This November we joined the nation in going all out for Children in Need.

With decorations throughout the home and in our central dining and event space, The Hub – covered in brightly coloured balloons and bunting, staff dressed up, Pudsey ears all round, arts & crafts, music, dancing, and dinner accompanied by iced fairy cakes it has been quite the week!

Everyone had so much fun – the residents love it when our team pick up the microphone and start to sing for them, and there is no doubt music and dancing brings lots of smiles and joy.

Occasions such as this where we can throw a party and turn up the music are a great way of igniting a real sense of community spirit, warmth, and friendships here at The Manor House Nursing Home. Our Activities Team create a calendar of events to ensure there is always a range of entertainment for residents to get involved with. We also ensure, that if for any reason a resident cannot attend the main event in The Hub, the team will take the event to them in their bedroom or one of the communal lounge spaces to ensure no one misses out.

To find out more about Activities and daily routines at the Manor House, or if you have any other questions, please call us on 01785 250600.

Now Spring has arrived, the daffodils are popping up and colour is filling our gardens it seemed an opportune time to write about our sensory garden.  It won’t be long before the sun comes out and our residents can spend their days relaxing in the gardens. 

A project built with care and attention; the sensory garden was created by Jacqui McVay who designed this purpose-built haven within the grounds of The Manor House.  The vast lawns with seating areas lead the way to a garden that is full of hidden delights.  Beautiful features like statues and an old boat, plants attracting butterflies and a herb garden laden with photos and descriptions provide variety and lots of areas of interest for our residents to enjoy.

The paths intertwine towards a memory tree and stag statue who takes pride of place. 

A barbeque located within a gazebo is ready for summertime parties for residents and their loved ones.

The garden also features a paddock where we regularly bring in petting animals for our residents to interact with.  A greenhouse and potting areas are located within the garden for our green fingered residents.

We’re really looking forward to spending time in the gardens this spring and summer, and hopefully welcoming back visitors once again.

Look out for photos of the gardens on our Facebook page.

Love was well and truly in the air this Valentine’s Day.  We make the most of significant occasions at The Manor House and Valentine’s Day gives us an extra chance to make our residents smile.  We understand that occasions like Valentine’s Day not only offer a chance for us to put on a spread and a party, but need to be approached with sensitivity and compassion, as for some of our residents they may be spending a Valentine’s Day without waking up next to their spouse or partner for the first time in decades. 

We spent the week before Valentine’s Day making Valentine’s crafts and cards and our dedicated Activity’s Team decorated The Hub with balloons and flowers.  Those residents that were able, joined us for a three course Valentine’s Dinner with Cream of Tomato Soup, Roast Beef with new potatoes, carrot batons, garden peas, Yorkshire Puddings and gravy followed by Raspberry Roulade with fresh cream or fresh strawberries.

This year was extra special as we were able to ensure our resident couple Ian and Joyce shared the day.  We ensured they exchanged cards, and spent their day together, they enjoyed a romantic meal and we made them a heart shaped cake to share.

After dinner, the music came on and we enjoyed singing and dancing.  We like to turn up the music when we can, the staff get involved and the residents sing and dance or tap their feet and clap their hands depending on their health, either way music and involvement from the team sees a sea of smiles and laughter fill the room.  We want to ensure our residents are happy and enjoying themselves and as the old saying goes ‘music be the food of love’ and we do indeed feel it at The Manor House.

Follow our Facebook and Instagram pages for more photos of celebrations.