Activities at Thistle Hill Care Home

.Residents and staff at Thistle hill care home in Knaresborough were at the ready for Wimbledon with delicious strawberries and cream, which was due to run from 29th June - 12th July.

Tennis fans at Thistle Hill were delighted by this and were able to enjoy the event from the comfort of their own armchair. Residents and staff got together to watch the matches, and also celebrated by playing balloon tennis before proceeding onto having a themed party with food, music, decoration and afternoon tea with a choice of scones or strawberry and cream.

At Thistle Hill there was jokes and fun a plenty as memory lane laughed in the month of July by celebrating ‘International Joke Day’. Our residents were welcomed into a made up comedy club environment, with photos laid out showing comedians of yesteryear for some easy reminiscing.

The residents were eased in to a morning of hilarity by watching classic sketches by the fabulous greats, Norman Wisdom and Sid James.  After this our residents were treated to a specially recorded stand up performance by Farnham resident Martin Askew.

At our coffee mornings, Martin’s humour always draws laughs a plenty and the residents of memory lane were in stitches watching his performance on the big screen. It was certainly the highlight of a colourful morning.

Residents from the Thistle Hill got creative during lockdown and took part in a national virtual race by drawing and writing signs of support to give local runners encouragement and a smile.

The Endure24 event which under normal circumstances would have taken place at Wasing Park in Reading and Bramham Park in Leeds would see thousands of runners take part in a 24 hour relay, that had to be cancelled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.  However race organisers decided to take the race virtual and raise money for charities helping to battle the pandemic.

Currently the just giving page has raised over eighteen thousands pounds for charity.  This saw thousands of runners in their home towns run for 24 hours solo, or in teams of two, four, six and eight as part of the virtual relay.

Mandy Scott, General Manager, said: “The residents wanted to take part in the event to do their bit in showing support for local runners including our activities coordinator Mark who was taking part. Our residents enjoyed themselves and did an amazing job and did us all proud”

Residents at Thistle Hill enjoyed a pub themed afternoon in celebration of Father’s Day.   This year, due to the current situation, family and friends joined in the celebrations by being able to visit their loved ones in the gardens of Thistle Hill, adhering to social distancing.

Staff and residents enjoyed an afternoon of music and drink in a pub themed setting. A special traditional homemade lunch of roast beef, Yorkshire puddings and all the trimmings was prepared by the home’s chef.

National Cupcake Day has been a real treat at Thistle Hill where sweet-toothed staff and residents got out their aprons and mixing bowls to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Society.    The day, organised by the Alzheimer’s Society, encourages groups and individuals to host a cupcake day to raise money for the charity, where funds will be put towards finding the cure for dementia. Dedicated Cupcakers have raised £2.7 million since 2016, and this year the charity hopes to raise even more to continue to support those affected by dementia.

Residents and staff at Thistle Hill ate their fill and then some at The Big Lunch – an initiative that aims to get as many neighbours together for lunch as possible. With lock-down in place and unable to invite visitors to the home, they created their very own virtual lunch party and welcomed relatives to join them via Skype during the course of the day.  

Residents and staff got together in the home for an all day party with food, music and decorations. Everyone joined the organised lunch in the welcoming environment that is the home's Memory Lane balcony lounge. This is a hub of the home and was integral to engaging everyone in this simple act of friendship, fun and food.