Activities at Woodland View Care Home
Activities at Woodland View
Woodland View is passionately committed to providing residents with a varied choice of entertainment, social, health and well being, craft and relaxation based activities.
Activities will all be meaningful and based on the likes of residents and will continue to evolve depending on our residents. The activities provided will also include involvement from other local community based organisations and are open to all residents, family and friends of residents. Our activities will be facilitated by staff from all departments as well as invited guests. Families are also enthusiastically encouraged to play a part in activities when possible.
There will always be at least one person at every activity who has been DBS checked to ensure the safeguarding of our residents. The dignity of our residents and our respect for them is at the centre of everything we do, each and every day.
We are always reviewing and changing our schedule of activities to be a centre of excellence and actively invite feedback and suggestions for new and meaningful activities and ideas.
Petra Hardman
Hi my name is Petra and I'm the Activities Coordinator here at Woodland View. I love seeing the difference that activities can make to each individual, and finding out what interests they have and ensure I incorporate that into our activities here.
I love music and drama coming from a musical background as a singer all over the country, music is important to me and I feel it makes such a difference to everyone, it evokes memories, and creates happiness. I also love to boost residents self esteem by creating pampering sessions and having one to one time to relax and reminisce.
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 Woodland View Care Home
Into the Woods
Memory Lane residents at Woodland View Care Home enjoyed a wonderful afternoon walking through High Woods Country Park on Thursday, taking in the wildlife and all the different flora and fauna.
The bird songs, the smells, even the breeze through the trees had a visible impact on the ladies and gentlemen as they walked, smiled, laughed and talked together.
Woodland View is very fortunate to have the country park just a few minutes walk from the doors of the care home, but it also benefits from having its own themed gardens. Residents are actively encouraged to be involved in the gardens, even if it’s a hands-off sit, look and enjoy approach.
Residents at Woodland View Care Home awoke to a surprising sight this morning!
They asked if there had been a big storm overnight; people were trying to figure out what a boat wreck was doing in one of the gardens as Colchester is a few miles away from the coast.
What they didn't know is that a couple of the team had been out in the minibus that morning to collect the remains of an old rowing boat that was kindly donated to help decorate one of the themed gardens at Woodland View. The boat will have plants added in the centre soon for a splash of colour.
So far, along with the rowing boat in this beach themed garden, is a working miniature lighthouse and a resident pelican! This is just one of a number of themed areas being worked on around the home, with this particular garden already proving to be a big hit.
A New Winning Smile
Woodland View is celebrating as it welcomed a great new addition to its team this week.
April Smith joined the admin team as a new receptionist and has already made her mark with colleagues and residents.
In her first week, April has already become well known to everyone, chatting and helping others with everything she can. With her cheerful, efficient and approachable personality - nothing has been too much trouble.
We are certain April will thoroughly enjoy working at Woodland View and play a major part in the home's continuing success.
Dementia Awareness Week - A Week in Summary
15th – 21st May was Dementia Awareness Week and Woodland View had a number of events which embodied the spirit of the campaign.
We had a visit and performance from 17 members of ‘The Orwell Singers’, a choir that one of the residents living with dementia was a long-serving member of.
In our main reception/coffee lounge area, we have a TV displaying the daily activities and special upcoming events, which is easy for residents and visitors to see. For Dementia Awareness Week, we added 10 information/facts pages, highlighting aspects of dementia in its various forms. It was very satisfying to have visitors stop and read the details – it worked!
Tessa Collitt visited for an afternoon session and sang songs for the Memory Lane community, which had many residents singing along - and some dancing. A beautiful voice and a wide range of songs from Tessa always makes her visits a popular event.
On the final day, we were very honoured to have an accomplished guitarist, known around the world in jazz circles, come to perform for the residents in support of Dementia Awareness week. Antonio Forcione was in the area to give a concert in the evening at a local jazz club, and was delighted to be invited to visit the home. Antonio spent time playing his guitar and then talking with residents after his performance. Antonio really enjoyed his visit and also indicated an interest in returning at some point in the future!
All in all, it was a very successful week for Woodland View and, most importantly, it was enjoyed by both residents and visitors alike.
Wimbledon, anyone?
As spring finally gets underway, resident, Sylvia Davies, and Activities Coordinator, Kevin Riley, take advantage of the sunshine to get some practice in on court. The ball speeds faster than the blink of the eye… and actually a lot faster than those holding the rackets.
Whilst this is great exercise as a regular weekly activity (which is normally indoors), and enjoyed by a number of residents, including those who play in wheelchairs, anyone watching will already know that these two Wimbledon wannabes actually have more in common with Great Uncle Bulgaria and Madame Cholet than with Andy Murray and Billie Jean King!
As we all know, it’s not about the winning, it’s about the participating and strawberries and cream. Just as well, eh?!
Antonio Forcione Visits Woodland View
As part of our National Dementia Awareness Week, Woodland View Care Home received an appearance from a very special guest.
Multi-award winning, world class guitarist Antonio Forcione accepted the invitation to come and perform to residents on Friday 20th May in support of Dementia Awareness Week, prior to a concert he would be holding in the area that evening.
Paul McCartney himself is quoted as saying that Antonio has "a beautiful touch" to his guitar playing.
Antonio played a selection of tunes - a mix of his own beautiful compositions, in addition to his versions of tunes that residents would be more familiar with.
Following his performance, Antonio also took time to talk with residents, discussing their life and their own music experiences. A donation is also being made to Dementia UK in recognition of Antonio’s support. Antonio really enjoyed the afternoon with residents and said that he'd be happy to visit Woodland View again.
Should you wish to find out more about Antonio and his music, please visit www.antonioforcione.com
