This love-filled story comes courtesy of Orchard Care Homes, whose staff in all its twenty-three homes will be taking on the role of Cupid, encouraging residents to participate in various events to rekindle their most precious Valentine’s Day memories.

Orchard Care Homes operates more than twenty homes around the Midlands and North, and they are always coming up with innovative activities to keep their residents stimulated, amused and participating.

Leading up to and on Valentine’s Day, staff have planned love-themed tasks and events, allowing all residents to join in. The activities include candlelit dinners for couples, sing-alongs and plenty of games.

In Leeds at Nesfield Lodge, Colin and Jean Groundwell have been married for sixty years and will celebrate Valentine’s Day in the care home due to Colin’s residency.

He was sadly diagnosed with dementia in 2023 and needed to move to Nesfield Lodge. To make the day special, the care team will serve a surprise candlelit dinner, ensuring they can still celebrate in style.

At Eaton Court Care Home in Grimsby, residents will be served a Valentine’s Day afternoon tea featuring heart-themed desserts and artisan nibbles.

In West Yorkshire, at Castleford Lodge Care Home, a special three-course Valentine’s dinner menu will be served by staff to residents on their dinner dates.

In the northeast, Sunderland’s Lansbury Court Care Home staff will encourage residents to reminisce about their past Valentine’s Days. They will then enjoy a celebration in the evening, including wine and cheese.

At Paisley Lodge Care Home in Leeds, residents can look forward to an activity day full of Valentine’s games and a local singer belting out a few romantic tunes!

Archers Park Care Home residents in Sunderland were invited to reveal their Valentine’s Day memories and reflections, with a few surprising ones coming up.

  • Maggie said, “My favourite memory of Valentine’s Day is when my husband asked me to marry him.”
  • Ann said, “I loved going for a pint at the Plains Farm Club … to get drunk!”
  • Joyce said, “My favourite Valentine’s Day was when I went to Scotland with my husband; it’s a memory I’ll never forget.”
  • The ever-cheerful Belle said, “Every Valentine’s Day has been very special.”

Orchard Came Homes offers dementia, residential, nursing and respite care, offering residents individualised care plans, including fun activities every week. Teams at each home strive to ensure residents receive the highest level of care suited to their needs.

Late last year, Orchard Care Homes was named the winner of the LaingBuisson Award for Excellence in Large Residential Care.

The business also recently revealed it had achieved a 5-star food rating at every home across its portfolio and celebrated a reduction of up to 91% of significant injuries from falls since adding PainChek technology to its prevention policy and post falls protocol.

Orchard Care Homes – Where and How?

Orchard Care Homes believes in equitable care for all. All staff are passionate about challenging the formulaic, impersonal care practices still used today.

Their policy is to provide the individualised support every person in care deserves. Orchard puts the people in their care at the centre of every decision, and that’s precisely how it should be!

Orchard Care Homes operates twenty-three care homes across the UK, from Sheffield to Sunderland and Grimsby to Liverpool. Each home has a strong reputation for excellent standards of care, and the company is proud to offer a wide range of care services at each location.

Specialities include residential, nursing, respite, and specialist dementia care through their Reconnect communities.

More information can be found at https://orchardcarehomes.com/.