We have welcomed our new Home Manager to the Astley family, Sarah Price. She has worked in the Health and Social Care sector for 30 years and is passionate about making a difference to people’s lives. Caring for them so they can live their best lives.
The family feel of Astley
Sarah has 6 children of her own and grandchildren too, so family is important to her. Music is one of her passions and when she has time, she support new bands in small venues around the UK with her husband.
It is great to hear music filling Astley Hall – we certainly have good acoustics for it with the high ceilings! We recently had afternoons of entertainment from Ray and Kim and Jeanette and it’s wonderful to see residents dancing with the team.
It is also wonderful that our residents have forged such a lovely relationship with the Debutots. At the last session children gathered round Geoff as he read them a story and Christine was a brilliant puppeteer. We don’t know who were more enthralled – the children or residents! Thank you to Judy, Betty and the staffing team for making the children’s under the sea adventure so memorable!
Enjoying the garden, dodging the rain
Residents enjoyed a May Day afternoon tea in the garden. One of our gents deemed it sunny enough now for shorts! Our garden is so tranquil and the view breathtaking. Residents love being outside pottering, gardening in the raised beds, playing garden games, or having a moment of quiet contemplation with a cuppa.
For the second May bank holiday, we attempted another afternoon tea. Again in the garden, but we ended up back indoors for an impromptu music making session. There were maracas, tambourines, wood percussion and some fun hats thrown in for good measure. We shared some magic moments too. One resident who struggles with her words was in full voice singing along. Two residents danced together with one learning some new dance steps. Another resident loved the maracas, smiling and joining in the fun.
The disadvantage of a garden this size is the upkeep. With all the rain everything has shot up. We have hosted some community gardening days recently and thank you to all who volunteered.
We marked D-Day with crafting projects giving a focus to reminiscence, remembrance, reflection, and celebration. There is also Father’s Day and National Picnic Day coming up and then we are hoping for some sunshine for the Wimbledon fortnight.