This week residents have spent the week exploring Ireland and St Patricks day traditions from games to crafts and not forgetting the luxury of an Irish coffee. Later in the week we celebrated the very special ‘Ladies in our Life’ with a tea party, live music surrounded by our daughters, sisters, nieces, mothers, nans, grannies and grandchildren.
Monday morning, our garden view lounge loved playing a variety of Irish themed games starting with lucky Irish bean bag toss, playing together but working independently to beat the score from our previous turn.
In the other lounge we gathered to take on a group brain training white board game, naming things we eat that are green. Exercising the mind – brain games stimulate different brain memory functions in seniors, such as executive function and processing speed, giving a feeling of control. Brain exercises can help seniors get and maintain a positive outlook.
Followed by an activity of daily life where we pruned and watered the house plants in the lounge.
Our day lounge, morning crafters gathered to decorate clovers, Saint Patrick used shamrocks, a-k-a three-leaf clovers, to teach youngsters about the Holy Trinity.
That afternoon, our music therapist Laura was in the home offering one-to-one sessions as well as small group sessions.
Music reaches even the ‘hardest-to-reach’ residents, creating small moments of connection through rhythm, melody and improvised or familiar songs.
Shove ha’penny saw us attempt to push coins, so they land between the horizontal lines (beds). This old-fashioned pub game allows us to play in teams and compete against one another.
Tuesday morning, we helped clear and tidy the lounge after we found that a few of our jigsaw puzzles had pieces missing, we set out to find the pieces and complete the puzzles so we could enjoy them in the future.
Others engaged in sport games as part of a varied exercise programme.
Our day lounge took on an Irish famous faces quiz.
That afternoon, we wheeled our Irish coffee cart around the home visiting all the lounges and rooms with our very own “wee leprechauns.”
We made stunning Mother’s Day teacup flower arrangements in our garden view lounge, using floral oasis and flower picks we hand made these teacups ahead of our Mother’s Day celebrations.
While arranging these flowers we sat chatting about flower arranging at church, gardening and other Mother’s Day traditions over the years.
Wednesday morning, Tinkerbelle our pets as therapy dog was visiting our garden view lounges. Tinkerbelle spent the morning sussing out who offers the best hugs and kisses.
We loved having her around the lounges, she snuggled up and fell asleep on one or two laps, her calm nature helps residents feel comfortable and at ease and they want her to be the lounge dog every day, working out a walking schedule between them!
These incredible ladies spend time caring for their babies, starting many conversations about our children, we sing lullabies and nursery rhymes together bringing joy to them, as well as those around them who just can’t help but feel the love and joy they bring to our garden view lounge at Hill House.
Lifelike dolls or soft toy animals can have great benefits for some people with dementia. Dolls/ Babies can promote feelings of relaxation and pleasure and are considered a form of therapy – not merely ‘playing’ with a toy. Holding or just being with a doll or soft toy animal, such as a cat or dog, can be particularly helpful for people who are withdrawn, restless, distressed or anxious, improving their wellbeing and ability to communicate.
We also took time in the morning to paint and decorate shamrocks.
In the day lounge Rev Tara hosted our monthly church service with help from our resident pianist.
Across Hill House we boarded the plane to Ireland with our creative armchair travel experience. Boarding passes in hand everyone settled in for an immersive take off experience before enjoying in flight drinks.
The main event of this flight was a good old fashioned Irish sing-a-long, with so many popular Irish songs. Everyone sung, danced or played along. The inflight entertainment on offer was a video of the famous ‘River dance’. The video sparked conversations about Irish dancing, and we even got up and tried it ourselves.
Thursday morning, our cooking club assembled to watch a live cooking soda bread demonstration in the day lounge.
Our garden view lounge loved taking on Irish themed word games and Irish countryside spot the difference.
In our day lounges, we continued with our teacup floral arrangements these were turned into stunning table centre pieces.
Flowers stimulate the senses of smell, sight and touch and in doing so can trigger memories, encourage reminiscing and reduce feelings of stress and anxiety.
Shove ha ‘penny was thoroughly enjoyed in our garden view lounges.
Friday afternoon, we hosted our Irish sing-a-long party with a live singer and lots audience participation.
Singing provides many benefits for the elderly. Ongoing research has shown that regular singing can lift your spirits, increase your immunity and provide a workout for your brain and your lungs.
Saturday morning, we took on a Mother’s day digital quiz, as we left the St Patricks day celebration’s behind and celebrated a weekend based around ‘ the ladies in our life’.
Trivia acts as a workout for the frontal cortex, and like any workout, it strengthens that part of the brain and keeps the mind sharp.
An incredible day at Hill House today for our celebration of the ‘ladies in our life’. We spent the afternoon with family and friends as we celebrated mum’s, nans, aunties, great great grannies, new fur mums, new mums and of course the amazing friendships between all the ladies in the home.
With live piano serenading our guests and a scrumptious afternoon tea spread. Everyone had a wonderful afternoon and raised a glass of “Mumosa” to the all the ‘ladies in our life’ past and present.
