Celebrating life at Barchester

It was a wonderful surprise — Maggie had no idea her family had planned such a special afternoon just for her. Seeing her sister, daughter, grandchildren, and loved ones all gathered together brought happy tears and the biggest smiles. 

Reaching 90 is such an incredible milestone, and Maggie is a wonderful reminder that age is truly just a number. She continues to enjoy life to the fullest, surrounded by the people who mean the most to her. One of her greatest joys is watching her grandchildren and great-grandchildren grow, sharing stories, and special moments that make every year even more meaningful.

Here’s to Maggie — 90 years of love, strength, and beautiful memories, and still making new ones every day.   

We enjoyed a fantastic Arts and Crafts session at Waterside Court as part of our St David’s Day celebrations. Residents embraced the occasion by creating beautiful daffodils, daisies, and sunflowers using pipe cleaners, filling the room with colour, creativity, and joy.

It was wonderful to see everyone’s imagination come to life, with each resident adding their own unique touch to their creations. The finished display was a vibrant reflection of both the season and the incredible creative spirit within our home.

A truly enjoyable and uplifting afternoon for all involved.       

We were over the moon to welcome Jane and her charming cat, Kobe, for a truly special visit. For Muriel and Pam, lifelong cat lovers, it was an absolute delight. Their eyes sparkled, and the room was instantly filled with warmth as they cuddled and played with Kobe.

The visit wasn’t just fun — it was a moment of pure connection, bringing back cherished memories and creating new ones that will be remembered for a long time. Laughter echoed through the corridors, and hearts were lifted by the simple, unconditional joy of spending time with a beloved animal friend.

Thank you, Jane and sweet Kobe, for bringing so much happiness and love to Waterside Court — today was truly unforgettable.     

At Waterside Court, Geoff is known not just as a resident, but as an artist with a heart full of colour. Art has always been Geoff’s passion. When he picks up a brush, something truly special happens. His eyes brighten, his hands move with purpose, and the canvas becomes a place where his memories, emotions, and imagination come alive. Each painting tells a story — his story.

Inspired by masters like Vincent van Gogh, Claude Monet, and Pablo Picasso, Geoff paints with feeling and freedom, embracing colour and creativity without limits.

His creativity not only enriches his own life, but also inspires everyone around him. And at Waterside Court, we are proud to celebrate the artist he truly is.            

Virtual reality (VR) technology holds significant potential for improving the quality of life for the elderly. It offers cognitive stimulation, physical rehabilitation, and social interaction, which are essential for maintaining physical and mental health. VR can also combat social isolation by allowing older adults to interact with family members, friends, or even virtual environments, and when you add in young adults, the benefits increase even more.

Today, residents, families, friends, community and staff were joined by Braunton Academy to participate in a General Knowledge Quiz followed by a truly amazing VR experience. The activities lounge was full of laughter and smiles as the young adults joined in fun and games with the older generation. Braunton Academy students are interactive, empathic, and engaging.

Thank You, Braunton Academy for a wonderful experience.       

We had a wonderful morning with Falcon Junior school. They visited our residents, took their time to read one of their favourite books and dressed up as their favourite character. 

It was a lovely morning. One of our residents took the time to tell the children a story.

Yesterday we enjoyed our Mother’s Day afternoon tea.

With salmon and cucumber sandwiches, scones with jam, cream and a selection of cakes all washed down with a pot of tea. Family and friends joined us for an enjoyable afternoon. It was extra special for Janet as her son had been away, and it was a lovely surprise to see him.   

Well, what a wonderful few days of sunshine this week. The residents woke up and saw the sun and said, come on, let’s get this garden back in shape. So off we went to the garden centre to purchase some plants and have a cheeky cuppa and a slice of cake. 
The residents really enjoyed choosing the plants and then coming home and planting them. What a wonderful day we had, and now our garden is starting to take shape again.

At Field House each and every resident has their own special day to coincide with their room number and the day of the month. On this day, we do everything we can to make their day as special and person-centred as we possibly can for them. We ask them to wish for an activity that they wish to do. This could be on a one-to-one basis, or they can share it with their friends or family or fellow residents. It it’s completely their choice.

Today was Peter’s special day, and he chose to spend some relaxing time in the garden planting the hanging baskets as he said the simplicity of just being able to get out in the garden after it’s been a long and wet winter and get some lovely colour out there was just what he needed to make his day a happy one.