Activities – Christmas

Inclusive Activities for Christmas (suitable for ages 1 - 100+)

As many will know I am a parent to twin 2 year boys, and I’m not very crafty.  But in keeping with our series on inclusive activities I thought I would share a Christmas related Activity that the whole family can enjoy.

This weekend I took my children to see an elderly relative, our relative resides in a care home and as with so many the CQC rating is low (adequate) and the activities co-ordinator left about 7 years ago and has never been replaced.

But our relative loves spending time with our boys who are inquisitive and questioning.  If you ask our boys what they would like from Santa it ranges from a car to a doggy (neither are likely this year).  But they also ask to spend time with our relative and play.

So, this weekend, we arranged to do some crafty activities with our relative and a few of her friends in the home.

We took in some glitter, glue, ribbon and paints, I also bought from Amazon a box of Artemio 39-Piece Christmas Baubles to Decorate in Different Sizes and some XINW 12 Ball Christmas Baubles Clear Fillable Xmas Tree Ornaments.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Artemio-39-Piece-Christmas-Decorate-Different/dp/B00O9ZPRL4/ref=pd_bxgy_201_img_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=JKCX167DK1FANTYARYHE

£18.14

https://www.amazon.co.uk/XINW-Christmas-Fillable-Ornaments-Decoration/dp/B01KVC9UOI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1480947815&sr=8-1&keywords=plastic+baubles+to+decorate

£3.57

I also downloaded free from the CBEEBIES website their Christmas Star Selfie for the boys to decorate (we had to print a few more as everyone wanted to get involved).

During our visit, we cut, painted and decorated our Christmas baubles some were glittery, some we painted with the tips of our fingers and in the XINW Clear Fillable baubles we put in pictures of our family and friends as well as cut up pieces of Christmas wrapping paper to make each one different.

We painted and decorated our Star from the CBEEBIES website and then we hung up our Christmas decorations on the tree and around the home with the helpful and guiding eyes of everyone.  We had “Jack” telling us to put baubles higher on the tree and “Gracie” wanted to place the Star at the top.  Everyone clapped, everyone laughed and I personally like to think we brought a little bit of mayhem to the home for a few fantastic hours.

Total cost

Baubles £18.14 for 39 (less than 47p each)

Baubles £3.57 for 12 (less than 30p each)

Glitter, glue and paints already owned

The joy on everyone’s faces – utterly Priceless

UK Charity Week

To Stay or to Go...

... that really is the question

When looking at what is best for you and your family you have to seriously ask yourself is Care at home or Care in a home better for me.

There are two types:

·         Care homes without nursing care that provide help and assistance with personal care.

·         Care homes with nursing care that have registered nurses and experienced care assistants.

Both are places where you can live (often with a spouse if the Local Authority agree and it’s acceptable by the care provider) and have your care needs met by trained staff (sometimes).

Some also have accommodation and support for older people with dementia.

Nothing Changes

So, inspections come and go, often homes will be passed at the shock of staff that really know what goes on and relatives that are too scared to talk for fear of eviction of loved ones.

Care Providers congratulate themselves on a “job well done” and increase prices while the standard of Care is reduced and food quality is lowered.

Of course, Directors get their bonuses, managers get their new cars and those off the “shop floor” get a pay rise while those on the “shop floor” see nothing!

MCA and National Mental Capacity Forum (Video)

Featuring Baroness Finlay