Jan 2020
Athelstan House wins Musica Wiltshire Award
Athelstan delighted to be Care Home of the Month for December
Musica Wiltshire visits the home regularly to run hour-long musical workshops which include movement, singing, percussion playing, performance and conversation with an emphasis on fun and participation. The sessions are designed to engage and stimulate residents, encourage reminiscence and boost their self-esteem and overall wellbeing.
Musica started the awards last year in order to recognise homes that were demonstrating person-centred care and also an awareness of the role that music can play in the wellbeing of residents. It's not often that you get told you are doing a good job and we wanted care home staff to know that, as regular visitors into care homes, we see and acknowledge the great efforts to which they are going.
Karen Owen, Musica Wiltshire Co-ordinator, said visiting the home was always a highlight for her.
She said: "I recognised Athelstan House in December as the Musica Wiltshire Care Home of the Month due to the tremendous enthusiasm of the team in both encouraging residents to take part, and for taking part themselves. There is an ever-growing number of people who attend the session including day care visitors, volunteers, care home staff and residents and everyone joins in. The carers get residents up for a dance, the volunteers sing along. We always end up with a bit of a party atmosphere as we both reminisce and live in the moment. It is always joyous."
Pictured receiving the award are Gail Corby and Kim Preece, two of the home's Activity Co-ordinators.
Karen will be back at Athelstan House as part of the home's Dementia Experience Day on Wednesday 4th March, when she will be running two Musica workshops in the afternoon. The day is designed for family members who wish to have a better understanding of dementia and includes an opportunity to take part in a virtual dementia tour.
To secure your place on the virtual dementia experience or one of the Musica workshops, call: 01666 848000 or email: athelstanhouse@osjct.co.uk