If you are weighing up care home activities in Hellesdon, the best evidence is not a glossy brochure. It is what actually happened last month. March 2026 at Redlands House brought Bollywood dancers into our lounge, a St Patrick’s Day party with a proper Irish meal, birthdays marked with wonderful cakes, a garden yard sale for the community and plenty of quiet one-to-one time in between. Here is our round-up of the month, and what it tells you about everyday life in our home.
Redlands House is a privately owned care home in Hellesdon, on the north side of Norwich, and we have been looking after local families here since 2003. We provide residential care, specialist dementia care and respite stays, and we are rated Good by the Care Quality Commission. Most importantly for this post, we believe care home activities in Hellesdon should give every resident something worth getting up for, every single day. March certainly delivered.
Bollywood Sparkles brought colour, music and joy
The month began in the loveliest way. On 1 March, the dance troupe Bollywood Sparkles visited Redlands House to share their Bollywood dancing routines with our residents. The dancers arrived in wonderfully colourful dress, the music filled the room, and before long residents were joining in with the movements themselves.
As a home we embrace all cultures and individuals, and afternoons like this are a big part of why. Good care home activities in Hellesdon should open a window on the wider world, not simply repeat the same familiar songs week after week. A new rhythm, a new colour, a new story to talk about over tea. That is exactly what Bollywood Sparkles gave us, and the conversations carried on long after the dancers had gone home.
St Patrick’s Day, done properly
Making the decorations ourselves
On 6 March, alongside a birthday celebration, residents began preparing for St Patrick’s Day by making their own decorations. That small detail says a lot about how we do things. It would be far quicker to buy bunting, but the making is half the joy. Sitting together, chatting, cutting and sticking gives an ordinary afternoon a purpose, and when the decorations finally went up, residents could point to the ones they had made themselves. Hands-on sessions like this are the quiet backbone of our care home activities in Hellesdon.
An Irish meal, a Guinness and a lot of laughter
When 17 March arrived, we celebrated in style. There was a themed Irish meal and, of course, a nice Guinness for those who fancied one. Residents and staff dressed up together, with green outfits, shamrock glasses and Irish flags around the home, and the whole day evoked lots of laughter. Themed celebration days like this are a highlight of care home activities in Hellesdon because they give everyone, residents and staff alike, permission to be a little bit silly together. If you are picturing your loved one’s face at a party like this, that feeling is exactly what we aim for.
Birthdays celebrated the way they should be
Birthdays in March were marked properly, as they always are here. On 6 March we held birthday celebrations for one lovely lady, complete with a great cake. Then on 29 March there was a beautiful homemade birthday cake for the fabulous Phylis.
Homemade is the word to notice. A birthday in a care home should never feel like an item ticked off a schedule. It should feel like your family made a fuss of you, because here, they did. When families ask us about care home activities in Hellesdon, we often say that the small personal touches will tell you more than the big events ever will.
Care home activities in Hellesdon that welcome the community in
March also saw Redlands House open its garden for a yard sale fundraiser. We reminded everyone the day before, and it gave residents something real to look forward to as spring arrived: neighbours coming through the gate, stalls set out in the fresh air and a shared purpose behind it all. Fundraising events like this keep our home connected to Hellesdon rather than tucked away from it, and they give residents the pleasure of hosting, not just being cared for. Of all the care home activities in Hellesdon we run, the ones that bring neighbours through the door are among our favourites.
We were also visited by another dance group during the month, and their message afterwards summed up what we hope every visitor feels. They told us they had a great time dancing for and with the residents. For and with. Our residents are never just an audience; they are part of everything that happens here.
Quieter moments matter just as much
Not every good day is a party, and some of the best care home activities in Hellesdon are the quietest ones. On 29 March, alongside Phylis’s cake, residents enjoyed a movie afternoon with a selection of snacks and one-to-one craft activities. In our team’s own words from March, we had “the most wonderful interactions with each individual”. A typical week at Redlands House balances:
- Lively group events, such as visiting dancers and themed celebration days
- Hands-on sessions, such as crafts and decoration-making
- Community moments, such as fundraisers in the garden
- One-to-one time built around each person’s interests and pace
There is good reason for this mix. The NHS lists connecting with others, learning new skills and giving to others among its five steps to mental wellbeing, and a varied programme of care home activities in Hellesdon quietly delivers all of them. For residents living with dementia, familiar music, gentle craft and unhurried one-to-one attention can reach places that conversation sometimes cannot. You can read more about how we support this on our dementia care in Norwich page.
Frequently asked questions
What activities does Redlands House offer?
Our care home activities in Hellesdon include visiting entertainers and dance groups, themed celebration days such as St Patrick’s Day, birthday parties, craft and decoration-making sessions, movie afternoons, garden events and daily one-to-one time. The programme changes with the seasons and with residents’ own suggestions.
Can residents living with dementia join in?
Yes. Every activity is adapted so residents living with dementia can take part in whatever way feels right for them, whether that is dancing along, watching from a comfortable chair or enjoying a one-to-one craft session. Our team provides specialist dementia care and knows each resident well.
Are families and the local community welcome at events?
Very much so. Community events such as our garden yard sale are open to visitors, and families are always encouraged to share celebrations with their loved ones. Our Facebook page is the best place to see what is coming up next.
How do I find out what is happening each month?
We share photographs and updates from our days regularly, and we publish monthly round-ups like this one. If you would like to hear about upcoming care home activities in Hellesdon and what is planned for the weeks ahead, just call us on 01603 427337 and ask.
Come and see a normal day for yourself
Reading about care home activities in Hellesdon is one thing; standing in the lounge while a dance troupe has everyone smiling is quite another. If you are thinking about residential care, dementia care or a respite stay for someone you love, we would be delighted to show you around Redlands House. Call us on 01603 427337 to book a visit, and come and see what April has in store.