Activities at Strachan House Care Home

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.

After almost 27 years of continuous service at Strachan House Care home in Blackhall, much-loved nurse and all-rounder, Isobel Huntly has decided to retire.  Staff and residents at the home sent Isobel off in style with flowers, chocolates, and big hugs, to thank her for many years of dedication. Everyone at the home has very fond memories of Isobel and she will be sadly missed.

During her time at Strachan House, Isobel has worked in a number of roles, exemplifying her adaptability and competency. Not only was Isobel a Unit manager and night nurse with Strachan, but she also worked with Barchester as a General Manager

An afternoon spent baking is an afternoon well spent! It was all hands on deck (with some taste testers at the ready) to create these delicious chocolate cupcakes, which were then fantastically decorated in preparation for our Halloween party! The residents chose Black and Red as the icing colouring and used an assortment of fun and delicious toppings to create their very own edible masterpieces. We were in no shortage of willing participants at the ready, to sample the beautifully decorated cupcakes – one must be warned in advance however, that these cupcakes were messy, leaving the willing taste testers black and red around the mouth….it’s almost as though….they had eaten something bloody. Tea was had, music was played, vampires were nowhere in sight.

This year, we celebrated World Food Day with a lovely afternoon tea! Residents, friends and family flocked to the dining room where there were a range of international cuisines to try. We took a flavour trip around the world, from Australia to India to Italy and beyond.

The tastes and smells brought resident travels to the forefront of discussion, as we reminisced on experiences abroad, and discussed different cultures. It was a vibrant atmosphere, with international music and a variety of drinks to whet the palette.

This years celebration shone a light on the importance of Water in agriculture and food production. A reminder that we all need to work together, as a global community, to ensure the longevity of this vital resource; to reduce waste and pollution, in order to keep our waterways clean.