What does a normal week look like?
No two weeks are exactly the same, but here's a flavour of what life at The Lodge looks like day to day. Our dedicated activities coordinator plans the programme, but residents always have a say in what's on offer. If something isn't working, we change it. If someone has a new idea, we'll try it.
Getting Moving
Every day starts with an opportunity to move. We run gentle daily movement sessions including chair-based exercises, stroke rehabilitation exercises and movement games. It's not a gym class. It's about keeping mobile, staying flexible and having a bit of fun while you're at it. Entirely optional, entirely at your own pace.
Cooking & Baking
Baking is one of the most popular activities at The Lodge. Residents make cakes, biscuits and bread throughout the week, and the results end up on the tea table. We also run cooking sessions and a milkshake and smoothie bar, which is exactly as popular as you'd expect.
Arts, Crafts & Creative
Painting, drawing, clay modelling, card making and seasonal crafts all feature regularly. The programme is adapted to different abilities, and there's no pressure to produce a masterpiece. It's about the doing, not the result. Though some residents are genuinely talented and we've had some impressive work over the years.
Games & Socials
Bingo is a firm favourite and runs weekly. We also have regular quiz afternoons, board games, card games and movie nights. These are some of the simplest activities on the programme, and often the most enjoyed.
The Gentleman's Club & Ladies Club
Not every activity suits everyone, so we run a gentleman's club and a ladies club. These are dedicated sessions where residents can enjoy activities and conversation tailored to their interests, in a relaxed, social setting. They're consistently popular and something a bit different from the usual care home programme.
Themed Days & Evenings
Throughout the year we run themed days and evenings, from cultural celebrations and seasonal events to decade-themed parties. They break up the routine, bring the home together, and give everyone something to look forward to.
Individual Activities
Not everyone wants to join a group activity, and that's absolutely fine. Some residents prefer reading, doing puzzles, watching a favourite programme, spending time in the garden on their own, or simply having a cup of tea in their favourite chair.
Our activities coordinator works with every resident individually to understand what they enjoy, whether that's structured activities or simply being left in peace.
Gold Award-Winning Gardens
Our gardens won the Maldon in Bloom Gold Award in 2025, and they're at the heart of daily life at The Lodge. Residents tend raised flower beds, a large vegetable patch and fruit trees throughout the year. There's outdoor seating with views over the Essex countryside, and in the warmer months, the gardens host tea parties, family barbecues and community events.
For many residents, spending time in the garden is the best part of their day. Whether it's getting their hands in the soil, sitting with a visitor in the sunshine, or simply watching the seasons change from the outdoor seating. The gardens are a genuine outdoor space, not a token courtyard, and they make a real difference to how people feel.
Getting Out and About
We organise regular outings into Maldon and the surrounding area. Residents have visited Maldon Promenade, local cafes, Colchester Zoo, garden centres, Christmas fairs and the shops in town. Outings happen roughly monthly during busier seasons and every couple of months at other times.
These trips are a chance to enjoy a change of scenery, do something different, and stay connected to the local community. We plan them around what residents want to do, and they're always a highlight when they happen.
Live Entertainment, Every Month
We welcome visiting entertainers to The Lodge at least once a month, and often more. Musicians, singers, magicians and other performers come to the home to entertain residents, and these sessions are always popular. They bring energy, laughter and something different to the weekly routine.
We also invite external activity providers in to run specialist sessions that complement our in-house programme. If a resident has a particular interest that we can't cover ourselves, we'll try to find someone who can.
Interactive Games for Everyone
We have a smart interactive projector that turns tables and floors into touchscreen-style games. Residents can play quizzes, drawing games, memory challenges and more, either on their own or as a group. It's particularly popular with residents living with dementia, as it combines gentle cognitive stimulation with fun and social interaction.
It's one of those things that sounds gimmicky until you see it in action. Residents light up when it comes on, and it often brings people together who wouldn't normally join a group activity.
Designed to Include Everyone
Every activity at The Lodge is designed to be accessible to residents with different abilities, including those living with dementia. Our activities coordinator adapts sessions to ensure everyone can participate in a way that's comfortable and enjoyable for them.
Some activities are particularly beneficial for residents with dementia: the interactive projector games provide gentle cognitive stimulation, gardening offers sensory engagement and routine, music sessions can unlock memories and emotions, and art and craft activities provide a creative outlet without the need for verbal communication.
We never force participation. If a resident is having a quieter day, that's fine. The programme is there for people to dip in and out of as they choose.
See Our Activities for Yourself
The best way to understand what life at The Lodge feels like is to visit. Come during an activity session, walk around the gardens, meet our activities coordinator and care team, and see the home in action. There's no pressure and no obligation.
