time to present to, and interact with the residents. The afternoon was extremely meaningful; promoting inter-generational connections, sharing of experiences, lessons and knowledge. We very much look forward to future visits from the students, and to seeing everyone again soon.

A delightful afternoon was had by all as we endeavoured to create beautiful floral works of art, to be displayed in our home! Not only did we purchase a range of colourful fresh flowers to arrange, but we foraged in our garden for foliage and greenery to add further texture and depth. The residents found the afternoon to be very relaxing, with each resident creating a bouquet that captured their individuality, personality and creativity. We took still moments, with a cup of tea in hand and delightful cake, to sit back and contemplate our artworks. Do we need to add anything else? Would a pop of colour enhance the arrangement? Ultimately, everyone was overjoyed with their creations and proud of what they had achieved.

Residents at Strachan House care home, in Blackhall recently enjoyed a visit from neighbouring Blackhall Primary School students. The afternoon event, which took place on the first of November welcomed the group of grade 7 students aged between 10-12, to engage with the residents at the home. The students prepared a series of interesting presentations on a significant person or event from the past, initiating discussion and enabling dialogue.

The importance of engagement between the Residents at Strachan House and Students from Blackhall Primary school is integral in strengthening community ties, knowledge sharing between generations and forming friendships.