REGULAR ACTIVITIES TO STIMULATE WELLBEING AND MENTAL ENGAGEMENT
We are always looking for ways to stimulate wellbeing and mental engagement here at Birchwood House. Our residents really enjoy taking part in a variety of fun activities, their favourites being board games and crafts. Our daily activities are guided by what the residents want to do.
We also pride ourselves on supporting all our residents with visits from experts to maintain quality of life, including those from ‘Music for Health’ – everyone has recently been enjoying Heather’s music workshop. We are also visited by the local vicar, GPs, opticians and dentists.
Health and hygiene services such as hairdressing are an important part of life at Birchwood House. Our team also have a real flair for engaging the residents and encouraging interaction between them, and dedicate at least two days per week to run activities. They are guided by what the residents want to do, with their favourites including activities such as board games and crafts.
We are currently creating life books with each resident, researching and recording their life history and family.
We post pictures from our activity sessions every week on our Birchwood Facebook Page.
“Birchwood gave mum a new lease of life. She integrated with both the existing residents and staff quickly and clearly began to enjoy her time in her new home. The quality of care she has received has been exemplary. We truly believe that she has been treated like an extended family member rather than just another resident. “
A H (son of resident)
Download a typical activity schedule
EVENTS
Held four times a year, our spectacular events at Birchwood House are always incredibly popular amongst our residents (and our staff!) Whether hosted outside in our splendid grounds, or in one of our bright communal rooms, everyone is keen to join in the fun.
We like to go to town and host unusual, colourful and engaging events – recently Birchwood House has held a 1940s Tea Dance, Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, a Harvest Hoedown, Mexican Fiesta and many more.
“Birchwood has a special home-like feel – a sense of community one can just sink into. There was no pressure to join in with activities. The house and gardens at Birchwood are an ideal setting for that and recovery. The key is warranted and the kindness of the staff.“
J A (respite resident)
EXCURSIONS
Before the UK wide lockdown, we would regularly organise excursions to places of interest for our residents. Highlights have included trips to the beach at Hastings, Hever Castle, Hadlow College, Teapot Island and garden centres. Favourite destinations often include visiting beautiful gardens and indulging in a good old cream tea. We can’t wait to start going on these again soon when it’s safe to do so.
“It is very pleasant here and the staff are very kind and helpful. There are some very nice gardens to sit in weather permitting, we have parties for different occasions which staff and management go to a lot of trouble to arrange and the cook who does some very nice things to eat. The decor in the home is very tasteful and pleasant and clean.”
N B (a resident)
CELEBRATIONS
Residents and staff at Birchwood enjoy any excuse to celebrate! There are always cakes and decorations galore for our residents’ birthdays, as well as other key events such as wedding anniversaries, Easter and Halloween.
Christmas is a very special time at Birchwood. We enjoy lots of visitors, including choir singers, bell ringers and the Girl Guides, and our residents also host a lively Christmas party for their relatives. Needless to say, our chef goes to town on Christmas Day, with smoked salmon in the morning and all the works for Christmas dinner.
We also hold a summer garden party, when our grounds are at their most colourful, providing an opportunity for our residents to invite their relatives to come and join them for one of our cream teas.
“Recently I was able to make a visit to Birchwood House to see my sister in her newly decorated room, the whole building was warm and welcoming. I have always found the management and staff supportive at all times also I appreciate the hard work and excellent care that she has received during the Covid-19 period.”
K S (brother of a resident)
