Activities at Upton Bay Care Home
Activities are an integral part of life at our care home. We want to ensure that the people we support have as much fun as possible during their time with us, so it’s important that our activities programme is created with the interests of residents in mind. Our skilled Activities Coordinators bring a certain uniqueness to the home that can’t be found anywhere else, and which is reflected in the activities they organise.
Karen Grant
I first worked in the care sector in 2010, starting in domiciliary care and progressing to Care Coordinator. I have since gained a wealth of experience in dedicated dementia and residential activities, working as a peripatetic activities coordinator in 16 out of 20 homes within a group, and then in 2018, I was part of a team that commissioned a new luxury care home, where I was an Activities Team Leader.
I enjoy making wishes come true for residents: in February 2015, I organised my first wedding in a care home. The lady resident who was living with dementia was unable to travel to Hertfordshire for her granddaughters wedding, so I brought the wedding to her. I organised a wedding blessing at the home; we had a vicar, a choir, all of the bridal party, the flowers, a buffet, a wedding cake, champagne—the full works.
In 2017, I organised a smaller wedding in the garden, and this was a special wish for a gentleman resident to see his granddaughter married. Organising these special moments gives me a lot of pleasure, knowing I have made them feel special and to give families that happiness and see them smile.
I cannot wait to welcome our residents into their wonderful new home and help to bring smiles, joy and laughter to each day.
Karen is also one of our dementia champions
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 Upton Bay Care Home
One for the Money, Two for the Show!
With all the recent buzz around the release of the new Elvis biopic, we brought a taste of The King to Upton Bay!
The suave Steve Linn serenaded our ladies with the best rock n' roll hits of the 60's, as we boogied the afternoon away to his enigmatic as-ever musical showmanship.
Swooning at the sides of the stage, Evelyn and Joan were swept off their feet to a rendition of Devil in Disguise, which sent pulses soaring!
The mind is like a seed... if you water it, it will grow!
Upton Bay's garden balcony is becoming quite the place to enjoy a sunny afternoon! Thanks to the green thumbs of the gardening club this weekend, our 'living wall' has come to life! Residents placed in each pocket a different flowering sprig, tenderly planting and watering til all 72 pouches we filled! We look forward to nurturing the wall, until they are big enough to repot! Keeping minds active and hands busy is what we do at Upton Bay, encouraging our ladies and gents to get involved with day to day tasks that keep their home looking lovely all year round.
Music makes the world go round!
An evening music concert was on the agenda for this week, thanks to the tuneful talents of musician Mark Bussell! Kicking off with some songs from his classical repertoire, we moved on to a game of 'guess the theme tune', with Celine Dion's My Heart Will Go On, stumping the crowd! And finally a boogie to an Abba hit or two, to top off the evening. Thanks to our family and friends who joined us for the evening!
Smooches for this Pooch!
“Ain’t nothing but a Hound Dog” Said Elvis about our lovely Milo! With a cooler air descending on sunny Poole, our residents took the opportunity to enjoy our pretty outdoors with Home Pooch, Milo the Labradoodle! Animal Therapy is backed by countless professionals and leading researchers within elderly and dementia care, with proven benefits of calming anxiety, boosting serotonin levels in the brain, and even aiding in improved speech for those with communication difficulties. But most of all? Because he’s so darn cute!
That Festival Fever!
This week Upton Bay threw a garden get together in the form of an evening music festival! Headlining the main stage? For one night only, Frayed Strings!
The Ukulele octet delighted the crowd with a night of upbeat tunes and sing-a-long favourites, whilst we danced, clapped, and tapped our feet to the music!
With G&T’s in hand and Pimms by the pint, our community certainly made the most of a long hot summers evening!
“The ukuleles we’re totally different-perfect for summer!” Said David
With their pro set up on stage, and even giving lyric sheets out to the audience, the ladies and gents of Frayed Strings truly performed as though it were Glastonbury itself! A huge thank you for sharing your talents with us at Upton Bay!
Onwards to the Dairy!
With a little cloud cover today, we ventured out into the nearby countryside for a scenic drive through Dorset's ancient Badbury Rings, ending at the lovely Pamphill Dairy! Ice creams all round for these youngsters, who excited in the huge menu of homemade ice cream flavours to choose from. Nothing beats a natter with friends in a sunny beer garden, and our lovely Graham spread a little 'luck of the Irish' to the Wimborne Folk!
Upcoming events
Knit and Knatter - weekly group
Open to the community. This fun, social group meet every Thursday 10.30-12.00 to knit and chat. Refreshments included
Christmas Fair - Saturday 7th December
Join us for a fun, Christmas event with a variety of stalls including candles, cards, gifts for all your family and friends. Join santa in his grotto
