The Old Vicarage Fine Residential Care Home

06/10/2025

Summer at The Old Vicarage ☀️

We have made the most of the sunshine this summer with lovely walks around the area. We noticed our sponsored flower boxes in full bloom and also sampled some of our neighbours’ home-grown plums! 🍃

We moved our exercise classes outdoors for a change,l this summer too! Often followed by a quiet moment with a book or a friendly visit from friends and family. 🌼

We’ve continued our woodland walks, collecting items to use in creative arts and crafts sessions.🍂

Throughout the summer, we’ve celebrated special occasions including Easter, VE Day, Wimbledon, and our very own Greek-themed summer party! It was a fantastic day with themed food, live music, and a screening of Mamma Mia! to end the day. 🌈

We’ve also been lucky to welcome some wonderful guest speakers. Yvonne joined us to share stories about her MBE, teaching career, and work as a children’s author, she also shared some of her lovely poetry with us on the day.

We also welcomed Norman who gave a fascinating talk about the 1940s, sparking memories and conversation, and kindly brought along his memorabilia for everyone to enjoy. 📖

Day to day, we’ve kept busy with the activities we love, flower arranging, gardening, and making our own homemade ice lollies! It’s lovely to share the flowers we have arranged, displayed on the dining tables and enjoying vegetables we’ve grown ourselves at mealtimes. 🥕

We’ve also been out and about! Carol mentioned wanting to visit the Bolton Food Festival, so we arranged a trip. Carol loved sampling the tasters, having lunch, and exploring all the stalls.

Tony enjoyed a visit to the Steam Museum, and a few residents had a lovely afternoon watching Pride and Prejudice at the Octagon theatre in Bolton. We even had the chance to meet the cast! 🎭

Finally, we were delighted to welcome more students from Salford University and work experience placements this summer. They got involved in lots of activities, played the piano for residents, and even taught us a few new things along the way! 🎶

It’s been a busy and exciting few months!

17/07/2025

Discover our charming close care bungalows, nestled within the idyllic and peaceful grounds of The Old Vicarage.

Our bungalows offer a sense of independence, while providing access to day care services, activities, and a full range of amenities. 🏡

Call us today to arrange a visit!
01204 594736

www. macdonaldcare.co.uk

The Old Vicarage, Ivy Bank Rd, Bolton, BL1 7EQ

Fine residential care home for the elderly including close care accommodation for rent.

12/04/2025

March Moments 💫

March has been a busy month, filled with celebrations, themed decorations, delicious homemade treats, and plenty of laughter.

We've enjoyed marking several occasions including Pancake Day, Diwali, St. Patrick’s Day, Red Nose Day, and Mother’s Day!

Karen and Tony enjoyed a lovely stroll to Starbucks to try their new Lavender Velvet Latte — it was a big hit! ☕️

Amanda and Carol had a great laugh at the Octagon Theatre in Bolton, where they watched a fantastic one-woman comedy show. 🎭

Vic gave a heartfelt poetry reading in dialect, sharing a poem written by his brother-in-law. 📖

This month’s residents’ meeting was full of great ideas and updates too! 📝

🔹In response to requests for more varied music, we’ve arranged for a country/folk performer to visit.

🔹We’ve also scheduled guest speakers for the next three months, including Norman, who will take us on a journey down memory lane to the 1940s, and Yvonne, a talented author, storyteller, and poet.

🔹Upcoming day trips include visits to the Octagon Theatre, Curley’s Fish & Chips, and Bolton Garden Centre — plenty to look forward to!

We ended the month with a beautiful Mother’s Day celebration. Our cooks prepared a homemade afternoon tea, complete with lovely, themed decorations and lots of smiles all around. 💐

We’re excited to welcome spring and all the fun that comes with it — let’s hope the sunshine sticks around! ☀️

15/03/2025

February ❤️🥂💫

Love is in the air as we celebrate Valentine’s Day with creative arts and crafts, flower arranging, and festive decorations! We also shared a delightful afternoon tea to mark the special occasion. 💕

Our days have been full of energy, building strength and mobility with our exercise equipment and fun, ever-changing classes. We love mixing things up to keep every day exciting! 💪

We've also had some wonderful moments this month, from our resident meetings and visits to the community café, to celebrating birthdays! 🎉

As we welcome spring, we're excited for more outdoor activities and gearing up for our Easter celebrations! 🌸

15/03/2025

January ✨🫧🪻

After saying goodbye to our Christmas decorations, we welcomed the new year with fresh, colourful blooms during our flower arranging afternoons. The Home feels a bit bare without the holiday decorations, but it's been wonderful to use creativity to bring joy and warmth back into our space in a new way. 💐

We've also had the pleasure of enjoying a trip to the Octagon Theatre in Bolton to see the magical performance of The Jungle Book. 🎭

Additionally, we've celebrated exciting events like Chinese New Year and Burns Night with delicious, themed cuisine and arts and crafts fun, making every moment special. 💫

09/03/2025

December ✨❤️🎄

What a wonderful festive season we had! ✨

December was filled with so much joy, laughter, and heartwarming moments as we celebrated with themed days, festive trips, and lots of parties!

We celebrated Elf Day with staff and relatives getting into the spirit of things – dressing up and sharing plenty of laughs together! 💚

A lovely trip to Bradley Fold Garden Centre, it was lovely to see their beautiful Christmas displays.🌲

We enjoyed our Christmas party at the home. It was filled with cheer, from the staff’s fabulous festive costumes to singing, dancing, and enjoying delicious homemade food and treats. 🥳

On Christmas Day, we were joined by special guests who brought gifts for all! Our cooks served up a hearty homemade Christmas dinner, which was enjoyed by everyone, including our District nurses. We were also joined by family, friends, and the Eagley Brass Band. The day was filled with community spirit and joy. 🎄🎶

A massive thank you to everyone who helped make this Christmas so special – we can’t wait to create more memories in the year ahead! 🎁

24/12/2024

November ✨🌷🧁

What a wonderful month we've had, filled with creativity, adventure, and celebration! Here’s a look at some of our favourite moments from November:

🌺 Remembrance Day, our talented cooks made handmade cakes for all to enjoy, while residents created beautiful wreaths and watercolour paintings to decorate the home in remembrance.

🍂 We soaked up the fresh air and sunshine with a lovely walk around the homes grounds, trying to replicate the woodland walks we usually attend. This was followed by an afternoon of arts & crafts using the leaves we collected.

🎂 100th Birthday Celebration; Renee celebrated a remarkable milestone with a special letter from the King & Queen, homemade lemon cake, and a delightful musical afternoon with friends. Here's to many more celebrations like this!

💡 We enjoyed a fantastic day out at the Blackpool Illuminations, taking in the stunning lights and indulging in a classic fish & chips dinner. It was the perfect mix of fun, nostalgia, and fresh air!

🎭 Our residents were fully immersed in a magical performance of Alice in Wonderland, with vibrant costumes and interactive moments. A huge thank you to Northeast Producers for bringing so much joy!

🦉 We were thrilled to welcome a guest speaker from Nature Talks and Walks, who shared fascinating insights about owls!He guided us on the best place to hang our owl box and dispelled some common myths, including the fact that owls aren’t as wise as we often think! Did you know Smithills is home to five species of British owls? It was a truly enlightening session for all! 🌿

https://www.naturetalksandwalks.co.uk

🎁 We were thrilled to welcome Dawn’s Delights into the home to showcase her beautiful Christmas gifts and jewellery. Perfect for early holiday shopping!

We’re excited to see what the festive season will bring next month. Stay tuned for more fun, laughter, and special moments! 🌟

01/12/2024

October 🕸️🧡🚂

Here’s a glimpse at all the wonderful activities our residents have enjoyed this month:

🎶 Every Friday, our residents gather for a heartwarming choir practice, with Amanda playing her flute. It’s a beautiful way to bring everyone together and share the joy of music.

🍄 We enjoyed a lovely woodland walk in the crisp autumn sunshine, spotting mushrooms along the way! The walk inspired a fun art session where everyone got creative with paints, capturing the vibrant colors of the season.

🚴‍♀️ We’ve been mixing up our exercise routine to keep things fresh and exciting! Betty especially loved our cycling session, reminiscing about bike rides with friends during the oil shortage when she was in sixth form.

Karen also hosted a Tai Chi class, helping everyone focus on balance and relaxation. 💪

🧡It was such a delight to welcome children from the local mosque for a special visit. The children brought thoughtful gifts for our residents, spreading love and kindness.

🗣️ Our guest speaker Sandra brought lots of memorabilia that sparked wonderful conversations with our residents. It was a lovely trip down memory lane during a childhood memories activity!

🚂 We had a fantastic time on our trip to the Bolton Steam Museum! After exploring the fascinating exhibits, we enjoyed a well-deserved coffee and cake – the perfect end to a wonderful outing. ☕🍰

🎃 What a spook-tacular Halloween we had! We decorated the home, enjoyed festive-themed food, and threw a fabulous party with a sing-and-dance session. The staff and residents dressed up, and we even had some special guest trick-or-treaters! 👻🎉

October has been filled with so many memories and special moments, and we can’t wait to see what November brings! 🍂💛

01/12/2024

All the lovely desserts 🧁!

01/12/2024

01/12/2024

MacMillan Morning 💚💚💚

01/12/2024

September 🤩🫖🪩🧁

September has been a month full of fun, creativity, and kindness and we’ve loved sharing these moments with our residents! Here’s a look at some of the wonderful events and activities we’ve enjoyed together:

💚We had a fantastic time hosting a Macmillan Coffee Morning, raising a total of £275 ! With delicious home-made treats, fun quizzes, and lots of great conversations, it was a lovely time of connection.

🍏Thanks to a generous gift of apples, our talented kitchen team baked up a delicious apple and sultana plait, served with custard. It was a huge hit with the residents!
In addition, our cooks have been busy making lots of other scrumptious treats, including coffee cake and Bavarian cream cake. Deborah, particularly enjoyed baking the cakes, sharing fond memories of when she made them at Hampson’s bakery. 🍰🍮

🎨 Our residents have been getting creative with dried flowers, turning them into beautiful key rings. They also had a blast making their own Strictly-style paddles, ready for their Saturday night watch!

💪 We’ve been working hard on our mobility and stretching exercises– a great way to keep our residents active, improve flexibility, and enhance overall well-being.

It’s been a month of laughter, learning, and lots of smiles! 🥂