Activities
Residents are encouraged to continue with hobbies, as well as gain new interests. This is an important part of sustaining and promoting self-esteem, identity and a sense of individuality. We have dedicated Wellbeing Manager, Bethany, and an Activities Co-ordinator, Charlotte, who ensures each resident is kept happy and content. They tailor activities to suit both group and individual profiles.
There are extensive activities and clubs available on a day-to-day basis. The includes gardening, book and baking club, also musical afternoons with visiting musicians and singers. Information regarding the activities for the week is printed on a monthly calendar, given to each resident at the start of the month.
At Stonebow House we have a strong volunteer group consisting mainly of next-of-kin (past and present) and volunteers of the community. Please contact the manager or administrator if you want to join the Stonebow House Volunteer Group.
Bethany and Charlotte are at the home five days a week and on some weekends. Besides organising group activities they also cater for those residents who require one-on-one time as well.
Gardens, drinks and nibbles
Weather permitting, the patio is used extensively, especially in the summer for functions or for our residents’ enjoyment. It looks out over the garden areas with care staff on hand.
The staff may also take residents on short walks in the garden.
If weather permits, we have drinks and nibbles on a regular basis in the afternoon on the patio, but also bigger events like garden parties, picnics and fetes, all attended by residents, relatives and staff.
The patio raise bed gardens are also used for growing vegetables, which won us two second prizes at the Peopleton Autumn Show 2019. All residents are invited and encouraged to grow and tend their own vegetables.
Recreation, movie afternoons and Wi-Fi
Each room has a TV connection and residents can watch their favourite shows in the privacy of their rooms. We also have TV’s in the main areas and organise film afternoons regularly. We use Amazon’s Fire stick extensively especially for movies from a bygone era.
We often provide popcorn, ice lollies and sweets to those attending the movie afternoons creating a feeling of ‘going to the movies’.
Stonebow House also provides internet access to the residents. It can also be used by families when they visit. Residents can enjoy Skype or Facetime if they own their own devices, such as iPad or Kindle.
Music is an important part of Stonebow House and residents often take part in the musical afternoons with visiting musicians and groups. Staff firmly believes in the power of music to calm, reassure and bring happy memories to residents.
Art Club
One of the proudest achievements of the home was the establishment of the art club. It is run by an artist volunteer with very close links to the home and the nearby villages. The art club is well attended on Thursday afternoons, where painting, a chat and a glass of sherry is shared.
This year the art club entered paintings in the Modern Art section of the Peopleton Autumn Show and were awarded a second and third prize.
Some of the other artwork were so good that it decorated fridge magnets and key rings sold at the Peopleton Autumn Show.
The art club also ensures that there are homemade Christmas cards for sale from November onwards, and Christmas decorations for our tree every year.
Knitting club
As important as the art club, the knitting club meets every Monday, and also run by two lovely volunteers from the local communities. There is always much laughter and kameraderie amongst the group.
The knitting club has a star knitter who is on his 150th teddy bear. These teddies have made their way into the hands of many of the local children who bought them at the Peopleton Autmn Show and in the homes of staff and families with newborn babies. All funds raised by the teddies have been donated kindly to the residents fund for residents trips and outings.
Pinvin Community Preschool
Every second week the children from Pinvin Community Preschool visit Stonebow House residents. Wonderful friendships have been formed, between the residents and children, but also between the staff of both the home and the school.
The children come round to play, ask for help in building lego structures, have lunch with our residents and sing songs (especially over the Christmas period).
Pinvin Preschool helped with fundraising for the minibus by donating half of the proceeds of a masked ball this year.
For the next year (2020) a Mayday Fete is planned with a proper maypole and games from long ago. The aim is to bring two groups separated by many decades together in a sun (hopefully) and fun (definitely) filled day outside.
Trips and visits
The home facilitates outings regularly. Details of the outings will be supplied by the manager, administrator or activities coordinator. We will attempt to accommodate as many residents as possible.
Our activity-coordinator organises visits to coffee shops in the villages nearby, pub lunches or just a trip to the local garden centre. Care staff can and do take residents out to do some personal shopping and this trip. This can be arranged with the manager.
Christmas
The week before Christmas is a busy week on the activities calendar. The tree will be up from early December and we only use real trees. There are entertainment on a daily basis during that week.
The cooks always prepare a full Christmas dinner with all the trimmings, and is always enjoyed by all the residents. Family are always invited to share the dinner with residents too.
Residents gifts are exchanged on the 24th eve and our staff always make sure that they get the right prezzie for the right resident. The staff never expect anything back, and the pleasure is all ours.
Hairdresser
The hairdresser visits once a week and will cut, blow-dry, perm, and set hair. She attends to male and female residents.
This service is paid for by a resident’s personal account. We highly recommend this service for the well-being of our residents.
Reading and newspapers
The residents have access to a collection of books in our library. We also supply daily, weekly and monthly newspapers and magazines at cover price on request.
Spiritual, religious and cultural support
Residents are encouraged to follow their own religious practises and have the right to refuse participation in other activities. Denominational visits are arranged on request. There is a regular pastor from the local Catholic Church.
Every Sunday we conduct Songs of Praise in the lounges for those in need of devotional quietness. It also demarcates the day of the week.