Celebrating life at Barchester

The local nursery children enjoyed their weekly visit to South Grange this week, bringing lots of smiles and energy with them. The visit was filled with fun, laughter and meaningful moments shared between the children and residents. The children entertained the residents with some traditional Scottish dancing, including the Gay Gordons. The residents were delighted and some joined in, getting up to dance alongside the children. It was heart-warming to see the generations interacting, laughing and dancing together. 

After dancing, the children handed out some tasty scones that they baked for the residents, a well-deserved treat after all the dancing! These visits continue to be a highlight for residents and help create strong community connections. 

Residents enjoyed a traditional haggis lunch, tables decorated with Saltire flags and plenty of toe-tapping live music throughout the afternoon. There was lots of singing, clapping and smiling, making it a relaxed and joyful daytime celebration for everyone!

Staff and residents at Overslade House care home in Rugby, Warwickshire, honoured their local Pharmacy Health services by delivering delicious home-baked cakes prepared by the home’s head chef, Corey Leake and to thank them all for their selfless service in helping towards our residents’ health and well-being. Clinical Lead, Glory Rajamani and Activities Coordinator Martin Higgs and Activities Lead Julie Bateman visited local pharmacies to deliver the cakes. 

Genoveva Tamasi, Acting General Manager at the home, said: “Our local pharmacies are invaluable to our homes and residents with their expertise and knowledge, so we wanted to take the opportunity to let them know just how much we appreciate all that they do for us.”

John, who lives at Overslade House Care Home, said: “I feel secure knowing that my health and wellbeing needs are taken care of by Overslade House and our pharmacies and I can’t thank them enough for the care and expertise they provide to residents.”  

We have had a busy month for birthdays with nine residents celebrating their special day with afternoon teas and trips out with families.

Our residents love Elvis, so we had a joint party with Mike Memphis as Elvis, who came in to entertain our residents. 

Elvis is a regular and popular visitor and always leaves a lasting impression even after Elvis has left the building!  

South Grange marked National Shortbread Day with a delicious celebration enjoyed by residents and staff. To honour the day, the activity girls put together a special tuck trolley filled with a tempting selection of different shortbreads, from classic buttery fingers to crumbly rounds. 

To make the occasion even more special, there was plenty of sherry on hand to wash the treats down, adding a touch of tradition and cheer. The tuck trolley travelled from room to room, with staff stopping to have a chat and offering each resident a sweet treat. Smiles quickly spread as residents sampled the shortbread, shared memories and enjoyed a relaxed sociable moment. It was a simple but much loved way to celebrate the day together.    

At White Lodge Care Home, we regularly support our residents to take part in mini trips and connect with the local community. One of our favourite and most meaningful visits is to the RWB Dementia Choir, where residents enjoy singing alongside others from the Wootton Bassett community. These sessions are always filled with warmth, laughter, and a real sense of belonging.

Although residents often arrive in different moods, they consistently leave with bright smiles and lifted spirits. The power of music brings everyone together, creating moments of joy and connection. After the singing, residents enjoyed tea and cakes while chatting and relaxing together.

One resident, who previously attended St Bartholomew’s Church, recognised several familiar faces. Seeing her light up was truly heart-warming and reminded us how special these experiences are for everyone involved.

Residents at White Lodge were delighted to welcome the beautiful dancers from Lucy Gill Ballet 
The dancers showcased graceful ballet steps — twirls, spins, gentle jumps and elegant arm movements, specially tailored for little girls as young as 4 years old. Their energy and smiles truly lit up the room.
A big thank you to Lucy, the dance teacher and the parents for bringing their children to our premises and giving our residents the opportunity to enjoy such a lovely and uplifting performance. 
We hope to welcome you all back again very soon! 

Friday Activities Coordinator Karen was surprised by our General Manager Jo Mosses with flowers, chocolates, pamper set and certificate in recognition of her work.

Her compassion, creativity, and dedication bring joy, purpose, and connection to every resident’s day. She has a special gift for turning everyday moments into meaningful memories, and the impact she makes is truly priceless.