Combining creativity with wellbeing at Haviland House

Guild Care offers a full daily activity schedule for its residents, with something for every interest and ability. Residents at Caer Gwent, Linfield House and Haviland House have a choice of how to spend their time, whether they are in the mood for socialising, relaxing or trying something new.

In this article, Elena Krumgolde, Activities and Wellbeing Coordinator at Haviland House, shares some of the ways she connects with residents, bringing happy moments to their days.

Bringing creativity to life

My role is to make sure all residents have the opportunity to engage with daily activities that they can enjoy, helping to exercise their body and mind. Haviland House is a purpose-built dementia care home, with a unique household structure that can support people at different stages of their dementia journey. As well as ensuring there is something for everyone, I plan activities that our carers can lead.

My background is in education and I also have a qualification in art therapy, so it’s wonderful to be able to bring these elements to my role here at Haviland House. I have a creative mind with so many ideas, and I try to bring as much thought as possible to our weekly activity schedule.

“Happy carers make happy residents”

Once I have an outline of activities, I adapt the topics and provide an activity pack for each household, checking the team leaders have the necessary equipment and ensuring carers can incorporate their own ideas. It is important that they feel able to take ownership of this during their one-to-one time with residents. At Guild Care, our ratio of staff-to-residents is higher than average, meaning people have more time to care. Sharing a crossword or enjoying music together is a joy for everyone. Happy carers make happy residents, and my colleagues love joining in with the activities just as much as our residents do.

From the day they move in, residents become part of the family, cared for by a longstanding, trusted team who love what they do. We also welcome friends and family to join in with our activities and this is one of my favourite parts of the job, as families are always happy to see us. They comment on the positive difference we are making which is incredibly rewarding for our team.

Armchair travel

Our armchair travel sessions are always a popular fixture on the schedule, and we recently hosted a virtual tour of Africa, from the comfort of Haviland House. Residents were given plane tickets with the destination for the afternoon. One resident used to be a pilot, so he took up the role and felt very confident in the front seat. We played African music and residents danced, and the kitchen made a special pudding celebrating African cuisine.

I created questions which prompted conversations for residents, such as whether they’d seen African animals or enjoyed holidays in the area. We showed a documentary to showcase the stunning scenery and learn new facts about Africa, and we organised quizzes for residents with some fun trivia. Some of my colleagues even brought in their own items of traditional clothing, opening up conversations and giving them a chance to share their own stories. It was a wonderful day for everyone involved, and I’m already excited to plan the next armchair travel session!

To find out more about Haviland House or any Guild Care homes, please call our Customer Relationship Team on 01903 327 327, email enquiry@guildcare.org or visit guildcare.org.

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