Celebrating life at Barchester

It was another bright and sunny day in the home today as we had good fun with some flower arranging.

Our residents really enjoy doing this, especially Jean who used to arrange flowers for her church. Handling and arranging the flowers always brings back so many fond memories for her.

Handing out the fresh blooms across the communities brings so many smiles and fills the home with beautiful floral fragrances.

In the afternoon some of the residents enjoyed watching the Wimbledon matches on TV with a glass of wine!

We had our usual Community Coffee morning on Friday where residents, friends and family gather together for coffee, cakes, games and chats.

In the afternoon some of the residents also enjoyed being pampered with foot massages which seemed to be a great success, helping to relieve everyone's feet from the summer heat!

Today we had fun exploring a memory box that was gifted to us by Boots in Banbury!

Inside the box was a variety of items to stimulate the senses; some that made sounds, could be touched or sniffed to trigger memories for those residents living with dementia.

They had a wonderful time connecting with each other and sharing moments and happy memories from the past. 

At Chacombe Park care home we support our residents to continue with their favourite hobbies, and encourage them to share and teach others about these too.

Some of our residents had a go at baking today. They created some mouth watering chocolate chip scones!

Once they had cooled down it was time to share them out, and the verdict? . . . very tasty.

Minibus trips are always popular at White Lodge, specially if the trip is to a museum, this week we visited the amazing; The REME Museum! 

One of the residents I.N. was excited to visit the museum as her husband was a REME personnel in the British Army. At the museum she was the one guiding us through and telling all sort of stories about the REME engineers used to do, about the medals, swords from Japan, shoes from Libya, match boxes from Germany and so on.

Our next outing is Boat Trip on next Thursday, 17th July, leaving white lodge at 1.30pm. If you are want to join us with your loved ones, please call for booking as we have 4 extra seats! 

Staff and residents at White Lodge care home in had a fantastic time celebrating World Chocolate Day, surely one of the best days of the year! Overseen by head chef Richard, staff and residents whipped up delicious chocolate fountain with lots of strawberries, marshmallow, pineapple, grapes, sponges, waffles! 

S.W., a resident said: “I have always loved anything to do with chocolate, I don’t think there are many people that don’t!  I have eaten so much today, I think this has to be one of my favourite celebrations.”

White Lodge residents got together in the lounge for their first gentlemen's club! 

We started with classic jazz music in the background and went through the gentlemen's club issue 1 from Oomph which featured classic cars and motorcycles. It took us back to the golden age of motoring, when cars had curves, engines roared with character, and the open road promised adventure. 

Kitchen provided us a selection of beers to taste which was the main attraction for the participants for sure! 

The gentlemen of White Lodge said they will look forward to the next club where we will have a different topic to discuss.

Residents at White Lodge care home enjoyed their weekly gardening club with our gardener Matthew, and have been busy watering the plants around the home.

The residents started with dead heading the flowers in the planters and also in the baskets. After the hard work, all of the participants sat back to enjoy the vibrant colours of the flowers and softly water the plants, this was enjoyed by all with a cup of tea and cake afterwards.

White Lodge had its annual summer fete in 1950's style. Unfortunately due to the weather the fete was moved inside but the residents and the visitors made the most out of it! 

The residents had and amazing time with Tony M singing for us and a group of dancers from the community dancing with the residents to support us for the event all the way from Melksham. There was tombola to raise money for Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance Charity, handcrafted bracelets, face painting and glitters. 

Thank you everyone to come and make the event successful despite of the weather. special thanks to Ann Marie Oram for all the support provided to get the classic car owners together. 

The residents had a fun-filled afternoon while making banana splits for themselves! The kitchen had kindly provided all the required ingredients for the recipe which includes 3 different flavours of ice cream, selection of sprinkles, selection of fruits, 3 different flavours of sauces and of course banana!

One of the residents S.W who is staying with us for respite said, ''there are so many new experiences I had at White Lodge. Today another new experience added to my list which is making banana split. its very easy and i shall make again after going back to my home for my husband.''

The residents went on a minibus trip to do pottery painting this afternoon. The Q ceramics had a selection of pottery to choose from and it allowed the residents to explore their creativity in a relaxed and supportive environment. 

One of the resident J.W. beamed as she carefully painted a hedgehog, adding her own creative twist to the design. Meanwhile, another resident B.S chose to paint a dog, focusing intently on every detail and finding joy in bringing his favourite character to life.

Pottery painting is not about how it looks, it’s about how it feels to create something. we could definitely see the sense of accomplishment on their faces.

The staff and residents at White Lodge care home dusted off their dancing shoes for their new 'Community Disco'. 

Knowing how much their residents love to dance White Lodge is hosting a dementia-friendly community disco on the forth Wednesday of every month.

Some of the residents like to dance, some just want to see other dancing, some of them want to sing along.....there is something for everybody in the disco!

Residents at White Lodge have been discovering all things Canadian in celebration of Canada Day which takes place each year on July 1st. 

Residents took part in Canadian themed activities throughout the day including making Canadian bunting, colouring the flag, Canadian quiz, virtual trips to the popular tourist destinations of Canada such as Niagra falls, rocky mountains, the great lakes etc. which everyone really enjoyed. The favourite activity of the day was to taste popular Canadian snack Poutine which is basically chips with hot gravy and cheese.

Life is good at White lodge care home,

Rainy day trip to the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh for Marion and Islay - fresh air, cuppa, blether, retail therapy.....all in one go!

Our residents love this amazing resource in the heart of our beautiful city. And we don't allow a wee drop of rain to dampen our spirits!

Our residents had a truly inspiring afternoon as they enjoyed a visit to the art display in beautiful Shirley Park this week.

We were warmly welcomed by the lovely Friends of Shirley Park, who guided us around the exhibition and shared fascinating insights about the artwork and the talented artists behind it.

Everyone was so intrigued and full of questions it was a joy to see how much interest the pieces sparked! From bold new designs to intricate creations, there was something for everyone to enjoy.

A huge thank you to the Friends of Shirley Park for making the experience so informative and welcoming and to our residents for embracing the outing with such enthusiasm!

Residents at Fountains Care Home were recently treated to a truly special experience as guest speaker Jan delivered a captivating talk all about her African safari adventure.

Held in our cosy lounge area, the session featured a stunning digital slideshow of Jan’s journey through the African landscape from sweeping savannahs to close-up encounters with some of the world’s most iconic wildlife. Residents were amazed by the breath taking photography and enthralled by Jan’s fascinating stories, giving them a real sense of having travelled across the world without leaving their seats!

These types of events form an important part of life at Fountains, where we’re proud to offer meaningful, enriching experiences that spark conversation, curiosity and joy.

Thank you, Jan, for such an inspiring and engaging presentation our residents are still talking about it!

Meet Bramble, who will be visiting us regularly with Tina. Bramble, who's a wee bundle of energy and fun, has already made some new friends at Queens Manor!

PEACE - Pet and Companion - is a small charity offering Canine Therapy and Pastoral Care.  We're very pleased they got in touch, and we look forward to Bramble and Tina's ongoing visits. 

Queens Manor residents do love to see visiting animals, and pet therapy interactions like these  are very well known to be of massive benefit in care homes,  and especially to those residents on their dementia journey.

We had a fun time following the annual Wimbledon tennis tournaments and watching live coverage.  We decorated our home with themed flags and banners, and our residents took part in our mini-tennis championship. 

Our tennis fans were delighted to watch the famous matches virtually from the comfort of their armchairs, whilst we all celebrated the event with an afternoon tea party, along with delicious strawberries, cream treats and Pimm’s. 

A lovely time was had by all,
 

We had a lovely day at our annual Summer get together. Beautiful food cocktails and serenaded by the lovely Dan. 

Families, residents and friends joined in to enjoy the sunshine and being together 

Colleagues, residents, and relatives from the home in Bridlington were thrilled to participate in Bridlington Pride, held on Saturday, 5th July, at Bridlington Spa.

The event was a joyous occasion, and everyone thoroughly enjoyed being part of the vibrant community celebrations.

Our residents were delighted by the live entertainment on offer and being able to converse with the local community. 

Our wonderful residents enjoyed a delightful morning at Lepe Beach in the New Forest. A group of ladies savored tea and homemade cake at the seaside café, soaking in stunning views across to the Isle of Wight. Afterwards, they strolled along the shore, relishing the fresh sea breeze and scenic beauty. These outings reflect Shawford Springs’ commitment to creating joyful, memorable experiences for our community.

We have had the pleasure of Trish and Tim performing for us at Iris Court. 

Trish and Tim are friends with Mary who is a resident with us at Iris Court and had met many years ago through Mary going to Our Lady’s Immaculate and St Andrews Catholic Church in Hitchin which Mary still visits. Trish and Tim kindly offered to perform for us at Iris Court so everyone could enjoy their performance. 

It was an amazing afternoon to have them in with us and find out a little more about Trish and Tim. Trish who is a partial assistant for Our Lady's Church has a variation of roles, and manages support work in the community, whilst discovering the pair have been performing together and have been married for 48 years! . We love having strong links within the community to be able to bring this to our home for our residents to enjoy as much as they did. 

At Iris Court we love hosting events that we can open up to our relatives, friends and the wider community. Life at Iris Court is about being part of the local community and enjoying life long hobbies whilst also exploring new experiences

Iris Court held our very own sports day, with the staff taking on challenges and races such as the egg and spoon race, obstacle challenges, three legged race!. 
It was a fantastic day for the team to come together and truly display some fantastic team work and support.

We had invited our residents, families and friends to join us for the afternoon in our gardens to cheer the team on throughout the races and provide some well deserved moral support.

A very well done to our top performers of the Iris Court Sports day and a big thank you to our wonderful families and friends who came to support us!. Hosting events for friends and family members to join us is an essential part of our activities program and we are always looking for new ideas to bring the wider community into our home.

We recently welcomed the children of Rockers & Rollers Day Nursery for a fun filled sports day in our beautiful garden. The lawn buzzed with excitement as the children participated in classic games like egg-and-spoon races, beanbag balancing, and tunnel challenges.

Residents gathered to cheer them on, creating a lovely atmosphere of intergenerational connection. Our Deputy Manager Darius Ivana joined the fun, demonstrating egg-and-spoon techniques, while resident Eileen raced alongside Activities Team member Kath, encouraged by chants from the children of “Come on Eileen!”

After the games, residents awarded medals to all the children, celebrating their efforts. Darius said, “It was lovely to have the children here. Their energy was infectious, and we were pleased to offer our garden for these outdoor games.” Natalie, Manager at Rockers & Rollers, added, “Our children love these visits. These intergenerational events bring joy to both the children and residents.”

This event exemplifies our commitment to community engagement and enriching the lives of residents through shared experiences.

Our residents have been keeping cool and staying creative this summer with a flurry of colourful arts and crafts activities.

Led by Emily from our activities team, residents created their own decorative hand fans which are perfect for staying cool on warm summer days. The fun continued with bookmark-making for our book loving residents and a calming pebble-painting session using vibrant acrylic pens. The beautifully decorated stones now brighten residents’ rooms or have been shared as gifts.

“These sessions bring so much enjoyment,” said Home Manager Meg Cleal. “These activities are part of Crandon Springs’ life enrichment programme, designed to support wellbeing, stimulate creativity, and encourage social connection. Whether painting, crafting or simply chatting, there’s always laughter and a lovely sense of community in our home.”

Ann Ducat has been crowned Home Administrator of the Year for the North East and Scotland Division in the Barchester Care Awards 2025 and is through to the national round of judging.

The Barchester Care Awards celebrate the staff who go the extra mile for the benefit of the 13,500 residents living in Barchester’s 267 care homes and private hospitals across the country. Categories range from ‘Registered Nurse of the Year’ and ‘Carer of the Year’ to ‘Dementia Care Champion’ and ‘Activities Coordinator of the Year’. 
 

At Ashfields Care Home our Activities Team make sure that all our Residents birthdays are celebrated in style. Each birthday is truly valued and is an opportunity to create special memories for our Residents and their families.

Sarah enjoyed a birthday cake made by our Head Chef and was delighted by a Flautist and everyone joined in to sing her a truly Happy Birthday.

At Ashfields Care Home we know that intergenerational activity is hugely beneficial to all involved as it encourages communication and social skills. Intergenerational contact also helps to develop language and reading confidence through shared activities, as well as increasing confidence and self-esteem. Lastly it helps children to develop empathy, care and kindness, helping them to understand and talk more positively about ageing and older people.

Our Residents enjoyed a visit from our friends the Debutots Norwich and North East Norfolk they joined us for a morning of storytelling, singing & fun. It was great to smiles all round from youngsters to elders.

Rose Water Place  passed a recent Care Quality Commission inspection with an overall “Good” rating after being praised for a responsive, safe, effective, caring and well-led service.

The CQC inspected the home on 15^th April 2025 to 07 May 2025 (the report was released on 17^th June 2025) and rated the home, run by Barchester Healthcare, as “Good” overall.

The report stated that there were, “The provider had a proactive and positive culture of safety, based on openness and honesty. Staff listened to concerns about safety and investigated and reported safety events. Lessons were learnt to continually identify and embed good practice.”

The report went on to say “The provider always treated people with kindness, empathy and compassion, and respected their privacy and dignity. Staff treated colleagues from other organisations with kindness and respect.”

Also highlighted in the report was “The provider had a shared vision, strategy and culture. This was based on transparency, equity, equality and human rights, diversity and inclusion, engagement, and understanding challenges and the needs of people and their communities.”

Hadrian Rodriguez, General Manager at Rose Water Place said: “We are delighted that Rose Water Place was rated ‘Good’ overall following the CQC’s most recent inspection. The team at Rose Water Placealways strive to provide the best possible quality care for everyone who lives at the home.”