Baxendale’s Packed Programme for Residents

One of the key elements to life at Baxendale Care Home is the packed programme of events laid on for residents. This is particularly true during the summer months when the weather is warmer and there’s a chance to hold events in the grounds (notably the annual garden party).

This article looks at some of the events which have already taken place at Baxendale this year, both indoors and outdoors, and mentions a few others which are in the pipeline.

This article is a four- to five-minute read

At Baxendale Care Home, we are running our usual full programme of activities for residents. This includes trips outdoors as well as indoors, to ensure everyone enjoys as fulfilling lives as possible. Here we outline some of the events which have already taken place this year, particularly during the summer, and one or two which are planned for the months ahead.

Baxendale Care Home – a Residential Retirement Home near Whetstone

At Baxendale, we organise local outings – to restaurants, pubs, shops, cafes, parks and other locations – on a one-to-one basis between residents and staff, and in small groups. We also have a full programme of social activities at the home.

Our Garden Party

One of the traditions at Baxendale is our Annual Garden Party (pictured). This year it took place on Saturday, 28 June, in our spacious grounds. The entertainment included a tombola, various stalls and plenty of food and drink. Music was provided by singers Charley McDonagh and Roy Blass.

We also had a ukelele band play for us on August 12, and The Zimmerettes, who offer a wide variety of songs and music, are booked to visit us on September 25. More acts are in the pipeline.

Cities, Culture and Cooking…

At Baxendale, we have had a ‘City of the Month’ every month this year. This culminates in a themed day celebrating that particular city’s food and culture. So far this year we have celebrated the cuisines of Venice in Italy, Lisbon in Portugal, Honolulu in Hawaii and Reykjavik in Iceland. This month Cardiff, the capital of Wales, is our chosen city. We are celebrating with an armchair travel session and quiz, and a baking session where the residents made Welsh cakes.

…and Artists and Paintings

We also have an ‘Artist of the Month’ where we learn about the life and work of the artist and then create our very own masterpiece in their style of work. So far this year, we have celebrated the works of Frenchman Henri Matisse, Spanish painter Pablo Picasso, Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, English painter L S Lowry and Italian Renaissance genius Leonardo da Vinci.

Themed Events

As part of National Nutrition and Hydration Week in March, we joined the Global Tea Party. This is an international event aimed at highlighting the importance of a good diet and nutritional intake.

We also held a beer tasting afternoon to celebrate National Beer Day on August 1.

We are continuing to hold our monthly cream teas. June’s coincided with National Care Home Open Day, which is aimed at showcasing the services care homes like ours can offer and how care in a modern setting allows people to thrive.

We celebrated Wimbledon (which started on June 30 and finished on July 13) with daily screenings of the tournament, strawberries and cream and a glass of Pimms during the finals weekend.

In July, we celebrated World Chocolate Day with a special tasting afternoon. And this August we have introduced an ‘Aperitif Hour’ every Sunday before lunch for residents and visitors to enjoy a chat in the conservatory whilst having a glass of wine or sherry and nibbles.

And we are preparing arts and craft pieces to exhibit at this year’s Art in Care Homes in September and to celebrate Silver Sunday in October. The latter is a national day promoted by the charity Age UK, where communities come together by hosting fun and free activities for older people. Last year, there were more than 1,300 Silver Sunday events across the UK, organised by local groups, businesses and volunteers. This year, Silver Sunday takes place on Sunday, October 5.

Coffee Mornings with Guest Speakers

We also host a number of events where guest speakers talk to residents about their life and work. These included Dan Tomlinson, Labour MP for Chipping Barnet, who was elected to Parliament last year.

Tony Bannister, a resident of the home, talked about his career and travels with the Laing family. And crew members from Barnet Fire Station came along as well – with a fire engine in tow! They gave us an informative talk about fire safety.

Future Events

We are planning more outings to local restaurants, pubs and cafes, as well as a trip to Central London to see the Christmas lights.

Activities in the Home

All these special events are in addition to the regular activities we offer within the home. In the past month, we have had:

• Special screenings of the TV comedy Fawlty Towers and a televised concert by the famed singer Luciano Pavarotti
• Regular general knowledge quizzes
• Several baking workshops
• A ‘knit and natter’ event
• Classes on flower arranging
• Regular music hours
• And a bingo morning.

Residents can take part in as many or as few activities as they like, as we appreciate that everyone’s tastes (and medical conditions) are different.

Baxendale Care Home – a 24-Hour Respite Care Home near Barnet

As well as functioning as a residential retirement home in Whetstone, at Baxendale we also function as a respite care home and (thanks to our specialist unit) a dementia care home. We offer high-quality, round-the-clock care for all our residents, as our staff’s working shifts are split into three eight-hour blocks.

For more information about any of our services, follow this link and complete the online form. You can also call us on 020 8445 1127.

FAQS:

How are you admitted to Baxendale Care Home?

You don’t need a GP referral to be eligible to come to Baxendale, you can contact us directly either by following this link and filling in the online form, or by calling us on 020 8445 1127. You can also email us at info@baxendalecare.org.uk.

However, we will contact your GP for a medical report as part of the pre-assessment process. We issue a contract prior to residency, which needs to be signed and returned by the date of admission. These can be completed and returned electronically, as well as by hand or through the post.

What happens on the day you move in?

When it comes to the timing of your move, this can be either during the morning or the afternoon. We are happy to arrange whatever is most convenient for the individual. Parking is available for new residents. A removal van should not be necessary as all rooms are fully furnished (and this includes a TV set).

New residents can bring small items of furniture, such as an armchair or a bedside table. However, there is no need to bring any larger items of furniture, or a room telephone. Free Wi-Fi is also available throughout the building. For more information about our moving in process, follow this link.

How does Baxendale communicate with its residents?

We leave notices on the various noticeboards around the home, by individual letters or memos given out by hand. When doing this, a member of staff would also explain the contents to each resident to enable them to ask any questions. Residents have a nominated keyworker as well.

We hold monthly residents’ meetings about activities, staffing, meals and mealtimes, and any other items of interest. Our Trustees also visit monthly to talk with the residents on a one-to-one basis.