The most Christmassy place in Wokingham?

Is Warren Lodge Care Home the most Christmassy place in Wokingham? Its residents certainly can’t get enough of carolling, decorations, stockings, mulled wine and mince pies, and this year in true nativity style they will even be joined by a donkey!

The visit on Monday 21 December by Mr Kipling - a miniature donkey who will meet residents in the lounges and bedrooms of the home in Finchampstead – is one of the highlights of a packed season of festive celebrations that includes all the great traditions and trimmings: Christmas cake making and decorating, Christmas wreath making, hand bell ringing, church services, pantomimes, parties, Christmas jumpers, turkeys, crackers and gift-giving, among others!

“The build up to Christmas is a labour of love for everyone here at Warren Lodge – our residents, staff and volunteers – we all love this time of year and pull out all the stops to make everyone feel involved at this special time of year. There’s a real sense of community at the heart of everything we do that sums up Christmas perfectly,” said Janine Wakefield, the life enrichment manager.

Christmas really kicks in at Warren Lodge during the last week of November when the decorations go up, a travelling pantomime will perform and the residents will be icing and decorating Christmas cakes, one of the home’s newest traditions, as Janine explains: “Instead of Stir-up Sunday when traditionally everyone in the family used to have a go at stirring the Christmas pudding, we have a Christmas-cake decorating day. We did it for the first time last year and both the residents and their families loved it. Our kitchen manager, Kay Sharp, makes small Christmas cakes which the residents ice and decorate, then when their family come in the resident can offer a piece of their own cake with a cup of tea and share the Christmas spirit.”

The festive fun gathers pace throughout December as residents take part in trips to the local garden centre, craft sessions, a church service, reminiscence hours and carol singing with members of the Reading Salvation Army. They will also be visited by the local Crowthorne WI group, hand bell ringers from Finchampstead Church and children from Oak Tree nursery who will perform their nativity.

There will be two festive knees-up; the first on Saturday 12 December is for residents and their families, and will include entertainment, a quiz, raffle and a tombola, the second on Wednesday 23 December is for residents and staff and an entertainer will be putting on a Christmas show.

Warren Lodge is a 51 bedroom property set overlooking the Berkshire countryside. The home offers 24-hour residential care for people aged 60 and over, with a particular specialism in dementia care. Warren Lodge is part of the Forest Healthcare group of homes, that comprises 13 properties across the South East of England. For more information, please call 0118 973 4576 or visit www.foresthc.com

ENDS

For further media information or photographs, please contact:

Jay Commins or Sam Orange

Pyper York Limited

Tel:         01904 500698

Email:    jay@pyperyork.co.uk or sam@pyperyork.co.uk