Patrycja Chojnecka has worked at Monkscroft Care Centre in Cheltenham for the past 14 years in a range of roles, including as Activities Coordinator for the past three years. 

Patrycja attended art classes in her home country, Poland, and draws on this experience and the world around her for inspiration when organising activities for residents.  She makes good use of readily available resources for art and craft projects with residents, constantly collecting and upcycling materials such as shells, stoppers, bottle caps, wool, fabric, straws, etc.

She loves hearing about other people’s experiences and cultures, and this has also inspired her to plan and deliver food tasting events in the home.  She also ensures activity planning is a joint effort, and often involves residents’ families, colleagues, volunteers in the home, and even friends, in coming up with new activity ideas. 

She says: “I never stop planning activities; I never stop collecting materials for activities; I live activities; I dream activities; it is my life.”

Patrycja, who is one of three Activities Coordinators at Monkscroft, helps adapt the home’s activity calendar to suit the different needs, abilities and interests of individual residents.  For example, she organises reminiscence and sensory activities for residents living with dementia.  For less able residents, she organises one-to-one activities, such as aromatherapy, massage, music or storytelling.  She explains: “I believe that people should be able to enjoy activities whatever their ability.  I like to find ways to support residents to engage in different activities, and I am particularly proud of spending time with those on their palliative care journey and being able to provide activities that are meaningful to them.”

Commenting on the Connecting Communities theme of this year’s National Activity Providers and Professionals Week, Patrycja said: “It’s important for residents to feel connected with the community.  This helps them to remember who they are, where they came from, and maintain their links with family and friends.  Many of our residents enjoy visits from local school children and religious leaders.  We also have productive relationships with local businesses, for example B&Q has supported our garden renovation with donations of gravel, sand and plants.”

Patrycja loves the smiles from residents, the happiness and “vibration" in the home that comes from the activities she provides.  She recalls her experience with Gillian, a resident living with dementia, who came to the home from Pembrokeshire in Wales and was distressed that she could not easily visit well-loved and familiar beaches.  Patrycja invited her into the home’s garden where they collected shells, grass, stones, sand, and twigs.  Together, they added these to a small bowl to re-create a mini-Pembrokeshire beach.  Gillian now takes this portable little beach with her, to enjoy wherever she goes in the home.

Patrycja said: “Gillian could not thank me enough.  I feel very proud when I do something like this, and the residents get involved and they say ‘we love this’.”