Christmas holidays are a time for people to come together and spread joy to one another, whether that be with big gifts or little surprises to lighten up your day. Everyone could always do with some Christmas cheer! We know that for our residents, it is very important to be able to socialise and take part in activities and events which bring value added benefits to their physical and mental wellbeing. A Christmas market is a great way to encourage residents and their families to spend quality time together. Not only this, but it can be a great way for residents to socialise with one another and improve their self-esteem by getting hands on with certain activities and entertainment.
For this year’s Christmas celebrations, our dedicated lifestyle leads at Solent Grange Nursing Home organised their very own Christmas market for their residents and the community, including family and friends and it was a great success.
A lot of effort was put into decorating the home, including an arch made of 284 balloons – yes, we counted them all! To top it off, we even had fake snow! The home was proud to display wonderful handmade crafts, some made by our residents.
During the day, the home had a lovely visit from 2 children’s school choirs. It was fulfilling to see residents sing along with the choirs as we know how much this can benefit them including decreasing their stress levels and boosting their social skill development. Both schools delivered such amazing performances, they deserve a massive thank you. Our residents can’t wait to invite them all back in the new year!
Lifestyles team decided to surprise everyone with a special visit from Emily and her New Forest Pony, Jasmine. Jasmine brought a lot of joy with her during her visit, residents and families could not stop smiling as she came by to greet everyone. It was lovely to see residents getting stuck in, with their carrots at the ready, waiting patiently for Jasmine to come over and receive her well-deserved carrot. Little acts like this can be very fulfilling for our residents and bring them so much joy, which is something we are constantly aiming for.
In the evening, the dinner was served and pigs in blankets with cranberry sauce was undoubtedly a house favourite! Everyone enjoyed a delicious cake with eggnog and mulled wine, while listening and singing along to some live music. It was a fantastic turnout, and we couldn’t be more pleased with how the day went. Thank you to everyone who made this day so special, without your help it wouldn’t have been possible. We are very much looking forward to next year!
