Activites at Strachan House Care Home

What a wonderful day, spent spotting flowers around the gardens and admiring the displays at the Chelsea flower show. 

We were delighted to see so many bees on National Bee day too!

To mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, we decided to have our very own street party-themed afternoon tea! 

With family and friends joining in on the fun, we had an exceptional day remembering the good times and the bad, sharing stories of the past and reflecting on our history. Not to mention, we had tremendous fun dancing to Run Rabbit, Doris Day, and, of course, Vera Lynn!

Making the most of the beautiful weather, enjoy a tour of Rosslyn Chapel, admiring the spectacular apprentice's pillar as well as the breathtaking 15th century carpentry.  

We enjoyed a nice coffee and a scone in the lovely café, before checking out the gift shop!  

With our aprons on and spirits high, it was time to have some fun in the kitchen! The ladies came together to celebrate the Regional Directors' cook-off, and you could feel the excitement in the air. 

We all agreed that making rainbow sponge cupcakes would be the perfect choice! As we measured out the ingredients, the kitchen filled with the sweet scent of vanilla, and the bright colours of the batter cheered everyone up. The cupcakes looked phenomenal and tasted great!

Residents were thrilled to participate in an interactive session with a knowledgeable ranger from ZooLab, who brought along an amazing array of animals. During this engaging event, attendees had the unique opportunity to hold and interact with a variety of creatures, including small, furry gerbils and fascinating, slithering snakes. The ranger encouraged everyone to ask questions about the animals' natural habitats, diets, and care requirements, fostering an environment of curiosity and learning. 

ZooLab's presentation was not only informative but also highly entertaining, as the ranger shared captivating stories about each animal and their role in the ecosystem. This delightful experience allowed residents to deepen their appreciation for wildlife and gain insight into the importance of animal conservation. Everyone left feeling inspired and eager to learn more about these incredible creatures!

PASDA is a charity that offers support to the family, friends and loved ones of autistic adults (over 16) that live in Edinburgh and the Lothians. Dr. Jane Neil-McLachlan, Adult Autism Co-ordinator for NHS Lothian Primary Care Trust, founded PASDA in 1998. 

Jane is also one of our wonderful Volunteers here at Strachan House, and we are so pleased to be donating a cheque of £600 to the charity on behalf of Barchester's Charitable Foundation. The funds will contribute to the cost of a special afternoon tea outing for the individuals that the charity supports!

Jane, kindly told us more about the charity and how they can help or share advice for families, professionals and loved ones of Autistic Adults!

We had a fantastic time at Strachan House celebrating Easter! Residents enjoyed a variety of fun activities, like making colourful Easter bonnets and cheering on our amazing staff during the egg and spoon race. Easter Sunday was truly special! The egg hunt was thrilling, especially with the unique Easter eggs designed by our residents—they were a little tricky to find, but that only added to the excitement!

Our colouring competition was a hit, with so many wonderful submissions. The Easter bonnets were bright, cheerful, and beautifully decorated! The egg and spoon race was nail-bitingly close, giving everyone plenty of entertainment!

A big thank you to everyone who came out to support the event. We really appreciate your involvement! And congratulations to all our winners—you made the day even more fun!

We were treated to a breathtaking view of the Forth Bridges! The day was fantastic as we stood in awe of the magnificent Forth Bridge, its striking red colour contrasting beautifully against the clear blue sky. After enjoying a refreshing walk along the scenic pathways and breathing in the crisp, fresh air, we made our way to a charming café nearby. There, we savoured delightful cups of tea, perfectly paired with delicious ice cream. 

Interestingly, some of our residents have vivid memories of the historic moment when the Forth Road Bridge was opened in 1964, a landmark event they often reminisce about.

Staff and residents celebrated Easter with a whole host of different activities, including an Easter egg hunt, Easter bonnet competition, egg and spoon race and a bunny colouring competition!

Residents at Strachan House enjoyed an eggs-tensive range of Easter activities, from designing and showcasing Easter bonnets to cheering on the unit staff for the egg and spoon race! Residents also tucked in to a delicious Easter meal of a roast dinner prepared by the home’s head chef, Paul.