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
98 Years Young!
The Upton Bay Community is absolutely thrilled to wish our wonderful Ray a very happy 98th birthday!
Ray brings endless life and soul to our Home, a delight to know and a true friend to our residents.
Ray celebrated in style with a dinner time keyboard concert courtesy of talented musician Mark, to accompany a gorgeous ‘cheese and wine’ evening. And not to mention a stunning birthday cake!
Throughout his life, Ray has always been a keen piano player, having even entrained in jazz clubs himself back in the day. Mark kindly offered Ray the stage, as he wowed us all with note perfect renditions of his favourite numbers which we all sang along to! And not a sheet of music in sight!
90 Years Young!
For some, hitting mile-stone birthdays is something kept hush hush. But not for our very own Mary, who insisted the world knew about hitting number 90.
Born in 1932, Mary tells the tales of a thousand lives; her stories full of names, places and memories so fondly cherished.
Mary was thrilled to be celebrating such a special day surrounded by her friends at the home.
“We must write to the papers to tell them: everyone needs to hear of my birthday,” said Mary on the day, all too happy to pose proudly with her handmade birthday cake from our Chefs, and showered with gifts, cards and flowers from friends and family sent from all over the country.
We are never too old to open a present, or be the centre of attention for a day!
Here comes the Sun...
Upton Bay is perfectly situated on the doorstop of the beautiful Upton Lake, with stunning views across to the Isle of Purbeck from our first floor.
This week, our residents have been making the most of the gorgeous crisp mornings - who knew January skies could be so blue?!
Thank Cod It’s Fry-Day!
Our residents and team tucked in to a British seaside classic for their lunches, enjoying a huge order of traditional fish and chips from our local chip shop.
Upton Bay placed a whopping order of over 40 portions of fish and chips from All-Ways Fryday, who so kindly delivered our much anticipated meal!
Residents reminisced over old-school chip butties and deep fried cod, with lashings of curry sauce and mushy peas.
David, resident, said, “It took me back to my childhood; we’d go to the chippy after school asking for the scraps – the best bit if you ask me!”
Hello 2022!
Residents at Upton Bay have hit the New Year in full swing this week!
Kicking off 2022 with a New Year’s Party Celebration, 3 course dinner, and bubbly all round, ladies and gents tuned in live on telly to marvel at the many firework displays from around the globe, as well as those right above in Poole.
Dancing ensued as usual, to a mix of Motown, Jazz, and 80’s pop!
Barchester’s Big Quiz!
No better way to end the year than a huge ‘pub quiz’, and this one spanned 74 other homes, and over 2,500 keen competitors!!
Residents at Upton Bay brushed up on their general knowledge, and took the quiz by storm with what looked like a winning streak of right answers. From geography to fashion, pop culture to football, we had an expert in nearly every field on our team!
But time penalties meant it wasn’t our lucky day, as Upton Bay finished 9th place overall.
Nonetheless, we celebrated in style with an array of party props to cheer everyone on!
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
