Halloween Hokey Cokey fun at Linden House Dementia Care Home in Lymington!
Woodpeckers in Brockenhurst hosted a fantastic five hour drumming marathon to raise funds for their charity of the year, The Brockenhurst Gateway Club, a social club that supports adults with learning difficulties through weekly meetings.
Led by Companionship Team Lead Jane and Companion Sian, residents and staff drummed along to iconic beats such as Queen’s “We Will Rock You,” military marches, and modern cardio dance tracks throughout the day. There were a few tired arms by the end, but everyone, including those new to drumming, thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
Congratulations to the Woodpeckers team for raising an amazing £300 for this wonderful charity!
#WoodpeckersCareHome #CardioDrumming #CharityEvent #BrockenhurstGatewayClub #CommunitySupport #ColtenCare
On the 80th Anniversary of D-Day, our residents paid their respects and remembered the bravery and sacrifice of the heroes of the Battle of Normandy.
Castle View in Poundbury commemorated this significant milestone with a poignant tribute, as 99-year-old Freda Wade laid a wreath on behalf of her fellow residents.
With personal connections to this historic event, many of our residents carry service histories and wartime memories that deeply resonate with them.
Freda was serving in the Women’s Royal Naval Service at the time of D-Day. WRNS ratings were known as Wrens and worked as wireless telegraphists, electricians, mechanics, weapons analysts, radar plotters and in many other occupations.
Freda was proud to wear her Wrens’ medal as she laid the wreath in the Castle View garden near to artworks depicting soldiers and poppies which were made using recycled materials such as bottle tops.
Joining for the commemoration were young visitors from the Combined Cadet Force at Thomas Hardye School in Dorchester.
Avon Reach Make a Wish
96-year-old John Hunt was on top of the world after our team at Avon Reach helped him achieve a lifelong dream of flying a plane!
Called up to the Royal Air Force in 1946, John hoped to fly but served on ground crew duties instead. A post-war flight in a Lancaster bomber sparked his desire to fly, a dream unfulfilled until now.
Thanks to Bliss Aviation and the Avon Reach team, John took to the skies in a dual-controlled Piper Warrior. With instructor Gary Ashworth and Companionship Team Leader Denise Marks, John enjoyed a 30-minute flight over Bournemouth, Sandbanks, and Mudeford Quay, even flying directly over Avon Reach!
John said, “I had the most beautiful day, seeing my biggest wish come true. It was such enormous fun and exceeded my expectations.”
Thank you, Bliss Aviation, for making this special day possible!
https://www.coltencare.co.uk/avon-reach/
#DreamComeTrue #AvonReach #FlyingHigh #MakingMemories #AviationAdventure #ColtenCare
Dementia Action Week
Music plays an important role in our dementia care homes, as its connection to memory and wellbeing is incredibly powerful.
Even when verbal communication becomes more challenging, listening to familiar music can produce happy responses like smiling or dancing. But it's not just about the enjoyment it brings; music can also improve behaviour, mood, cognitive function (thinking), as well as improving communication and encouraging movement and exercise.
Additionally, it encourages social interaction among residents, staff, and families, creating a sense of community and acting as a powerful tool for stress reduction, helping to improve anxiety and promote overall well-being.
Whether it's the rhythm that triggers physical responses like dancing or movement, or the melodies that bring back memories and encourage communication, music plays a vital role in enhancing the well-being of everyone in our dementia care homes.
At Colten Care, we're fortunate to have Fiona Pritchard as our dedicated Music & Arts Partner. Fiona, a trained musician from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, brings a wealth of experience as both a teacher and performer, as well as a talent for composing and songwriting.
Additionally, she holds an MSc in Dementia Studies with Arts and Activities from Bradford University, which informs her work in our homes. Fiona's expertise allows her to conduct personalised one-on-one sessions, lead group sessions, and provide valuable support to residents, their families, and our teams.
#DementiaActionWeek #DementiaAwareness #ColtenCare #DementiaCare
🏁 June, an 87-year-old resident of Braemar Lodge in Salisbury, lived out her 'grand prix' dream at Thruxton Race Circuit! 🏁
With the support of our team at Braemar Lodge, June took the wheel of a racing car and sped around several laps of the UK's fastest racetrack.
It has been June's lifelong desire to drive a competitive car and as she waved to onlookers while reaching speeds of 80 mph, June's exhilarating wish came true.
A big thank you to the team at Thruxton Race Circuit for making June's dream a reality. 🏎🏎
#BraemarLodge #ThruxtonCircuit #DreamComeTrue #ResidentWish
Woodpeckers Care Home in Brockenhurst recently embraced the spirit of Holi Festival, a celebration of spring, love, and new beginnings. As winter comes to an end, Holi signals the arrival of spring, with a burst of bright colours.
This festival is best known for the colourful celebrations, with people gathering to cover each other in perfumed, coloured powder known as gulal. Our residents joined in the festivities, sharing laughter as they covered companion, Jane, with a beautiful array of colours.
#holifestival #woodpeckerscarehome #celebrations #festivals
Our interiors team has sprinkled the magic of the season at Bourne View Care Home!
Watch the enchanting transformation as they decorate a15ft Christmas tree in the main foyer to the home.
#BourneViewCareHome #HolidayDecor #FestiveJoy
Our gardens are not just for looking at. At Colten Care, we believe in empowering residents to take ownership of their garden, just as they may have done before moving into the home.
We understand the therapeutic power of being in nature, listening to the sounds of the birds, smelling the scent of the flowers, and enjoying the fruits of our labour.
Our wonderful gardening team that brings a wealth of expertise in designing and maintaining gardens that are both calming and revitalising, with plenty of visual and sensory interest.
Watch our latest video where our Gardener, Chris, talks about what the gardens at Woodpeckers bring to the residents at our New Forest home.
#carehomegarden #gardening #coltencare #woodpeckerscarehome
A special tribute to Her Majesty The Queen ahead of her Platinum Jubilee, featuring Colten Care's own 'Brian May'
We're excited to release a very special tribute to Her Majesty The Queen ahead of her Platinum Jubilee, featuring Colten Care's very own 'Brian May', the residents of Bourne View and the children of Langside School.
We hope you enjoy!
#PlatinumJubilee #TheQueen #godsavethequeen
“There are no gardening mistakes, only experiments.” Janet Kilburn Phillips
Residents across all 21 Colten Care homes have already started preparing for the Colten Village Produce Show 2022, an annual competition focused on gardening, horticulture and outdoor inspiration.
Just one of the many ways residents engage daily in a wide range of activities and pastimes, enabling them to live well in later life.
#Coltencare #produceshow
Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Colten Care, Nursing home, Colten House, Wellworthy Way, Ringwood.
