Hobbies & Interests
We understand that staying physically and mentally active can have a profound effect on our wellbeing. Our home has a dedicated Companionship Team whose role within the home is to plan, organise and deliver an exciting and engaging programme of activities specifically tailored to the wishes of residents be that in large groups, small groups or simply one on one time.
Adaptable, Engaging & Stimulating
The symptoms of dementia make it harder for a person to take part in activities, to engage socially, maintain their independence, communicate effectively, feel in control and to care for themselves. Our aim is to provide an engaging environment with enjoyable activities available that are suitable for the individual needs of our residents.
We take time to find out about our residents and the activities that they prefer. And with the input from family, friends and the residents themselves, we will provide range of activities that will be adapted to the strengths and needs of a resident, so they are more likely to engage with the activities offered.
Dedicated Companionship Team
Our dedicated Companionship Team’s role within the home is to plan, organise and deliver an exciting and engaging programme of activities specifically tailored to the wishes of residents.
We’re very conscious that providing residents with choice with how and where they spend their day is extremely important, and that may mean choosing to be alone and not take part in group activities. Its whatever works for the resident that is important.
Activities are varied and our Companionship Team works hard to continuously adapt the programme to reflect residents’ individual tastes and preferences.
There will always be some residents who cannot take part in the full range of activities and others who simply choose not to.
Those who prefer not to or those who cannot join in group sessions can still enjoy the company, conversation and practical help of a Colten Companion who will visit them in their room or elsewhere in the home, offering time to help with day-to-day tasks, pastimes and activities or simply time to sit and chat one on one.
Creating Meaningful Experiences
Creating meaningful experiences is essential for people living with dementia. Our Tovertafel table at St Catherine’s View helps to stimulate physical, social and mental activity, creating a great sense of enjoyment and wonder for our residents.
The Tovertafel is an innovative healthcare technology that includes a series of games specifically designed for people living with mid-to-late stage dementia.
The games are designed to play in an intuitive way and elicit natural movements and gestures, and respond to even the smallest movements. Incorporating our Tovertafel into group activities is a fun way to encourage physical activity and improve relationships between our staff and residents.
Activities Calendar
Organised activities contribute to the sense of community at our home. Activity helps to sustain both physical and mental health and it is important that our residents are able to maintain their interests and have opportunities to develop new ones.
Our Colten Companions draw on the interests of each individual and try to reflect their views and ideas. We regularly organise visits by musicians and entertainers. We want our activity programme to have something for everyone, whether it is a pub quiz, a trip out of the home, or a visit by a local school or community group. We regularly ask our residents for feedback and also make time to ask what they would like to do/see in the coming weeks.
Maintaining a Meaningful Connection To The Local Community
Our job is not only to promote a sense of community within the home, but to help our residents maintain a meaningful connection with the local community close to our home.
This could be inviting the local community to an event held within the home, attending a summer fete or Christmas festival, welcoming school children to the home or raising money for a local charity.
Community means as much to us as it does to our residents, and we work hard to maintain our position as a pillar of the local community.
Making Resident Wishes Come True
Our philosophy of care “All About Me” allows us to really get to know and understand our residents, not only learning about who they are, but who they want to be and what they want to do.
We’re committed to ensuring our residents live fulfilled lives on their terms, and so using a positive risk assessment approach, we do what we can to make our residents’ wishes come true.
For some, a wish can be as simple as stroking a horse in a field again, but we have made some more adrenaline-filled wishes come true in the past, such as flying a virtual spitfire and riding a motorbike!
“The wellbeing of the resident is very much at the forefront of everything they do” – M C, Son of Resident at Fernhill
Thanks for the moments!
Enjoy a selection of snaps capturing the fun across the Colten Care family of care homes.
See if you can spot the residents and Companions of Fernhill!
Fernhill performs Beauty and the Beast
Rita and her pancakes
Resident Sheila happily stroking our visiting alpaca
Magic table fun
Singalong songs in the park
Ron helping with the Fernhill Shop Trolley
Enjoying a pottery session at Highmead Farm
Fly like a bird, Gwen with our final entry for the produce show
Pizza making fun for Bill
Colin in the garden tending to the plants
Joan was taught to knit by her mother and still loves the hobby
Dorothy creating a Christmas wreath
Margaret and Carol flipping pancakes
Our Residents’ Charity Of Choice
Residents and staff at Fernhill had a wonderful time holding some fantastic fundraising events to raise money for the homes chosen charities of 2022, Dementia Friendly Town, High Mead Farm, Amelia’s Rainbow.
All 21 of Colten Cares homes took part in raising money for their chosen charities, and raised an amazing combined total of £17,044.64 in 2022, with Fernhill contributing £728.
Alongside money raised, we also supported local Foodbanks and local hospitals.
We ask our residents who should be the home’s charity of choice each year. Putting a charity focus into our activity programme is a great way of building links with other community organisations.
Truth Be Told will be the charity of choice at Fernhill for 2023.
Keep Exploring
Nutritious Mealtimes
Food and drink are critical to our well-being in so many ways. Our chef will provide a diet that is not only full of choice, but is also wholesome, nutritious, well-balanced and right for our residents.
Minibus Trips
Our home has regular access to one of our four modern and well-equipped minibuses. The professional drivers liaise with the Companionship Team and residents to understand their preferences and provide access through half-day or full-day trips, getting out and about to enjoy the local sights, often taking packed-lunches, snacks, hot coffee and tea.
Music & Arts
Music and the arts play an important and powerful part in all our lives. Whether it be through music, movement, storytelling, singing, drama, reading or writing poetry, our home offers each resident the opportunity to explore the many ways in which music and creative arts can enrich their wellbeing.
Your Garden
Many of our residents have enjoyed a love of gardens and gardening throughout their lives. To ensure this passion continues, we strive to make our outdoor living spaces dementia friendly, accessible, interactive and stimulating and encourage residents to take a keen interest in the gardens.
Housekeeping & Maintenance
We take care of the daily housekeeping and maintenance responsibilities so our residents don’t have to. Feeling warm and safe in our homes and having peace of mind are just two of the benefits our residents enjoy from the personally tailored care we provide.
We’re Here For You
Whether you’d like an initial chat about the care we provide, you have a question about our all-inclusive fees, or you’d like more information about our beautiful home, we’re here to help.