Celebrating life at Barchester

We have recently celebrated our fabulous Head Chef, Ian and Care Assistant, Michelle, for their long service! With an amazing combined total of 25 years’ service between them. Ian has been a part of our care home family for 10 years, and Michelle for 15 years! WOW – incredible.

Thank you both for everything you do and for being such valued members of the team here at Crabwall Hall and caring for our residents with such care and compassion, which they so rightly deserve. Congratulations! And here's to many more years to come.   

Healthy Heart Event Highlights: We had a wonderful Healthy Heart event at Appletree Grange, filled with learning, healthy choices, and movement. A big thank you to our Head Chef and kitchen team for preparing such a colourful selection of fruits and salads. The presentation was eye-catching and clearly showed how healthy food can look and feel appealing. 

Our appreciation also goes to the staff and our guest speaker from Age UK for their preparation and for delivering an excellent talk on nutrition and its benefits. It was informative and encouraged positive lifestyle choices. To finish the day, we enjoyed some gentle chair yoga, bringing relaxation and smiles all round.   

Age Is Just a Number at Appletree Grange, one of our incredible residents, who is nearly 100 years young, continues to inspire us every day by actively engaging in the activities he truly enjoys. With a wonderful sense of enthusiasm and determination, he still takes part in meaningful activities that bring him joy, purpose, and a sense of independence. Whether it’s spending time chatting, engaging in familiar routines, or enjoying his favourite pastimes, or a friendly game of snookers, he reminds us that a fulfilling life doesn’t stop with age.

We believe in supporting our residents to live life their way, focusing on strengths, interests, and personal choice. Seeing our residents continue to do what they love is a true reflection of person-centred care in action.        

At Appletree Grange, we are proud to celebrate one of our wonderful residents who has called Appletree Grange home for over 20 years.  She is a strong Catholic and a true Newcastle local. To gently gain her attention, when staff walk into her room, we simply call her name and remind her that she’s from Geordie. Instantly, she responds with the most beautiful smile — one that truly warms the heart and lights up the room.

We are committed to ensuring that all residents feel valued, included, and engaged, including those nursed in bed. Our dedicated staff take time to deliver meaningful 1-to-1 activities, thoughtfully tailored to each resident’s individual needs, preferences, and life history. It’s these special moments and personal connections that make our home such a caring and loving place to be.     

This afternoon in our Memory Lane unit, flower arranging became so much more than a creative activity. As hands selected colours, textures, and familiar scents, conversations flowed, smiles appeared, and memories gently resurfaced. Each arrangement told its own story, shaped by personal choice, shared moments, and a sense of purpose.

These sessions are thoughtfully designed to nurture wellbeing in every sense: encouraging sensory stimulation, supporting fine motor skills, building confidence, and, most importantly, creating meaningful moments of connection in a calm and familiar environment.

At Middletown Grange Care Home, it’s not just about filling time, it’s about creating experiences that truly matter.   

We’re delighted to launch our weekly Book Club at Middletown Grange where stories, conversation, and connection take centre stage (with a little prosecco and refreshments for good measure!).

Designed for all abilities, the club is about choice and empowerment. Some residents enjoy reading aloud together, others prefer independent reading, and many simply enjoy listening, looking through pictures, or joining the discussion in their own way. With large-print books, magnifying glasses, dementia-friendly reads, and illustrated books available, everyone can take part comfortably and confidently.

This is a relaxed, welcoming space focused on choice, confidence, and shared enjoyment. The Book Club is open to all residents and community members, every Sunday from 1.30pm.

Because it’s not just about reading, it’s about belonging, empowerment, and starting new chapters together.       

Today in our Memory Lane unit, our residents enjoyed a beautifully thought-out afternoon that combined creativity, familiarity, and comfort. We began with an arts and crafts session, making our own popcorn boxes, adding purpose, choice, and anticipation to the experience before the main event.

The afternoon then flowed into a cosy cinema-style screening of The Sound of Music, complete with popcorn served in the boxes made earlier. This much-loved classic was a carefully chosen film: familiar, comforting, and rich in music that many residents recognise and remember. The songs sparked smiles, gentle singing along, and emotional connection, making it especially meaningful for those living with dementia.

Activities like this are about more than entertainment. They support reminiscence, sensory engagement, emotional wellbeing, and a sense of continuity, all delivered in a calm, reassuring environment where residents feel safe and supported.

At Middletown Grange Care Home, we believe in creating experiences with intention where every step, from preparation to participation, adds value and meaning to the day.          

Today we were joined by Leightons Opticians who held a Ear Health Workshop here at Hunters.

Open to our own residents as well as the local community, Mirna and Amanda gave hearing tests and gave advice about good ear health and how to look after and maintain your hearing aids. 

A great session with lots of helpful information for everyone that attended.       

A fantastic celebration today for one of our wonderful residents, Dot, who turned 90 today!

Dot threw her very own birthday party, surrounded by family and friends who had come from as far as Madrid to help her celebrate this amazing milestone. With a delicious buffet and beautiful cake supplied by our own kitchen team, the smiles on Dot’s face showed how much the celebration meant to her. Happy Birthday, Dot, from everyone at Hunters.