This week residents at Hill House have engaged in a variety of activities and events as we celebrate winter and our love for birds, from learning about birds out and about in our gardens to playing bird bingo and taking on winter themed brain training we have loved trying new and exciting activities across the home.
Monday morning, we loved to have our four-legged friends visit across the home.
Our Gardenview lounges loved a group whiteboard game with everyone joining in playing along answering the A to Z name game. These games enhance memory formation and help exercise cognitive skills. A lot of games also tend to be low-stress and can be calming, helping lower blood pressure.
A very special lady celebrated a very special birthday in the day lounge, she enjoyed a sing-a-long after a Happy Birthday and a slice of cake or two.
Some friendly competition had everyone concentrating hard to get the darts inside the circles.
Tuesday, we started our day with a group giant jigsaw puzzle, working together while engaging in chitchat the morning flew by. Others painted stunning water colour greeting cards and relaxed while having a manicure and their nails painted.
Our Gardenview lounge took on a bird themed picture quiz, which sparked many conversations about birds and migrating for winter.
That afternoon we were treated to stunning floral bouquets across the home. Our interactive flower cart rolled throughout the home with soft music playing, spreading cheer and joy with these stunning bunches.
Spending time 1to1 arranging their flowers brought smiles to everyone’s faces.
Wednesday in our Gardenview lounge we listened to music from the 1960 & 70’s while having a manicure, hand massage and our nails painted.
Our bird themed quiz was played in two of our lounges, we looked at pictures trying to guess the birds before hearing facts about the bird and their habitats,
Our ladies enjoyed our Knitter Natter club rolling wool balls or taking part in the activity of knitting it was inviting and engaging for everyone.
Bird themed Bingo hosted by our lovely lady in the Gardenview lounge calling out the birds followed by facts about the birds that she knew. Everyone loved playing along ticking the boxes as they were called out before shouting bingo for a line and full house.
Followed by a little dance and a sing-a-long, the perfect way to end the afternoon.
Thursday our Omi interactive projected a target onto the lounge floor allowing us to try our hand at the fun winter sport of curling, this brought us such laughter as well as getting us up and moving with light exercise.
Tea tasting in the day lounge, we enjoyed sharing stories while sipping different varieties of teas.
That afternoon, we visited our inhouse hairdresser for a good old chat and a well deserved pampering.
Playing dominoes with a cup of coffee and a nice slice of cake a lovely relaxing afternoon.
Brain training games in the day lounge. Completing puzzles, challenges, and word games help improve memory, concentration, and reaction time.
A fun game of skittles on Friday, knocking down skittles in the race to get the high score. Bowling is a game that the residents would have enjoyed in their youth so playing encourages them to reminisce on days gone by.
As part of winter week what a perfect way to warm up on these cold crisp afternoons, whipping up a light and fluffy treacle sponge cake.
The best part of any baking activity is tasting our hot treacle sponge with cream.
Saturday morning, we took on the challenge of floor trivial pursuit in the day lounge. A fun game trying to answer one of each category to be the first to complete the game by answering a question for each correctly.
In our Gardenview lounge we explored the fantastic sounds of the birds in our new bird books that were donated, we reminisced about being in the hills of Scotland with our Fathers bird watching or sat in the local park hearing the birds around us.
In our other Gardenview lounge we made bird feeders by mixing up and forming suet patties as part of our winter week. We really wanted to ensure that the birds flying around our gardens are well fed.
That afternoon our incredible interactive cart was out and about across the home, offering Italian hot chocolates. Italian hot chocolate is dense and creamy, nothing says winter in Italy like a rich cup of “cioccolata calda”, it proved so popular a second batch was lovingly made by our remarkable activities team.
We described the hot chocolate as Heavenly, delicious, and perfect; we will be sure to host an Italian hot chocolate interactive cart again very soon.
Sunday morning we watched church services streamed onto our TV screens across the home, in our Gardenview lounge we played along and sung hymns using the keyboard and other instruments.
Others read the daily papers and we chatted about the baking articles in the paper and what cakes we love to bake. As well as a lively debate about Prince Harry, and our views on the situation it was very insightful listening to everyone’s point of view.
That afternoon, we enjoyed swipe and splat games on the Omi interactive.
