Celebrating life at Barchester

One of the cornerstones of our life enrichment program is live musical entertainment. Resident involvement in choosing genres along with feedback after each performance means that we are able to constantly improve our activities calendar.

Country and Western singer Chris Adams wowed the Residents at Ritson with many a country classic. There were feet a tapping and hands a clapping and even a jig or two here and there.

Music and entertainments are an integral part of our monthly activities programme.

Our wonderful residents enjoyed spending time together, and sharing special moments of connection at the weekend.

It's always heart-warming to see friendships flourish and love celebrated.

There was plenty of laughter (and a little flour power!) at our recent Pancake Party.

Our fantastic Activities Team, Emily and Kath, cooked up batches of delicious pancakes for everyone to enjoy. Residents tucked into tasty toppings including chocolate sauce, golden syrup, and the classic lemon and sugar. While most were happy with one or two, Richard was the biggest fan, enjoying four (they were only small).

The fun didn’t stop at eating. Residents also tried their hand at pancake flipping, with a few landing on the floor along the way! The ladies were the most skilled flippers, and Christine impressed everyone with her expert technique proving she’s a true pancake pro.

A great afternoon filled with sweet treats and fun.

Staff and residents are holding double celebrations after receiving exceptional feedback in the home’s customer satisfaction survey and a ‘Very Good’ Care Inspectorate rating. Everyone is as proud as can be after the home scored incredibly highly in all aspects of the survey and was rated ‘Very Good’ for Wellbeing and Setting in its latest CI inspection.

A colossal 100% of the residents at Queens Manor stated that they would recommend the home to a friend.  In the six different areas of the survey covering people, care, environment, activities, dining and communication, the home consistently scored over 85%. The home’s top scores out of the six areas were for the calibre of its staff, and the quality of the care delivered, both scoring 95%, followed by the home’s living environment at 94%. All team members are thrilled to have received such brilliant scores.

The whisks were out and the stakes were high at Rose Water Place this week as we celebrated a truly "batter-tastic" Pancake Day! Our home was transformed into a bustling crêperie, filled with the irresistible aroma of golden batter and the sound of non-stop laughter. From seasoned pros to first-time flippers, our residents got stuck into the action, proving that you’re never too old to master the perfect mid-air toss!
Whether it was the zesty zing of classic lemon and sugar or some seriously decadent chocolatey creations, every pancake was served with a side of pure joy. It’s these sweet moments of togetherness the shared smiles, the sticky fingers, and the friendly "flip-off" competitions that make our community so wonderfully unique. 

A huge round of applause goes to our fantastic team for making the magic happen, and an even bigger thank you to our residents for bringing so much zest and charm to the table. Here’s to a year filled with many more delicious memories and sweet celebrations! 

Residents and staff celebrated Pancake Day in a true competitive fun filled afternoon.

The residents enjoyed the traditional sweet treat with toppings of their choice, lemon and sugar being a firm favourite, as well as spending an afternoon perfecting the art of flipping pancakes. The chefs prepared a stack of pancakes for the fun filled activity, and everyone was involved as a whole home approach, it certainly was an all-inclusive event, from the residents to staff.

Activities Co-ordinator, Tina said: “It was such a fun afternoon for our residents and staff, everyone had so much fun, it really allowed for our residents and staff to get competitive and what a work out they had.”

General Manager, Larisa Bledea, said: “It was a fantastic fun filled afternoon for all, as well as delicious pancakes to eat, there was a lot of fun to be had. It was a lovely activity that allowed for everyone to get involved”

We spent a wonderful morning with Michelle's Animal Therapy & Petting Party where we got to spend some time with the most adorable cats, dogs, rabbits, gerbils and even a tortoise.

Our residents were absolutely transfixed with the animals and all took turns in carefully holding the animals.

There is something so therapeutic about animals and it is always very well received when we receive these visits.

This week, Lotus Manor was filled with colour, culture, and celebration as we marked Chinese New Year together. The home came alive with the wonderful sights, sounds, and flavours of this special occasion, creating a joyful atmosphere enjoyed by residents and team members alike.

Everyone was treated to a selection of delicious traditional foods, which brought a real taste of celebration to the day. The sound of traditional Chinese music added to the festive spirit, creating a lively backdrop that had many of our residents smiling, tapping along, and reminiscing.

A highlight of the day was an engaging and informative talk from our very own General Manager, Candy. She shared personal insights and stories about Chinese New Year traditions, offering a deeper understanding of the customs and meanings behind the celebration. Her warmth and enthusiasm made the experience even more memorable for everyone who joined.