Celebrating life at Barchester

Staff and residents at Iris Court care home in Hitchin have invited neighbours, and friends from the local community to enjoy an interactive Dementia friendly performance “Escape to the sea “with playwright and actress Jenny Ayres.

As part of the homes monthly carers café which is held on every second Thursday of the month from 10:30am, residents from within the local community were invited to join to attend the performance whilst enjoying tea, coffee and cake whilst being able to discover more about living with dementia and this condition, with Alzheimer’s society, and other guests in attendance there was plenty of support on hand for the community.  

The escape to the sea performance is wonderfully engaging for all, with a fabulous story, plenty of props and interaction with the audience allowing for plenty of reminiscence over fond memories or family trips to the seaside and holidays.

Hosting events for friends and family members to join us is an essential part of our activities program and we are always looking for new ideas to bring the wider community into our home.

Daily activities for our Residents at Ritson lodge are an important part of our lifestyle enrichment programme. Our Activities team take regular feedback from the Residents  to ensure that we create a fun packed day every day.

Our Head Chef Tom loves getting involved to help the Residents hone their baking and catering skills so that everyone can enjoy the sumptuous goodies that they make.

At Ritson Lodge we have a whole team approach and all our departments love to bring a smile to our Residents and also keep them engaged in daily actvities.

Another wonderful afternoon enjoyed by our lovely ladies! Our residents spent time at one of their favourite picnic spots – the beautiful Milton Country Park .

They soaked up the fresh air, sipped coffee, and watched the ducks and swans gracefully swimming by. Audrey has even added the outing to her diary, looking forward to returning soon with her daughter.

A truly delightful day filled with smiles and serenity. 

Braeburn  was full of excitement as they prepared for a trip to Tiny Steps Petting Farm in Thurlby.

Residents Joan and Brenda were very excited to meet animals such as donkeys, pigs and goats at Tiny Steps Petting Farm. The residents were captivated as they were shown how to safely feed the animals, as well as learning interesting facts like that goats do not have any front upper teeth! It was a morning filled with joy as both Brenda and Joan loved being able to be so close to such a variety of animals.
 

This week, our residents enjoyed a wonderful music therapy. We gathered together in a cosy circle, creating an inviting and relaxed atmosphere where everyone could participate and feel included.

Various musical instruments were laid out for the residents to choose from — drums, tambourines, shakers, and maracas. The familiar feel of the instruments brought smiles and sparked happy memories. As the session began, we started singing classic old tunes that many of our residents fondly remember from their younger days. The familiar melodies encouraged many to sing along, tap their feet, or gently sway to the rhythm.

The simple act of making music together fostered a beautiful sense of community. Residents who might usually be quiet found themselves joining in, encouraged by our staff and visitors. The sound of the drums, the soft jingling of the tambourines, and the singing created a fantastic atmosphere that filled the room with positive energy.

Music therapy offers not only entertainment but also emotional and cognitive benefits, stimulating memories, reducing anxiety, and enhancing overall wellbeing. We look forward to many more sessions where music continues to bring us all closer together.

As we hit midweek and half way through International Carers Week, we would like to say a huge thank you to our very special and dedicated carers.

These are just a few and we know we owe so much to so many.

Barchester have gifted our caring staff with a huge box of cadburys chocolates to say thanks.

Our residents, colleagues and family members wrote special cards of thanks and we said a really heartfelt thank you.

Valerie had a wonderful morning at Lethen Park with the support of her beloved husband, Mike. Recently, Valarie has been spending time in her room due to mobility issues and waiting for a new wheelchair. Today, Valerie was in a very pleasant mood and was feeling so confident in herself that her beloved husband, Mike, helped her attend the daily events. Valerie really enjoyed the therapy dog visit by Toby and was so happy to interact with the dog and was able to enjoy Toby in her lap. 

This brought Valerie a great sense of pride and joy and a huge smile on her face. Valerie enjoyed the texture of the dog's fur and the warmth of his fur. After this activity, this then led to Valerie attending the Knitting and Nattering club with her husband, Mike. Valerie enjoyed chatting with Mike about her love for walking, her love for nice weather. During the Club, Valerie was not able to participate in the knitting however really enjoyed the nattering element and holding the ball of wool for other residents.

Valerie was so very calm and relaxed and really enjoyed this wonderful morning so very much. Amanda followed up on this activity by printing off the photos and presenting them to Valerie as a reminder about her wonderful day away from her room.  

Here at Woodside, we welcomed back the fantastic miniature donkey for well-being. We had a gathering in the atrium and went room to room for those that couldn’t join us.  

It never fails to bring surprise and smiles along with a lot of comfort and joy. We can’t bring all the smiling faces to you, but believe us when we say that taking a donkey bedside is something amazing to be part of.

Happy Birthday to Don and many happy returns.

Don had a lovely day with his wife and grand children and a party of friends who all came to see him and share his cake and a glass or two of champagne 

We want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the wonderful scholars from Micklefield school. Your fantastic assistance in making and designing cushions for our residents was truly appreciated!
From crafting beautiful designs to delivering them with bright smiles, your kindness and creativity have made a significant impact in the lives of our residents and community.

The launch of our Dementia disco was quite simply more fantastic than we had thought it would be.
We enjoyed an hour and a half with a live DJ playing all our favourite songs from a playlist and requests made in the evening. We had a glow station with lots of fun things for our residents to wear and enjoy, from ties, bracelets and wands.

The evening was a huge success, way more than we had first imagined, giving residents, staff and families a chance to connect, and enjoy letting their hair down. Our DJ left the evening feeling fulfilled and said “that has given me a real sense of satisfaction that I haven’t had from any event I’ve done, and I’ve been a DJ for over 20 years.”

Kate and Sarah danced the whole time and were both disappointed when the night came to a close. Others danced, sat relaxed and then danced some more. It's safe to say we all slept well that night.  

Residents took part in the Salisbury Art Scene's 'Art in the Square June event with our stand in the Guildhall Square showing off artwork created at our regular art sessions and monthly 'Art Open Days' run under the guidance of the home's 'Artist in Residence,' Wendy Fuller. The residents had also turned their work into a range of greetings cards which they were selling in aid of their chosen charity for 2025, Childrens Chance, based in Salisbury.  A number of residents enjoyed going down to the square to not only see their own work exhibited but to view all the displays and gain inspiration from them as well.

During the day, other artists and members of the public dropped by the stand in a steady stream. The interest generated was amazing and people were so complimentary about the work on the show and were genuinely interested in hearing about Milford’s artistic programme. We will be attending again at the beginning of September when we will be showing off our work around the theme 'green' as we prepare for Arts in Care Homes day, which is being held on the 24th September, and we are really excited to start working on this – so watch this space!   

We had a fabulous time celebrating World Cocktail Day in the sunshine with our lovely residents and staff! Mocktails were flowing in the garden as we enjoyed a mix of fun, laughter, music, and great conversation. It was wonderful to see everyone relaxing and enjoying the moment together. 

A big thank you to the families and friends who joined us—it’s always so special sharing these joyful times with you.  

Today, Jenny spent time visiting our lovely residents in their rooms, sharing laughter and sweet moments of reminiscing. David said, “I don’t usually like bracelets, but if you make one in my favourite colour  - orange, that would be brilliant!” And just like that, the conversation flowed.

It was lovely to see our residents thoughtfully choosing their favourite colours and doing their best to create something special.

Residents and staff turned back the clock for an unforgettable morning of D-Day celebrations, joined by the enthusiastic students of Moulton School and College. If you thought history was boring, you clearly haven’t experienced it with these lively folks!

The day kicked off with a game about D-Day, where students and residents engaged in some friendly competition. There was more chatter as residents scratched their heads, trying to remember the finer points of history. Spoiler alert: they were having way too much fun to care about the correct answers!

Next up was a heart-warming performance by the school choir, who sang to the residents with “Songs that Won the War.” It was a delightful trip down memory lane, with the residents swaying and singing along.

The History department students shared fascinating facts, while the Literacy Department brought the house down with poetry readings.

Meanwhile, in the dementia community, students from the health and social care department took some time to bond with the residents. It was a heart-warming sight, as they chatted. The students had an insight to working in the care sector.

The choir didn’t stop there! They ventured into the dementia community, where their tunes touched deep parts for both residents and student and brought a tear of two. And for those residents who were not able to join in the group activities the choir delivered songs right to their individual rooms.

We know that music works wonders for mental well-being. The residents were absolutely beaming as they sang along, reliving cherished memories and creating new ones. It was a morning filled with joy that uplifted spirits across the board.

As if the morning festivities weren’t enough, the celebration continued into the afternoon with a live performance by local legend Rodney Dell. He sang tunes from the 1940s to the 1970s, and the residents joined in clapping and tapping their feet!

Residents stated “This was an incredible morning celebrating D-Day! The students from Moulton School are a delightful, the choir was simply angelic, and Rodney Dell was the cherry on top of our cake of celebration!”

Deputy Manager, Elina House Stated "Brampton View wholeheartedly embraces the power of intergenerational activities. Its wonderful we have the connection with Moulton School, these interactions aid to communication, enhance confidence, and boost self-esteem. Plus, they teach students a little something about empathy and kindness"

The residents and staff were delighted in attending the local St Thomas More Catholic Primary School to celebrate a beautiful Pentecost Service held in the school hall.

It was a warmly embraced service by the residents, as they returned to the school hall for the afternoon. Pentecost, meaning "fiftieth" in Greek, is a Christian holy day that commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles and other followers of Jesus Christ, as described in the Book of Acts. It is celebrated 50 days after Easter and marks the birth of the Church and the beginning of its mission. It was wonderful to see the children who had worked so hard in creating what was a lovely service.

Resident Beryl said, "It was a beautiful service, the singing was lovely, and my daughter was once a teacher at the school, I was once a teacher many years ago now."

Tina, Activities Co-ordinator said, “It was lovely that the local school opened their doors to us to let us enjoy the service with them. It means so much to the residents, it allows for the young and the old to mix and the wonderful experiences are shared.  The residents were very engaged, singing to the songs and full of smiles throughout. Days like these are very important to our residents and as well as the religious meaning of the afternoon, it is also important to have intergenerational activities. It is crucial to create links with our local schools and within the community to continue for our residents to remain a part of the community.”

What an amazing afternoon of music with singer Devon and her puppet Bella, who delighted the residents on the dementia community.

We all know the impact music can have on a person’s mental wellbeing, the residents at Elm Bank, are always keen to have fun with musical entertainers in. An afternoon of pure joy was had by all on the Dementia community, as Devon with her puppet Bella sang and engaged with all. Each song got everyone testing out their singing and their feet moving to old classics and new surprises. It was just simply amazing to see how music lifted the spirits of the residents and created joy for all that allowed for all residents to reminisce on memories past.

Devon said, “It was great to come and sing for everyone, the residents really got engaged and it was just lovely to hear them sing and watch them dance. Bella my puppet certainly worked her magic on everyone, just a fun packed afternoon. I cannot wait to come to come back again.”

Marvellous Bindura, General Manager said, "Music is so important to many of our residents and helps are residents in many ways, it is lovely to see the residents engaged and joining in with songs and dancing, the puppet was a delight”.  

The residents and staff are always delighted in attending the local ‘Dementia Sings Out’ group. The group is held every Thursday at the Compass Church in Wellingborough and the residents have been attending the group for almost a year.

The group is a community choir that meets every week for those living with dementia, and for their carers, to sing songs that are not only uplifting but also inspirational. It is lovely for the residents and staff of the home to enjoy the music and songs from Gareth Fuller, who certainly has all up on their feet dancing and singing. As always the morning is enjoyable for all that attend, for people to simply let their hair down and immerse themselves in the wonderful group that make them feel so welcome. The volunteers at the group certainly make the morning extra special, Elm Banks residents and staff will definitely be returning weekly for more fun.

Tina, Activities Coordinator said, “We have been coming to this truly amazing venue for a year now and every time we have attended we can really see what a difference it makes to our residents. It is such a warm and welcoming place and with the volunteers who are full of smiles and ready to help, I can honestly say that our residents really enjoy attending, and so do we!.”

Marvellous Bindura, General Manager said, “It is lovely to see our residents and staff enjoying another morning with ‘Dementia sings Out’, the enrichment this group creates in the lives of all living with dementia is recognisable. It is very important to have links with local groups, it not only allows for good community relationship, but also the impact these groups have on residents here at the home is truly amazing”.

Elm Bank marked the 81st Anniversary of D-Day by having an afternoon of music from the fabulous D-Day Dollies. The residents enjoyed the beautiful songs of the past, with eyes closed and deep in thought about what the day meant to them.

Residents reminisced about their memories of that time, sharing stories and enjoying each other’s company whilst listening to the wonderful live performance. For many residents it was a time in their lives that meant so much, being able to share the stories was important to all.

Marvellous Bindura, General Manager at Elm Bank said: “Many of our residents can remember the time around D-Day, and sharing thoughts with each other was a beautiful experience, the music was amazing, and it certainly got everyone singing.”

Residents at Elm Bank said, “It was an important day for many off us, it was wonderful, the music was simply the best, the D-Dollies sang all the songs we loved back in the day and still do, simply perfect, a lovely afternoon.” 

The residents got their sun hats on, sun cream on and tucked in to a spectacular BBQ lunch cooked up by the homes talented chefs.

Everyone loves a good old BBQ and it was the perfect weather for all to enjoy the warm sun and the homes beautiful gardens. The chefs lit the BBQ and cooked up what was truly an amazing lunch for all the residents. The mood was relaxed, with music playing in the background, the birds singing and the wonderful smell of BBQ food in the air. All of the residents enjoy the wonderful outdoor garden space the home has to offer, and it was simply a joy to be entertained with good food and music in the surroundings.

Tina, Activities Co-ordinator said, “It was a lovely way for us to start the summer off, we have a great team here at the home that work so hard together to ensure that all our residents enjoy the things they love. We make everything all-inclusive and cater for everyone, not everyone wanted to be outside so they enjoyed a BBQ in the comfort of the beautiful dining rooms or their room. Our chefs really did cook up a delicious BBQ”.

Marvellous Bindura, General Manager said, “It is lovely to see our residents enjoying their BBQ lunch in the homes gardens. The sun was out and the birds were singing, it was just great to be out in the fresh air surrounded with the smell of beautiful flowers, and the sound of music and a tasty BBQ lunch. The gardens at the home are beautiful space for all of us to enjoy and we all try to get outside as much as possible throughout the year”.

And just like that POM III is finished and was another amazing success!! Everyone had so much fun together - no amount of rain is stopping us at Drummond.

Big thank you to everyone who came and joined in the fun with us and more importantly massive thank you to those who helped!!! We couldn’t have pulled this off without the great community spirit needed to set this up.

To the bands who performed you were all great and the residents loved you and loved dancing and singing along with you!!! We hope to see you next year!!
 

What a fun way to celebrate one of the world's most loved foods, cheese! Residents, family, friends and staff came together for National Cheese Day, and let’s just say, it was a gouda time all around!

This cheesy celebration was the perfect opportunity for enthusiastic cheese lover residents to explore a variety of flavours, textures, and aromas. From mild and creamy to sharp, spicy, and tangy, there was something for every palate. And let’s not forget the delicious chutneys and crunchy cheese biscuits that paired perfectly with their cheesy spread! It was a unanimous vote that the garlic & herb soft cheese along with the Mexicana spicy cheese was amongst the favourites.

One resident shared, "It was a lovely afternoon of trying new tasty cheeses; there was a great selection on offer, we really enjoyed the quiz too!"

To make the day even more enjoyable, the home paired their cheesy delights with a selection of wines and hosted a fun quiz by Brampton View very own Resident Ambassador, Janet. The competitive spirit was noted as residents tackled the quiz questions, adding an extra layer of excitement to the afternoon!

It was truly a day filled with laughter, delicious bites, and a whole lot of cheesy goodness. Here’s to more tasty celebrations like this in the future!

National celebrations and family-friendly events are just some of the ways that we ensure the residents at Brampton View Care home remain connected with their loved ones and the wider community. 

Residents have been celebrating with volunteer day with Colin and his 4-legged friend Bertie who visit the home weekly to bring pet therapy to the home’s residents.

Colin's journey with therapy dogs began in March 2025, but his love for dogs stretches back much further. His first beloved furry friend was Sammy, a magnificent Golden Retriever who lived a remarkable 15 years. Upon retirement, Colin knew he wanted a new dog and a way to continue connecting with people. "I wanted to socialise and make people smile," he shared, and that's precisely what he and Bertie are doing.

Together, this dynamic duo is making the rounds at Brampton View, the residents in particular, have been delighted to meet Bertie, enjoying his visits immensely and noting how he brings laughter and smiles to everyone he encounters.

Bertie, a handsome English Cream Retriever, is a true character. The firstborn of a litter of eight, he was also the lightest in colour and the heaviest – a sign of his charmingly robust nature! Residents learnt that Bertie starts his day with a refreshing long walk around Moulton, preparing to spread some joy. And after a busy schedule of bringing comfort and smiles, Bertie has a peculiar but endearing habit: his absolute favourite snack is a frozen carrot. Don't even try offering him a fresh one – "if it's not frozen, he's not interested!" laughs Colin. When the day is done, Bertie enjoys the run of the house, finding the cosiest spot for his well-deserved rest.

The residents light up with joy whenever they receive a visit, and our hearts swell with gratitude for Colin, who generously dedicates his time to share moments of warmth and connection with our cherished community members. His selfless commitment, along with the invaluable contributions of all our volunteers, creates a ripple of happiness that resonates deeply within the hearts of those we serve.

Volunteers are remarkable individuals bring not only their skills and energy but also an endless supply of compassion, enriching the lives of our residents and weaving a tapestry of love and care within the community. In a world that can sometimes feel distant, it is these acts of kindness that remind us of the profound impact we can have on one another. 

Residents at Brampton View have partnered with Moulton School and College in a reading programme designed to enhance the learning experience of students while fostering intergenerational connections. Michelle Bowman, the Lead for Literacy at the school, met with Louise Ramage, Home Services Advisor at Brampton View Care Home, to explore how this initiative could benefit both students and residents.

The programme involves pairing students with residents from the care home, starting with an introductory activity to help them get to know one another. This interaction not only aids the students in understanding the residents but also ensures that the residents feel valued and integrated within the community. Over the course of six weeks, students will visit regularly.

Each student has chosen a short story to read alongside their paired resident, providing an opportunity for discussion about the book, clarification of unfamiliar words, and comprehension of the material. Michelle Bowman stated, “Our students really enjoyed it and they are very much looking forward to returning this Thursday. It’s generated excitement in my class, and they all appreciated their reading partners.”

Residents expressed their enthusiasm, saying, “We have really enjoyed this first visit with the students and can’t wait to see them again next week to find out what happens next in the stories.”

Brampton View Care Home recognises the significant benefits of intergenerational activities. They promote essential communication and social skills, enhance language and reading confidence, and boost self-esteem among all participants. Additionally, these interactions foster empathy and kindness in children, helping them develop a more positive perspective on aging and older individuals.

Bayleaf, Barchester Healthcare’s new luxury care home in Huntingdon, has opened its doors in style, with a Grand Opening performed by Lady De Ramsey, Deputy Lieutenant of Cambridge, in front of invited guests from the local community. We are now open for Residents, the event was filled with laughter and warmth as we prepared to officially open our doors. General Manager, Katie Wilkinson, commented: “We are delighted our home is now open, our residents are at the heart of everything we do at Bayleaf, and we look forward to welcoming them and their families, and becoming an active part of the local community.