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Happy Chinese New Year!

 

Residents have been celebrating the Chinese New Year this week and have really enjoyed the festivities we have organised.

At West Farm, arts and crafts were the main theme with residents making and decorating their own Chinese lanterns. They also handmade some amazing baked Chinese fortune cookies too. Once cooked, everyone picked out their own fortune with residents finding out which Chinese Zodiac animal they were (in China, 12 animals represent each month of the year).

Trish Giles, our manager at West Farm, said: “We enjoyed creating our own Chinese lanterns – the residents were really keen to make them and decorated them beautifully. Making the fortune cookies was also very well received and the residents loved finding out what Chinese Zodiac animal they were. The lanterns look fab and are currently taking pride of place in our living room.”

Art and baking are great activities for residents to do as it focuses the mind, helps exercise fine motor skills and also has great mental wellbeing benefits too such as helping residents to relax and boost mood.

At Cramlington House, residents came together for a Chinese themed feast to taste and enjoy some classic Chinese dishes such as noodles, seaweed and Chinese chicken.

Our manager at Cramlington House, Janice Wilkinson, explained: “It’s really important that residents are involved in traditions and celebrations outside of the British culture. The residents loved the activities as some of them hadn’t tried Chinese food before. It was lovely to see them respond to the tastes and textures of the food which is really beneficial as part of their sensory development.”

For the occasion, residents were also able to use chopsticks which they did extremely well with, and it was great to see them discussing the utensils used in other countries and chat about the most common foods consumed.

Janice added: “The residents were really engaged in the celebrations and it was fab to see them use chopsticks so well! Such an activity is greatly beneficial for exercising fine motor skills which are essential in maintaining independence as long as possible. For example, such skills are needed to tie shoelaces or do up buttons on a blouse.

“They were particularly fascinated by the fortune cookie tradition and they all enjoyed learning some key facts about the Chinese culture and way of life.”

What people are saying

  • "I am very pleased with how my mother has settled in and generally how supportive and caring the staff are. This has given us peace of mind knowing that she is safe & well looked after. Thank you."

  • "Our mum has been a resident at Cramlington House for over a year and we have nothing but praise for the friendly, approachable staff and management. We always feel like part of an extended family and when we visit nothing is too much bother. We are completely happy with the standard of care, support and understanding we all receive as a family."

  • "From the first day, I knew it was the place for my mum. Clean, friendly staff, lovely environment! My mum would not get the opportunity to do the activities she is experiencing if she was not in Cramlington House. It is home from home and we can visit anytime. I can't say enough of how great Cramlington House is. "

  • "This is an absolutely superb care facility. The staff say that this is the home of the residents, in which they work - and they evidence that philosophy every day. In the last months of our mother's long life, we took comfort form the fact that she was safe and secure, being well-fed and looked after. The entire care team are brilliant. "

  • "All the staff at West Farm have provided such wonderful care, compassion and support to my auntie. We both feel incredibly lucky to have found West Farm, it’s been the perfect home for my auntie. I can honestly say, hand on heart, every aspect of the care provided by each member of staff at West Farm has been outstanding."