December 17, 2020
Activity Program
Theme Days
We have one theme day every month which works with the kitchen and the activity team to provide a special day for our residents. For example, in November 2022 we had a Bonfire Night Firework Display, the kitchen provided food and drinks such as pie and peas and hot chocolates for relatives & residents and all the residents enjoyed an outdoor Firework Display. The activity team worked to provide a sensory indoor Firework Display for residents who were unable to attend and used a variety of different coloured lights & sounds to enable these residents to experience the theme day. This month’s theme day was Scottish Themed for Burn’s Night which the residents enjoyed – the activity team decorated the tables & units with Scottish flags & decorations and the residents enjoyed an afternoon of Scottish themed activities together.
Cooking Classes
We are starting cooking classes with Terry this month for our residents. We will have 1 monthly cooking session/demonstration for our residents to get involved with – the classes are what our residents have asked for, for example. we have Curry Tasting / Making this month which was requested and have scheduled other classes for later in the year such as Mocktail / Smoothie Making & Easter Egg Chocolate Decorating.
Activity Clubs
We have regular activity clubs that the residents can attend too! Most recently the activity staff have hosted karaoke clubs which the residents have loved, but we also have different things for residents to get involved in that change weekly, such as table games clubs, quizzes, arts & crafts, taste Days and more!
The Church of the Nazarene
We have also been working with members of the Church of the Nazarene for a variety of different religious services throughout 2022, for example. A Remembrance Day Service and a Service in memory of Queen Elizabeth II and will continue to do so in 2023.
Yorkshire Dance
In April 2022, I applied on behalf of Aspen Hill Village to get involved in a music and dance programme working with Yorkshire Dance. Many different care homes all over Yorkshire applied to get involved in the programme and only 2 care homes would be successful. We were shortlisted by May, visited / interviewed in June to determine why we would like to get involved in the programme and informed that we had been successful by mid-June and would be given the opportunity to get involved in a 20-week programme with Yorkshire Dance. The sessions entailed of some simple armchair exercises, movements, and dances at the beginning of the session to warm-up and was followed by some live music, typically a lady playing the harp/ukulele and singing, or a gentleman playing the guitar and singing classic songs the residents could all get involved with and sing and dance along. The session would then be followed by some more dancing/movement, a couple more musical numbers, then the dance artists would lead a cool down session. The residents responded very well to these sessions weekly, many got involved themselves and enjoyed the movement & all enjoyed singing and dancing along to the songs. The residents on Nevis unit particularly looked forward to joining these sessions weekly and said it was a brilliant way to start their morning. The programme finished in December 2022 but will continue to be a part of the residents’ weekly schedule as they are continuing the programme using Zoom.
Leeds United
We began working with Leeds United on their Fit Generations Programme in November 2022 and are continuing to work with them for a further 10 weeks. Sophie from Leeds United visits Aspen Hill Village on a Thursday morning between 11:30am and 12:30am for a morning of exercise and movement. Sophie engages well with the residents and offers a variety of simple armchair exercise, as well as ball games & encourages a variety of different football themed exercise and movements whilst listening to music. Leeds United have offered our residents the opportunity to go to Elland Road for a tour around the grounds, including trophy rooms and going onto the pitch which will be an upcoming trip – this has been booked for March and residents are very much looking forward to this.
we are working with the Hunslet Club currently for an armchair exercise programme which the residents are really loving and looking forward to each week. We have also started a 4 month programme with the Hunslet Club who will be running one activity club per month for the residents to attend (sports, karaoke etc.)
Swan Song Project
We are looking to start working with the Swan Song Project who are experienced songwriters that work with residents on end of life or those who have experienced bereavement to write songs about their lives and work towards writing and recording their very own songs at the home, or in a studio if they would prefer. The aim of the project is for residents to be able to produce something meaningful which can leave a legacy of themselves behind and have something to give their families and loved ones.
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