Activities at Thistle Hill Care Home
Our activities team are great at building the activities programme around the likes and interests of the people we care for. Ensuring that our social events offer fun and adventure is part of the ethos of our home; it’s important that those we support can enjoy an active and social lifestyle. Of course, there will always be those who prefer peace and quiet, and in these instances, a cup of tea and a chat are always welcomed.
Thistle Hill Life Enrichment Team
Ursula and Katie make up our fantastic Activities Team here at Thistle Hill.
They develop and oversee an active living programme for each resident, which encourages mobility, social contact, independence and fun. Each and every person can thrive and live to their full potential with no day ever being the same. They bring great enthusiasm and spark to the home and have one passion, which is to deliver an amazing and vibrant activities programme to cater to all tastes and abilities.
Read our brochure 'Life-enriching activities' for more information about life in our care homes.
Read our brochure
Activities and Events Partnerships
As part of our bespoke life-enrichment programmes, we host a number of live virtual events in the home on a regular basis through a number of partnerships with places of interest and world class performance companies
Life at Thistle Hill Care Home
Blenheim Palace gardens
We had a lovely time exploring the amazing gardens of Blenheim Palace through a virtual talk, hosted by the Historian - Antonia Keaney.
We enjoyed a virtual look at how the gardens at Blenheim have developed over the past 300 years - from the formality of Henry Wise through to the ‘natural’ landscape created by Capability Brown and beyond.
Everyone was very impressed by the many jewels hidden within the 150 acres of beautiful gardens.
Dartmoor Zoo
We were able to virtually dive into the impressive wildlife of Dartmoor Zoo.
We explored its grounds and learnt about the unique history of the park from the zoo’s educational team. The culmination of the tour was the live tiger training demonstration, which was wonderful to see and enjoyed by all.
Our residents were delighted to see amazing photos and short videos of the animals and take a peek inside their home.
Icelandic Puffin Sanctuary virtual visit
We took a wonderful virtual trip to Iceland’s Puffin Rescue Centre at the Beluga Whale Sanctuary.
We were able to virtually meet some of the rescued Atlantic Puffins and to learn interesting facts about their care and unique lives. We took a peek into their lives in the wild, the Puffling rescue program in the Westman Islands, and how SEA LIFE Trust Beluga Whale Sanctuary’s team takes care of these charismatic little birds each day.
It was a very exciting experience, enjoyed by all.
Blenheim Palace WW2 virtual talk
Ahead of Armed Forces Day, we were transported back in time for a World War II themed talk and tour of Blenheim Palace, hosted by Antonia Keaney, the Palace’s social historian and author.
Entitled ‘Evacuees and Espionage,’ Antonia’s wartime themed talk focused on how the Marlborough family, estate staff and the Palace itself played a full and energetic part in the war effort.
The talk and tour told the story of how the Palace prepared for the worst, survived the onslaught of 400 boys being evacuated to Blenheim and kept the secrets of MI5.
It was a lovely experience, enjoyed by all.
Armed Forces Day
Residents and staff at the Thistle Hill Care Centre in Knaresborough paid their respects to soldiers past and present on this past Armed Forces Day on Saturday 29 June 2019.
Armed Forces Day is a chance to show support for the men and women who make up the Armed Forces community: from currently serving troops to Service families, veterans and cadets. This year the Thistle Hill Care Centre marked the occasion with a summer BBQ and entertainment featuring our first singer at the home in sixteen months. Which brought so much joy to our residents.
Singer Rochelle entertained our residents with a collection of hits from the 40s, 50s and 60s. With classics ranging from Vera Lynn to Doris Day and Elvis Presley.
Our residents danced the afternoon away.
International Picnic Day
For International Picnic Day, The Thistle Hill Care centre and our residents were thrilled to welcome back the children from the red kite nursery, to join us for a ‘teddy bears picnic’
Upon arrival the children were treated to cones of ice creams, before enjoying an afternoon of picnic fun and games, including hop scotch and hook a duck.
Seeing the children again really brought a smile to the faces of our residents.
Upcoming events
Countdown to Christmas
Counting down to Christmas with a fun filled month ahead and we extend a warm invitation for you to join us - all welcome. Merry Christmas!
Could you be a Volunteer?
Do you have any spare time? Could you make a difference? For more information on Volunteering we would love to hear from you.
Carers Cafe - Last Tuesday of the month
Come along and make new friends, share experiences at our month Carers Cafe - last Tuesday of the month from 11.00 am. All welcome.
Emergency Services - Take a break on us!
Calling all emergency services personnel, come and take a break on us - enjoy a warm welcome, refreshing drink and a slice of cake!
