Over The Year!

2022 At Aspen Hill Village

Over the past couple of years, we have faced some real challenges as a country, and the impact of the covid-19 outbreak has really affected the lives of us all. Fortunately,

we have been able to return to normality somewhat and have been taking steps in the right direction towards the end of the pandemic!

Despite the challenges that we have faced, there have been many positive events which have taken place throughout the year. We have welcomed many new members to our team throughout all departments in the home, as well as several new members to our management team, including Elizabeth as Quality Control, Terry as Catering Manager, Lee as Maintenance Manager, Angela as Rushmore House Manager and Donna as Tryfan House Manager

Additionally, some of our staff members have had big life events during 2022! Our Home Manager Annie Fretwell got married & Rushmore’s Nurse Marta welcomed her first baby boy into the world!

This year we have been able to welcome back a variety of performers and entertainment back into the home for our residents and we have also been able to return to normality and take residents on trips out of the home! We have been given the opportunity to get involved in programmes with Leeds United and Yorkshire Dance, as well as working with the Church of the Nazarene and St. Joseph’s Primary School who have offered a variety of services and performances for us!

On behalf of all of us at Aspen Hill Village would like to wish all our residents and staff a Happy New Year.

“I always look forward to joining in on the Yorkshire Dance sessions. It is good movement, and it is something that I haven’t tried before – I enjoyed looking forward to this every Thursday morning” – Resident

EVENTS

Theme Days, Events and Trips Out!
We started the year celebrating theme days. In February, we celebrated Valentines Day & had Valentines Afternoon Tea and a Valentines Scavenger Hunt in the Grounds!

In March we hosted a sponsored Glow Walk and raised over £500 for Alzheimer’s Society! We have also been able to get involved in multiple sponsored walks to raise further money for Charity, including the Poppy Walk for the Royal British Legion, Santa Dash for St. Gemma’s Hospice & Memory Walk for Alzheimer’s Society, fulfilling one of our residents’ hopes & dreams to continue to get involved in charity events!

“I love doing work for Charity – I have done it all throughout my life. I am aiming to get 100 medals!” – Resident

In April we celebrated Easter with an Easter Egg Hunt around the grounds! Many of our residents took part and enjoyed the scavenger hunt for chocolate eggs and other goodies!

In May we hosted a theme day for Cinco De Mayo & had a Mexican party on Nevis! Our residents enjoyed a variety of Mexican dishes throughout the day. We enjoyed music, dancing & pinata games

In June, we celebrated the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee & had a week of wonderful activities! We had a ‘street party’ on Blencathra unit with a war time performance from Amanda, then later had a DJ and a party! On another date, we enjoyed a group afternoon tea on Pearl Peak unit with patriotic music & singing!

In July we celebrated Independence Day & had a beach themed day on Rushmore house! The residents enjoyed an afternoon of beach party ball games, fruit cocktails, music, dancing & blow-up musical instruments!

“Well organized and refreshing. The fruit cocktails were appropriate for the occasion” – Resident

In August we celebrated Notting Hill Carnival and had a Jamaican themed day! The residents enjoyed a variety of Caribbean dishes throughout the day. We had the tables dressed for the event, Jamaican music, dancing & party games!

We have also had a range of big events which have taken part this year, the biggest being our Summer Fayre held in September which helped to raise over £1,000 for our residents! The Fayre welcomed many relatives, colleagues, residents and friends to an afternoon of live music, bouncy castles, stalls & raffles.

“It is lovely to see the Summer Fayre – you can see how much time and effort has gone into it.” – Relative

We enjoyed our first trip out of the home to Middleton Park in October & our residents have also enjoyed going to Tropical World, The Hunslet Club & The Royal Armories Museum in December! We also had a Halloween Trick or Treating Event!

“It was nice to get out and go for a walk somewhere different, I enjoyed the change of scenery” – Resident

We welcomed families & friends for a Bonfire Night Firework Display in November and enjoyed some lovely Pie & Peas, Hot Chocolates and more!

“A lovely if very cold evening. Best Hot Chocolate I’ve ever had!” – Relative

“We absolutely loved the evening, spending time with dad and seeing the amazing and kind team again. Fab food and the fireworks were exceptional!” – Relative

We have put all our efforts into making the Christmas season extra special this year for our residents. We were able to bring our Christmas trees back this year and put them up on the units! We have had several Christmas singers, “Annie” the Pantomime, Musicals event and Christmas Carols from St. Joseph’s Primary School (Which was the favorite event for many of the residents). Some residents went on a trip to the Hunslet Club for a Christmas dinner party & we also celebrated a Christmas Carols event with The Church of the Nazarene carol singers.

The residents have enjoyed a week full of Christmas parties and celebrations and have had a dance, played bingo & pass the parcel, dined on party food & cakes, and enjoyed a festive photobooth!
On behalf of everyone at Aspen Hill Village, we hope you had a lovely Christmas and wish you all the best for the New Year!

“I had a good evening at Hunslet Club for Christmas Dinner – sociable people, good entertainment and an overall brilliant atmosphere” – Resident