Activities
There is always something going in Choice House, be it an impromptu dance session, a game of bingo or just a cup of tea and a natter.
Activities are either home-based, in the Day Centre Choice Friendship Club or out via our minibus. Residents may also attend a weekly Friendship Club at Lauderdale Road synagogue.
We have an activities co-ordinator who arranges everything, however, we work very closely with our residents who are very involved in the decision making of what to do and where to go. Activities and trips out are however not a ‘one size fits all’ – some residents like to just go out on the mini-bus and stay there and have a cup of tea, others like to get out and explore, so we cater to individual needs and preferences.
Entertainment includes the celebration of the festivals, our staff dressing up in their colourful costumes or visiting bands, singing and dancing – our choir is extremely popular. There are keep-fit sessions with a physiotherapist, group word games, music quizzes. Children from local Jewish schools also visit to entertain. Some residents have even travelled on the London Underground to events in London, or have visited the Theatre and Ballet. There were also day trips to Southend and Henley.
All residents’ birthdays are celebrated with a party and a cake – in fact we just celebrated a residents 105th birthday which was extremely special.
Something unique to JewishChoice, and the highlight of the year is that we take residents on an annual holiday to the New Forest. With one to one carer support we spend a week together in the summer, sharing wonderful moments together.