Hill House have spent the week exploring the British tradition of baking and nutritious food. Residents played food themed games and tucked into freshly baked delights, cooked hot toasted sandwiches.
Alongside all the imaginative fun themed activities we still celebrate the core activities these include exercises, spiritual expression, and crafting.
Monday morning, we crafted a stunning fruit bowl from our therapeutic colouring images, we used paints, pencils and crayons to create different colours and textures on our fruits of the garden view lounges.
Others in our day lounge played a picture and word matching game where they worked both independently or as a small group to match all the images to their words. Brain games and puzzles serve as mental exercise that reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive decline. Brain exercises provide a simple way to improve your memory and problem-solving skills.
That afternoon our cooking club gathered in the day lounge where we made toasted sandwiches, we cut, buttered and choose our fillings ready for toasting. This activity filled the room with yummy scents and sparked conversations of old sandwich presses and how we remembered the 1970’s being the boom of the toasted press / sandwich press.
We played the fruit matching game in garden view lounge, while others opted for an afternoon of garden walks and knitting.
Surrounded by friends and staff this lovely lady was overcome with joy as we sang happy birthday and showered her with cards and gifts from her loved ones.
Tuesday morning exercises in the day lounge, saw us jigging and stretching to music. Regular physical activity decreases stress, anxiety, and depression, which are contributing factors to many illnesses, such as neuropsychiatric and sleeping disorders.
What an incredible morning cruising up and down the Basingstoke canal on Wednesday morning. The boat was fantastic, and we loved having tea on the canal, something we look forward to doing more often.
Being out on the water and in the fresh air provides relaxation, promotes socialising and boosts our happy endorphins.
Rev Tara visited Wednesday morning for our monthly service, a time for reflection and prayer.
An afternoon of scrabble for a group of us in the day lounge, this game stimulates the mind. Strengthening our cognitive skills, encouraging everything from logic and focus to memory processing.
Our bakery cart hit the sweet spot as it rolled around the home playing jolly music and serving cakes and pastries.
Snacking can help ensure adequate nutrients in the day, especially if appetite is low.
While balanced nutrition is important, nutrients worth baring high attention in a senior diet include protein, fibre, omega-3 fatty acids, calcium, potassium, vitamins D and B12. Consuming the foods that contain such nutrients can limit the risk of nutritional deficiencies and optimize health.
Thursday morning, our forestry club gathered across two lounges and arranged this week’s stunning flowers.
Others opted for brain training activities and a trip to the hairdresser.
That afternoon we hosted a nations favourite cheese and wine event, which showcased some of Britain’s best cheese along with some French classics. This was the perfect opportunity to meet up with old friends and make new ones, at this social afternoon activity.
We were also delighted to celebrate our fantastic kitchen team, on national chef’s day.
Friday morning, a small group of us played shopping bingo in the garden view lounges. This sparked many conversations about doing the food shop. We also spent time engaging in therapeutic activities like colouring. Colouring has the ability to relax the fear centre of your brain, the amygdala.
The perfect birthday celebrations surround by friends of the home as everyone wished this special lady a very happy birthday.
Saturday morning was the perfect time to listen to songs from musicals on our Alexa and take on jigsaw and shape puzzles.
We played card games and painted cones ready for a Halloween themed game for next week.
That afternoon, we picked our favourite musical from the collection and sat happily watching the sound of music, singing along to all our favourite parts.
We loved our relaxation afternoon with doll therapy and time doing our hair and makeup at the rummage dresser on garden view, “there’s no better feeling than having your lipstick on and hair done”.
Sunday morning, our weekly church service was streamed throughout the morning on different devices to suit everyone’s needs.
In our garden view lounge, we played dress up with our sensory dolls, we even sewed our knitting squares into a new pillow for the twins. We shared stories of our kids growing up and of our grandchildren.
Sunday afternoon, we had a fantastic time playing basketball in our garden view lounge, this was followed by chair exercises and stretches leading to fantastic singing and dancing.
Chair exercises are an excellent way to build strength and improve flexibility without putting too much strain on your body. Chair exercises also improve senior mobility by increasing blood flow and lubricating your joints.
Alternatively, we had an afternoon of needle work as we sewed bookmarks and mini pin cushions.
Needlework helps keep your focus sharp by improving coordination between your hands and mind, keeping you strong and focused.
