Celebrating life at Barchester

Life at Crandon Springs Care Home is all about meaningful and memorable experiences, and sometimes that leads to unusual and unexpected activities and encounters!

Our residents recently enjoyed a fascinating visit from wildlife experts, getting up close with an incredible range of reptiles and bugs. From snakes and tarantulas to giant snails and exotic insects, the session sparked curiosity, conversation and laughter.

For some, it was also a moment of personal achievement, with residents (and staff) bravely overcoming fears and trying something completely new. 

Angela Grace attended the Radio Bath Business Breakfast a thank you to Vicky Whip of Sage & Elder for the kind invite.

Keynote speakers included the Castle Combe Race Track Experience Team and Gough Solicitors, alongside a great pop-up podcast with Bath Radio.

A fantastic opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals in Bath, while further promoting Darcy Gardens’ premium care offering and supporting the local business community and residents of Bath.

Encouraging discussions around Bath BID, coverage from the Echo Newspaper, and potential future links with Bath College.

We look forward to the forthcoming  monthly networking events.

We also Welcomed Vicky Whip to Darcy Gardens this week, Sage and Elder, bringing wisdom, warmth, and guidance to the community.

With years of experience working with a leading later living developer, and having supported many individuals and families through the often complex journey of moving home in later life, Vicky founded Sage & Elder to help more people over 60 find the right home for their needs.

During her visit, Vicky met with Angela Grace, Home Service Advisor, strengthening connections and building networks to better support those transitioning into care.

Through a compassionate, wraparound approach, every individual is supported to feel connected, valued, and truly at home. 

We recently decided to try making traditional Welsh cakes and what a wonderful experience it turned out to be! In celebration of St David’s Day, our residents came together for a joyful baking session filled with laughter, teamwork and delicious aromas drifting through the dining room. Everyone got involved, from mixing the ingredients to rolling the dough and cooking the cakes to perfection. It was truly heart-warming to see such enthusiasm and collaboration.

The highlight of the day was watching the smiles of pride on our residents’ faces as they tasted their freshly made Welsh cakes. Moments like these are incredibly special, bringing back cherished memories, encouraging conversation and creating new shared experiences. We are so proud of our talented bakers and the sense of community they continue to build together.

A weekend of community, connection, and reflection 🌿

With the clocks springing forward and the first days of spring upon us, it’s been a beautiful balance of togetherness and faith.

Palm Sunday Mass — a time to pause, reflect, and begin a deeply meaningful Holy Week at our local church

Holding onto the message of humility, sacrifice, and hope as we journey forward .

We have some beauitful decortaions and messages created by Liz fo the home.

Friday our Hot Cross Bun Challenge, Easter Cake and quiz.

A truly special sensory, dementia-friendly session with Liz our Activties Co Ordinator. In our Saloon.

Every sense was thoughtfully explored—from the calming cinema room to the relaxing spa-style post-treatment area. Gentle hand massages, beautiful spring poems, and delicious cake & refreshments created a warm and comforting atmosphere throughout.

Liz’s incredible eye for detail made the experience even more meaningful. Sensory sessions like these are so valuable for residents living with dementia—helping to reduce anxiety and agitation, stimulate memory and cognitive function, encourage communication and social interaction, and promote a sense of calm, comfort, and overall wellbeing.

We had a wonderful Easter visit to Standalone Farm. 

The highlight of the day was meeting the farms gorgeous new born lambs, which were absolutely adorable. Residents had great fun feeding the animals, getting up close with them and enjoying the fresh countryside air. 

It was a lovely afternoon filled with smiles, laughter and plenty of special moments. Spending time with the beautiful animals brought back fond memories for many and created new ones for everyone who joined us. A truly heart warming way to celebrate Easter and the Spring season. 

We cant wait to return!.

We had a wonderful time celebrating Mother’s Day with a special afternoon tea at the care home. The lounge was beautifully set, and residents enjoyed a lovely selection of tea, sandwiches, and delicious cakes.

It was a truly heartwarming afternoon as families joined their loved ones to celebrate together. There was lots of laughter, conversation, and special moments shared as we recognised and appreciated all the amazing mothers, grandmothers, and mother figures in our community.

We continued the celebrations when our residents enjoyed a special Mother’s Day supper here at the care home. The dining room was prepared to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere, allowing everyone to come together and celebrate the occasion.
Residents enjoyed a delicious evening meal, along with plenty of smiles, laughter and good conversation around the table. It was a lovely opportunity for everyone to relax, socialise and celebrate all the wonderful mums, grandmothers and mother figures within our home.

Thank you to our fantastic team who helped organise and prepare such a lovely evening for our residents. It was a wonderful way to celebrate Mother’s Day and create more special moments together.

Staff and residents at Glebefields enjoyed staying healthy and whatever they are trying should always taste this good. 

Our amazing chef was busy blending these vibrant, creative smoothies for our residents.
Not only were they delicious, but also packed with vital vitamins and nutrients to keep everyone feeling their best and perfectly hydrated, small sips make a big difference!

We’ve been having a wonderful time getting ready for Easter in the care home this week! Residents enjoyed a variety of baking, decorating, and art activities, all filled with creativity, laughter, and a lovely sense of togetherness.

The Residents made and sampled some tasty nest cakes, we’ve been putting Easter Decorations around the home followed by individual art & craft time.

It was heart warming to see so many smiles and to share such special moments together. A big thank you to everyone who took part and helped make the celebrations so memorable!