Benson House Celebrates Care Home Open Week With A Day of Community Activity
At Caring Homes, we love to get involved in Care Home Open Week and our team at Benson House is no exception, always looking to deliver an action-packed day.
Last Tuesday, Benson House Care Home in Wallingford opened its doors for an Open Day, welcoming visitors, families, and members of the local community to join residents and the team for a day full of smiles, engagement and joyful moments.
A Furry Friend Brings Joy
The morning began with a visit from one of the care home’s most popular guests, much-loved therapy dog, Nell. Nell is a fluffy golden retriever who’s been a Benson House regular for a couple of years, along with her owner and volunteer, Julie. The pair joined residents in the communal areas where Nell was showered with treats, cuddles, and lots of affection and as always, they made time to visit residents unable to leave their rooms. Nell’s gentle nature and wagging tail never fail to lift everyone’s spirits, including resident Iris, who had previously owned a golden retriever and a black labrador. When Iris first saw Nell she said, “She's so beautiful, just like my old babies”, and showed the team some pictures of her own dogs.
An Empowering Talk from Thames Valley Police
Later in the morning, officers from Thames Valley Police came along to deliver a talk designed to raise awareness of scams – especially those involving bank cards, online activity and in-person scams. Benson House has strong links with the local community and the session had been promoted externally, so the team were pleased that visitors from the neighbourhood attended the talk with residents. It was an important and empowering session that helped both residents and guests understand how to stay safe and protect themselves from fraudulent activity. Everyone found the police team's help and advice very useful.
Music and Memories with Singer Daisy
The afternoon arrived with the sound of music filling the garden as local singer, Daisy, performed a selection of all-time favourites, including “Put Your Head On My Shoulder, “Can’t Help Falling In Love” and “Black Hills of Dakota”. Her beautiful voice and wonderful repertoire had everyone clapping, singing along, and even dancing in their seats. Daisy spoke about how her grandma had introduced her to these songs and there was nostalgia all round, with many residents sharing fond memories linked to certain tunes, including resident Alf who especially enjoyed the Doris Day songs.
Fabulous Barbecue Rounds Off Wonderful Day
To round off the day, Benson House’s talented chef fired up the barbecue and served up a fabulous feast with everyone’s grilled favourites accompanied by a wide range of delicious summer salads. The barbecue was extremely popular, with some residents gathering in the garden with friends and relatives, and others enjoying their barbecued treats inside. The garden was filled with laughter and chatter as everyone enjoyed the sunshine, great food, and good company. It was the perfect opportunity for everyone to admire the stunning plants and flowers at Benson House, especially the gorgeous pink roses which grabbed everyone's attention.
The Open Day was a wonderful reminder of the strong community spirit at the care home and the team were grateful to all those who joined and helped make the day so special. Care Home Open Week presented the perfect opportunity for everyone to come together to celebrate, and as always, the residents and their families were at the heart of everything at Benson House.
Discover Benson House Care Home
Benson House is a purpose-built, luxury care home which provides residential, nursing and specialist dementia care. Set within landscaped gardens, the home offers numerous activities, plenty of space and tranquil surroundings where you can relax or welcome friends and family. If you would like to learn more about the types of care and services available from Caring Homes, please visit our website page. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions or would like to learn more.
