Read our blog posts below to find out more about Brighterkind, discover what’s going on at our care homes, and read our expert care home advice for residents and relatives.
It was a cold and frosty November day in 1953 when Wilfred and Sheila Wilkes got married. They first met at a dance at the local Village Hall in Stafford where they both grew up, although Wilfred said that he had seen Sheila around town and quite ‘liked the look of her’ beforehand. As they stepped onto the dance floor they knew straight away that they’d found ‘the one’.
Since our Magic Moments programme focuses on our residents’ interests, each day at a brighterkind home is a hive of different activities – ranging from art, gardening and baking, to dancing, puzzles and movie nights.
Over the festive period, our teams will be creating ‘Magic Moments’ for our residents, as they reminisce over Christmases past and take a trip down memory lane. Here’s just a taster of what our residents will be reminiscing about with the help of film, music and pictures on our innovative and unique Magic Moments App.
Eating well means living well, so nutrition and varied, high quality menus sit at the heart of the brighterkind philosophy.
From delicious festive aromas to enjoying beautifully decorated dining rooms and table settings, these are just some of the seasonal experiences we have created for our residents.
We like to make dining special in a brighterkind home and the care we’ve taken with our Christmas and New Year menus reflect this approach. Here’s a little taste of our scrumptious menus planned for the festive season.
Our need to have companionship goes back to the dawn of the human race. As long as we’ve roamed the earth, we’ve done so in groups, and communication – in many forms – has been fundamental to our feeling of belonging and being connected. It’s no wonder that we feel lonely when we are without someone to talk to or to just be with on a regular basis.
If you are craving a little more company or in need of a change of scenery, a short stay (respite care) may be just the tonic.
John Bridgeman is at the helm of our menu development. Having worked at Michelin star restaurants, he is responsible for all things food related along with creating the seasonal menus for brighterkind.
Christmas is all about spending time with loved ones and making special memories that will last a lifetime.
It’s a time for delicious food and drink, music, dancing and exciting festivities.
During the festive season, brighterkind homes will enjoy a busy social calendar, including a whole host of events and activities such as trips out, carol concerts, crafts and parties.
Here, are just a few examples of the types of activities our residents will look forward to in the build up to Christmas this year.
Traditional carols are very popular with our residents, with 'Silent Night' being the firm favourite, so we took a look at some of the nation's favourite Christmas carols and the history behind them...
SILENT NIGHT
A Christmas wreath is the perfect way to welcome visitors to your home over the festive season, setting the tone from the minute they approach your front door.
With only a simple list of equipment and foliage, it’s easy to make. It’s a classic, beautiful design, full of lush greenery and festive decorations. Of course, there is the option to buy a readymade wreath, but we believe it’s much more fun to create your own.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, but it can also be the most wasteful time of the year. The amount we choose to either recycle or discard has a huge impact on our environment.
However, with all the buzz and excitement of the festive period, it is unlikely that most of us will even have time to think about how much waste we are producing.
Here are some small changes you can consider this year to help celebrate a more mindful, sustainable and environmentally conscious Christmas.
Wrapping paper
