A Day in the Life of a Birchwood House Resident

At Birchwood House, we’re passionate about providing quality, one-to-one care for each and every resident. We put their comfort and independence first, meaning a typical ‘Day in the Life’ varies depending on each resident’s needs and wishes.  

However, we understand the importance of a routine, and the structure and stability it can give our daily lives. That’s why we make sure that our residents know what to expect, helping to reduce stress and enrich engagement.  

So, whilst no two days are the same, there are regular practices and activities available for our residents, promoting a consistent and well-balanced lifestyle. It’s important to use that every resident is empowered to live autonomously and feels that they have agency. So, while we may encourage residents to engage in certain activities that are beneficial for things like fine motor skills or physical fitness, we balance this by always emphasising that how they live each day is their choice. That way, we can empower our residents with advice and a variety of options for activities, meals, pastimes, and so on, whilst also ensuring that they still feel in charge of their life. 

Morning 

Residents wake up in a cosy bed, with views over the beautiful Kent landscape. Each bedroom is different, and you can personalise your space however you like – many of our residents bring photographs, artworks, books, and other personal possessions that make their room feel like home. Each bedroom is complete with an en-suite toilet and hand basin, complete with specially adapted equipment for those with restricted mobility.  

Activities often start from 10am. Depending on the day, this could be one-to-one time with each resident, and you may have a visit from our amazing Activities Lead, Lizzie. This could also be a practical activity such as cooking or baking, which is great for increasing sensory function snd maintaining physical independence in residents’ hands. This follows our ‘Mind, Body & Soul’ approach to activities.  

11am is usually the time for a social activity, such as coffee club or book club. This allows all the residents to socialise and catch up and helps to create an inclusive environment. It’s so important to dedicate time in each day for making connections and creating friendships, providing a space where everyone who wishes to can engage.  

Lunch 

Lunch is prepared by our in-house chef, John Anthony. Nutrition benefits both physical and cognitive health, so we make sure our dishes are made with fresh ingredients, often supplemented by home-grown herbs and vegetables from our gardens. We vary our meals to ensure residents can enjoy a variety of dishes. We are also conscious of preparing menus with antioxidants, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals to give our residents energy and fuel their brains.  

This is another social time, with lunch being held in our beautiful dining room. Residents who prefer to dine in their own room are also able to have their meal delivered. Other social spaces include the television lounge, and the common area is where you can find the residents board. This is filled with pictures, information and also outlines our activity schedule for the upcoming week (see here to find an example schedule).   

Afternoon 

From 2:30pm there’s usually another activity, again varied on the day. Every Monday, this will be Functional Fitness with local fitness legend Sarah Domoney, but on other days it can be a creative activity such as colour therapy. If it’s a Tuesday, you may have a catch up with Maddie, our wonderful volunteer.  

This may also be a time for treatments – on Wednesday you might choose to have pampering time with a hairdresser, freshly painted nails, or a soothing reflexology session. Our beauty treatments happen on-site, complete with all the tools you need to look and feel your best self.  

For those warmer months, there’s always an opportunity for afternoon summer games such as croquet. There’s lots of outdoor seating overlooking the gardens, and we have accessible methods of transporting those with mobility concerns. And for those colder months, you can always enjoy looking out at the gardens from our beautiful Victorian conservatory. Perfect for a cup of tea and some deer-watching!  

… if that’s what you want!  

This is a general overview of a ‘Day in the Life’, but we listen to each resident, meaning the day goes exactly how you plan it. Each activity is catered to your needs, so if you’re feeling a quieter day we will most certainly accommodate you. Either way, Birchwood House is a home-from-home, and your daily routine will always be tailored to reflect this. 

To find out more about what we do for our residents, please get in touch.