Activities at The Cedars Bourne Care Home

Thank you to everyone who came to our Meet the Manager event this month. It was wonderful to meet so many new people and to demonstrate what makes The Cedars Care Home so special.

Our residents loved having another wonderful concert from local vocalist Alan Jackson, who entertained us with a variety of Songs from 'Fly Me to the Moon' to a song-a-long 'Daisy Daisy' and foot-tapping Elvis jams. Ivan said that he 'was very good' and he enjoyed singing along to the music.

We love afternoons with the wonderful children from Busy Bee Pre-School and Day Nursery. We have played a variety of parachute and ball games with a large group of residents in the garden lounge, sing, craft and run around the garden this year. It was sad to say goodbye to them as they move onto primary school at their last visit with us, and wish them well. We look forward to seeing a new group of children in September. Thank you Busy Bees for such wonderful fun!

There is nothing like a picnic by the lake. Ferry Meadows is such a beautiful area, and our residents love visiting the wide variety of wildlife here- we had fun spotting magpies, swans, rabbits, crows and squirrels on our walk. Then we settled by the lake for a picnic, freshly prepared by our home chef of sandwiches, sausage rolls and delicious home baked cakes. Dianne Newman, close friend of our resident said that it was a “Lovely picnic at Ferry meadows. Thanks to the special ladies for making caring fun.”

Sarah Longstaff has been crowned Care Practitioner of the Year for the North East - North Division in the Barchester Care Awards 2024 and is through to the national round of judging.

The Barchester Care Awards celebrate the staff who go the extra mile for the benefit of the 13,000 residents living in Barchester’s 261 care homes and private hospitals across the country. Categories range from ‘Registered Nurse of the Year’ and ‘Carer of the Year’ to ‘Dementia Care Champion’ and ‘Activities Coordinator of the Year’.

The Cedars were thrilled to receive another visit from therapy horse Darwin and his owner Brenda from Comfort Horse Therapy on Thursday. The miniature horse, just 34 inches tall, is a 7 year old falabella, who visited a very excited group of residents and visitors in the lounge before travelling the home to visit residents in their rooms. He even went up in the lift!

Residents were able to talk to, stroke and groom the horse, who was on his best behaviour throughout the 90 minute visit. He even wore beautiful shoes to keep the floor clean.

Residents and guests enjoyed an afternoon of grins with a live orchestral concert performance that took place at the home. Two local groups; Treble Clef and the Grace Notes and 2nd Time Around; came together for their second ever concert to perform a selection of summertime sounds including theme tunes from the movies, old favourites and folk songs in the home’s conservatory.

Residents hummed along with tunes that they knew and clapped along as the band performed their finale song from a 1970s movie: Charlie’s Girl.  Afterwards tea and cake were enjoyed by both performers and residents as musical tastes were compared and discussed.