Rowan Lodge 
Congratulations to Terri, our very hard working Activities Leader at Rowan Lodge, for being selected as a finalist at the 2021 National Care Awards in the Activities Facilitator of the Year category. You’re already a winner in our eyes!
Our activities team provide a full and varied activities programme for our residents, which are typically organised between 10am and 4pm each day. The activities team use care plans and individual residents’ histories and hobbies to plan respectful activities that enhance lives, encourage socialisation and stimulate memories. This is an important part of our person-centered care.
We respect our residents’ right to make choices and are happy to organise activities they tell us they would enjoy. And for those who are less able, we provide 1:1 activities. Residents are free to choose where and how they spend their time. This includes socialising as much (or as little) as they wish to.
To follow our activities more regularly, follow us on Facebook using @ForestCareLtd.
Celebrating their 10th Anniversary on Sunday 5th September, Rowan Lodge was delighted to be able to safely host an outdoor party for staff, residents and their relatives, to celebrate their special milestone.
From fire breathers and an ice cream van, to a steel drum band and stilt walkers, the afternoon was filled with fun and laughter. One resident commented “what a fantastic day and way to celebrate. It’s been magical to see everyone smile and I’m so glad my family got to be a part of it”.
During the 10th Anniversary celebrations, Rowan Lodge hosted their Years of Service awards where Ruzena Sheppard (Nurse), Pauline White (Chef), Cheryl Parrish (Domestic) and Sharon Mercure (Carer) were proudly recognised for their 10 years of dedication to Rowan Lodge.
We’re overjoyed to be able to start our outings once again… Starting with our annual trip to the seaside! Complete with windswept hair, fish ‘n’ chips and ice cream!
We are delighted to announce that our very own Terri, Activities Leader here at Rowan Lodge, has been selected as a finalist at the 2021 National Care Awards!
After enjoying a Mexican themed lunch, with cold Coronas and music, residents grabbed their passports, boarding passes and Mexican Peso to jet off to Mexico, courtesy of Rowan Airlines!
We love having our own cinema at Rowan Lodge. Whether it’s watching movies or enjoying Thai Chi… It’s a versatile space we regularly use.
Residents are continuing to enjoy their personalised weekly gazettes keeping them up-to-date on their loved ones lives. Don’t forget to keep posting on your apps!
Rowan Airlines took flight again, jetting their residents off to Italy for the Fiesta Della Repubblicca.
Transforming their restaurant for the day, residents dined in Rome, rode a gondola through the passages of Venice and enjoyed an espresso in Naples.
Our indoor street party to celebrate VE Day 76th anniversary was a great success! We used old fashioned recipes & made carrot scones, cheese & Marmite swirls as well as homemade lemonade.
Forest Care is delighted to announce that most of their staff and residents have now received their 1st, and in some cases 2nd, Covid-19 vaccine.
Friends and family are continuing to make good use of our Covid-safe visiting room to see loved ones.
Our residents enjoy reading the Daily Sparkle every day, it’s a news publication filled 3 daily articles, fun facts and themed quiz/crosswords.
We’re delighted that our new Covid-safe visiting room is being regularly used by residents and relatives, allowing loved ones to see one another during lockdown.
Rowan Lodge have invested in their own Silent Disco equipment allowing residents to enjoy their new favourite activity on a regular basis.
With multiple devices available to residents and relatives, our residents are enjoying the Zoom boom of 2020.
We’re very proud of our long serving staff who are dedicated to the well-being of our residents. We thanked them this year with framed certificates and tokens of appreciation.
We captured the moment Rowan Lodge won the 2020 Forest Care Flower Arranging Competition. They were a little bit happy!
We love any reason to celebrate at Rowan Lodge and the Anniversary of VJ day was no exception.
When you can’t get to the seaside, the seaside comes to you! With the good weather we’ve been enjoying… our Activities Team decided to host a seaside day of chair-based exercises accompanied by hydrating mocktails and fun loving tunes.
On Tuesday 12th May, we joined the nation in celebrating International Nurses Day by sharing a few treats with the staff and handing out tokens of our gratitude for all their hard work.
To celebrate the 75th Anniversary of VE day, we enjoyed handmade and personalised ration (more luxury than ration) box lunches for everyone around the home. This was between the 11am two-minute silence, Queen’s address in the afternoon and an evening of singing “We’ll Meet Again”.
Spring is here and we are busy playing garden games on the terrace, including our version of “Hook-A-Duck” using the lazy Susan on our patio furniture… Sheena commented “What fun this is… it reminds me of fun fairs we used to have in the village”.
Making sure that we enjoy the sun when it shines, residents joined each other out on the terrace for a spot of lunch alfresco.
After a fine dining experience and drinks reception to welcome their guests, residents enjoyed a live Opera performance by Joanna Henwood. One relative commented “This has been wonderful; we’ve been transported to a theatre. What a magical way to spend an evening at the Opera from the comfort of the care home”.
To start off the “Night in at the Opera”, the Activities team transformed and dressed up to serve a three course meal. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the elegant food that was lovingly prepared by our talented Chefs.
As part of our evening activities at Rowan Lodge, we regularly host Bingo night. This was specifically requested by residents. It’s quickly become a popular activity fortnightly and we might add quite competitive!
We regularly go out on day trips at Rowan Lodge and our football loving residents enjoyed watching a live football match at our local Club. They even enjoyed a pint at the club after the excitement.
There is no better therapy than music. Dementia can affect someone’s personal mood and memory, which can leave them feeling anxious and frustrated. Playing musical instruments has proven to decrease stress felt by someone living with Dementia. Key Changes Music Therapy visit fortnightly to work with our residents living with Dementia.
Residents enjoyed a nerve racking game of Jenga in the main lounge. We were very impressed at the height the tower got to and loved the roar of laughter that could be heard when it tumbled.
