Festive cheer all year as Nottinghamshire service unveils Christmas-themed bedroom
People living at a residential care home in Misterton, near Retford, can now enjoy the festive season every day of the year, thanks to a £250,000 refurbishment by Lifeways.
As part of the makeover, one of the bedrooms at Rose Meadow has been transformed into a dedicated Christmas-themed space, designed around the interests of one of its residents. The room features a Christmas tree, two Santas, and a Grinch-inspired mural, created especially for the service’s festive enthusiast.
Registered Manager Dawn Shelton explained that the person we support has a particularly strong connection to the holidays, and having a personalised space has helped him build trust with others.
“He doesn’t like eye contact, and there are a lot of environmental factors that he finds difficult, which can be barriers. He usually communicates through his Christmas-themed toys - like a stuffed reindeer - but occasionally now, he’ll bypass the toy, talk directly to you, or even offer you a drink.
“It’s very much been motivated by privacy, dignity, the individual’s interests and hobbies, and by the staff,” she added.
Other bedrooms have also been given unique designs. One now features a Harry Potter mural, with the boy who lived chasing a golden snitch across a Quidditch pitch, while another is being refurbished in tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II and the Royal Family.
The Registered Manager went on to highlight the importance of having a specialist refurbishment team with the knowledge and skills to work alongside individuals with learning difficulties and autism, helping make the renovation process much smoother.
“They formed relationships with the individuals we support. I saw one of them dancing in his own time to Steps with one of the people who live here - it was magical to see,” Dawn added.
The transformation has been warmly welcomed by the Rose Meadow team. Support Worker Naomi shared that the “Christmas king” of the service is “absolutely loving his new room” and is proud to show it off.
Naomi thanked Lifeways and its Property Team - headed by Andrea Ellison and Carl Wilkinson, alongside Shelbie Vickers and Kathryn Evans – on behalf of the people living at the service, explaining that the company had been very open to suggestions on how the rooms should be decorated.
“Once the ideas were put forward, Lifeways was straight on it. I think it’s lovely they’ve done this for the guys - some of them have lived here for 20 years, and I know they really appreciate it.”
The refurbishment, which is still ongoing, began earlier this year and is scheduled to be completed by the end of November. As part of the project, the mock Tudor building has been carefully restored so the original ornate ceiling features brough back to their former glory.
The first two bedrooms have been prioritised, alongside the installation of a brand-new fully fitted kitchen, modern bathrooms and en-suites in line with Lifeways branding, as well as a fully refurbished medication room and larder.
Find out more about Rose Meadow here: Rose Meadow | Lifeways