Celebrating life at Barchester

Our ladies really enjoyed a wedding-themed reminiscence session with Sandra from Charmworth Miniatures at the home recently. Residents thoroughly enjoyed traveling through the ages admiring handcrafted miniature wedding gowns ranging from the 1930’s straight through to 2000. 

The session finished off with a little dressing-up fun as residents June, Jean and Patricia donned wedding gowns and veils. It was a lovely afternoon filled with joy and laughter throughout.      

The home recently had the pleasure of taking part in a trial involving the use of virtual reality in our homes. Our residents absolutely loved using the virtual reality headset to embark on exciting new adventures straight from the comfort of their bed or armchair! With support from staff, residents were able to choose where they wanted to go before being transported to a number of different locations, including National Trust sites, UK Coastlines and farms/zoos. 

Residents in all of our units are engaged in technology, with many exclaiming: “Wow! That was amazing! The picture was so clear I really felt as if I was there”. This technology is particularly beneficial to our residents, who spend a lot of their time in their rooms/beds and are either reluctant or restricted to spend time outdoors or attending regular bus trips/outings with staff.

Ken & Pat recently celebrated the rare milestone of 70 years of marriage! They married in Denver Village in 1956. A card from the King made the day even more special.

Congratulations from everyone at Melbourn Springs on a love that has lasted 70 years!      

Tyspane Care Home, understands and believes that engaging in care work can lead to personal growth, such as developing communication, problem-solving, and teamwork skills, which are valuable in any professional setting. Offering work placements at Tyspane Care Home plays a vital role in shaping young adults’ careers and provides them with valuable skills and experience that can benefit their future in the social care industry.

Today, Tyspane Care Home was joined by two young adults, Taraivina and Emily, who spent the day socialising with residents, families, friends, staff, and the local community as well as delivering outstanding activities on a one-to-one basis, and in a group.

Irene (Respite Resident), “It has been an absolute pleasure to talk to Taraivina and Emily today, thank you.”

Mary, (Resident), “Thank you for helping me with my painting.”

Aime Bown (General Manager), stated that, “Work placements make a genuine difference in the lives of individuals and contribute to community wellbeing. Placements at Tyspane Care Home are an excellent opportunity for individuals looking to kickstart their careers in social care and make a positive impact in their communities.”    

Today, Tyspane Care Home supported Duncan Edwards (Managing Director, South West Region) to raise funds for Barchester’s Charitable Foundation.  The Foundation supports local communities and contributes to individuals fulfilling their aspirations.

Tyspane Care Home Baking Club baked fresh chocolate brownies and scones to sell to residents, families, friends, professionals, community, and staff. Whilst Babs Spear (Head of Physiotherapy Department) delivered feet, shoulder, and head massages for a small donation.

The day went spectacularly well, the atmosphere was electric. Thank you to everyone for supporting this worthwhile cause.   

We welcomed back The Basin Belles for another fun and lively afternoon. The dancers brought a wonderful burst of energy and colour to South Grange this Easter, creating a truly memorable afternoon for all the residents, family members and staff who attended. Dressed in bright, cheerful outfits that reflected the spirit of the season, dressed up as bunnies and bumblebees. The group immediately lifted the mood as they began their performance. Their music and coordinated dances filled the room with joy and smiles spread across everyone’s faces.    

They warmly encouraged the residents, family members and staff to join in, and several of them happily got up to dance, clapping, swaying along and having a wonderful time. A particularly touching moment of the afternoon was when one of our residents presented the group with a handmade wooden name plaque that he had spent time carefully crafting himself, it was clear how much pride and thought had gone into the piece. The Basin Belles were genuinely moved by the gesture. It was such a lovely afternoon  enjoyed by all those involved.                 

We have had a lovely time at the home celebrating Easter this year. Residents enjoyed lots of sweet treats and time spent together with other residents across the units. Families and friends enjoying afternoon tea and live music. 

The home kindly donated Easter eggs by local business Travail Employment Group and ensured inclusivity across the home purchasing alternatives as required and ensured everyone’s dietary needs were met. It’s important to the home that everyone feels included when celebrating these seasonal events.        

A wonderful creative session with Paul Webster as we explored jewellery making together. 

It was fantastic to support both our team and residents in expressing their creativity, from beautifully personalised necklaces to unique handmade bracelets.

Hearing the laughter and the joy of their own success made the session even more special.

Moments like these are a great reminder of how creativity brings people together and boosts confidence and wellbeing.

A truly enjoyable and inspiring activity for everyone involved.