Activities at Werrington Lodge Care Home

Sometimes it’s nice for us to have a calming afternoon where we sit and just colour over a nice cuppa, whilst listening to some background music, having a chat and a chance for the residents to produce some lovely creations. Sitting with them and watching their wonderful creations appear is a joy and the residents receive a sense of achievement. 

The residents appreciate a peaceful afternoon amongst all the singing and trips out. A calm activity is just the ticket for them. They remember when they used to sit and do a jigsaw or sit and paint or colour. It’s what they used to enjoy, which we encourage them to continue enjoying. It’s what we do.  

Yesterday we had the pleasure of welcoming the Singing Gardener to Werrington Lodge, one of our many wonderful performers who form a rapport with our residents and enjoy visiting us. The residents love anything musical. This session. It was all about the seaside; the sun was shining. Honestly, we could have been anywhere. 

Amanda performed all the songs to do with being at the coast: "Little Stick of Blackpool Rock," "Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot bikini", obviously “Oh I do Like To Be Beside the Seaside”, and “Penny Arcade” to name but a few. The residents loved it, singing and clapping and smiling. That’s why we do what we do, because we care.      

A bit of Razzle dazzle descended on Werrington Lodge this week with theatre and show songs brought to life for our lovely residents. Courtesy of the Northeast Producers, residents really enjoy these talented young ladies coming to entertain us with their enthusiastic and passionate performance. 

Residents enjoy our external entertainers who take time to come in and entertain them. They join in and sing, clap, tap some, even get up and have a jig. It’s lovely to see their faces light up when they recognise the songs. We try to have at least four external entertainers a month, as well as trips out and at least 3 activities a day.  

We love having this event here at Werrington Lodge, Michelle’s Animal Therapy, where the residents get to have cuddles with kittens, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, a chicken and a tortoise 12 animals visited us today. Staff also took the animals around the rooms for bed bound residents to be included in what is going on in the home around them, they really get a lot of enjoyment out of it also giving staff chance to have a cuddle or 2.

Michelle has been bringing her animals here to see us for at least 3 years that we know of and can see this being for many more years to come. 

A very popular activity residents have quite often grown up with animal/s of various kinds and this is a reminiscing activity where the residents will tell us all about the animals they have had; which is really lovely to hear and glad that activities bring the residents such joy, which is why we do what we do. 

In light of it being English Wine week 21st – 29th June we held a Cheese and Wine evening at the home inviting members of the community who have been involved in projects we have under taken here at the home. It was a really successful evening, good networking and contacts were made, some we will be looking forward to making use of in these contacts in the future. 
We also had a few family members join us who also enjoyed talking to our guests from the community.

There was a variety of English wines and a lovely spread of different cheeses and nibbles laid on by our talented Kitchen Staff that our guests enjoyed.

The conversation and wine flowed throughout the evening and a very good evening was had by all. Thank you to all who came making it a lovely and worthwhile evening. 

On Friday 27th June to celebrate Armed Forces Day we were invited to the Veterans Breakfast Meeting at the WestRaven Community Café run the last Friday of the month. Residents loved it chatting to ex veterans they were able to reminisce of their times that they too served.

We were given a lovely warm welcome and the breakfast we were served made our eyes pop wow!!! It was good swilled down with a nice mug of tea. The residents ate really well whilst chatting with their new found friends, it was good for them to attend this as it was something they had an interest in and were able to contribute to the conversation making them feel involved in the community. The residents all said they thoroughly enjoyed the trip out, one telling his family the breakfast was beautiful which was fed back.

Thank you to Sharon and Gary who made it possible keep up the good work and we will be back.  

On National Picnic Day thankfully the weather was glorious, so on 17th June together with our sister home, Longueville Court we packed a picnic, the kites and some games and went off to Ferry Meadows with some of our lovely residents. It is good to join up with our sister homes as it is a good social event of the residents who quite often come into contact with each other on various different occasions.

It's lovely for the residents to get out in the fresh air and be part of the outside world again. They love it when people come over to speak to them and especially when they bring their dogs over to say hello, the residents get to have a cuddle which is always a bonus.

We had a lovely packed lunch provided by our kitchen staff, plenty of cold drinks which gave us the energy to fly our kite and also the sun cream imperative on such a day as this, although there was plenty of shade from the trees that the residents made good use of. A lovely day was had by all and the residents would like to do it again please and I bet with all that fresh air they slept well that night.  

We went off to Skegness for the day. The weather was absolutely gorgeous. The journey was smooth, not too many people about, so parking was not a problem. No coats needed, just sun cream and sunglasses. We did it all, all the fun of the fair, walked around the prom, had fish and chips and then ice cream, kissed me quick hats, you name it, we did it. 

I bet everyone slept well that night in all that fresh air, but wow, what a day, the residents were still talking about it the next day. The residents enjoyed it and that’s what it’s all about ….. Watch this space. There will be many more trips out like this.

We here at Werrington Lodge started our celebrations on D-Day with Gary and Sharon bringing their Army Truck down for residents to see and have their photographs taken with it. Residents loved it, as you can see from the photos again, something different and of interest to some of the residents who remember such times. Gary and Sharon hosted a D-Day chat where some of the residents were able to relay tales of their memories of such times, which were interesting to hear.

We then welcomed Matt Brown, who brought his medals to show the residents and told them about what they were and how he got them. He then played a medley of Glen Miller sounds on his trombone and also some songs that we all joined in with from the era, followed by a tea party produced by our lovely kitchen staff and that was D-Day celebrated an overall fun-packed day.

Residents recently enjoyed a pamper session at the home courtesy of the VIP Turkish Barber from Yaxley, who came on Father’s Day to give the gents a pamper session, Sweeney Todd style (well, without the pies). What do you buy your loved one on Father’s Day: socks, pants or smellies? So we thought it would be a different gift to make the men feel good. Followed by a lovely roast dinner courtesy of the Home’s Chef Sharon and her team, and then a Gents' afternoon of pub games Dominoes cards etc.

Nancy Simeon, General Manager at Werrington Lodge Care Home, said: “It’s always a lovely treat to be pampered, and our residents deserve it. We do our best to provide a wide range of activities and entertainment at Werrington Lodge as part of the lifestyle enrichment programme for residents, and this one was our most fashionable fun! Living in a care home doesn’t put a stop to celebrating life, and our engaging activities are designed to be enjoyed by all who want to join in.”

On 3rd June we went to the Peterborough Museum on Priestgate in Peterborough for a cup of coffee and cake. While we were there, we noticed it was the Dr. Who exhibition, so we took the opportunity to have some photos taken with the Tardis. Even the teapot and milk jug on the table were Dr. Who-orientated. 

The residents loved it. Going to the museum for coffee was different in itself, but the exhibition made it even more unusual.

The residents love going out to different places and this trip didn’t disappoint. The staff and other customers there made us all feel very welcome. We will be going again whilst the exhibition is on as Dr Who seems quite popular with residents in the home.

On Tuesday we took a trip out to Hunstanton for the day. The weather was gorgeous with a sea breeze, but no one wanted a paddle. Snacks were had at the prom before a hot cuppa in the Sea Life Centre. 

The residents were reminiscing about when they last came and with whom, which was fascinating to hear and how they thought it had changed.

We then had another stroll further along the prom for some food before our trip home. Thank you to the staff who gave up their days off to make this possible for our residents. It was very much appreciated.

On Monday 19th May. What a way to start a Monday morning!! To celebrate National Firefighters' Day, which was 6th May, we invited Red Watch from Dogsthorpe Fire Station, Peterborough, to join us for breakfast, to show our appreciation for all they do to keep the public safe. 

In turn, they posed for photos with our lovely residents, who thought it was brilliant. We would like to thank the crew for their time and the time they spent with our residents. We look forward to working together in the future. We have some more dates booked in to hold some community dates with them, so watch this space.

On Friday 16th May, we popped out to the local pub, the Harrier in Gunthorpe, for lunch and a pint. Residents definitely enjoy this trip out to the pub where they eat and drink well, which is lovely to see. Maybe a different atmosphere and a sense of normality descends on them as they become part of the community again. 

The residents love it when other customers talk to them. We are always made to feel so welcome by the staff and other customers, so thank you community for making an hour or so for our lovely residents memorable. 

Good Friday gave residents and staff a surprise visit from the Easter Bunny, who went round the home with the treats trolley, giving out some delicious Easter treats. The bunny even surprised some of our younger visitors, with lots of smiles and laughter as everyone enjoyed a hug from the bunny. It was a very hot day, leaving the bunny at the end very weary, so he had a deserved rest in the garden. 

It was lovely to see all the smiley faces, not just from our lovely residents, but also to our deserving hard-working staff who look after our residents.

We all had a lovely afternoon with the Easter Bunny and enjoyed our treats!