Celebrating life at Barchester

We celebrated World Photography Day with a special reminiscence session, sharing favourite photographs of loved ones and taking time to reflect on the memories behind them.

The photographs sparked wonderful conversations, smiles and stories as we remembered the people, places and moments that hold a special place in our hearts.

It was a lovely opportunity to connect through shared memories and celebrate the power of photographs to bring the past to life.
To see the smiles, hear the stories and remember the people and moments that mean so much to us. Sometimes a photograph really does say a thousand words and every picture had a story to tell.   

We celebrated a fab open day here at Hollyfields full of fun. We had entertainment by Debbie, who entertained us, getting everyone engaged. We had a visit from the Mayor of Bewdley, Sharon, and the Mayor of Kidderminster Miah came and enjoyed the fun. We had a Hawaiian-themed day with Malibu and pineapple cocktails and some traditional fish and chips for lunch. 

The day was filled with joy, laughter and smiles all around.     

We had the best time bringing a taste of Hawaii to our home with our Hawaiian-themed party for our 5-year anniversary. We welcomed residents and families, past and present, as well as all staff to celebrate this wonderful milestone. A huge thank you to everyone who attended and helped make the day so special. 

The smiles, laughter and fantastic spirit made the celebration one to remember.    

Residents and staff recently set sail on our very first virtual cruise, and it was a fantastic success. Our dining room was transformed in a cruise ship, FordBella, ready for an afternoon of fun, laughter and adventure. With Captain Derek at the helm and sailors Linzy and Julia making sure everyone was ready for the journey, our residents were given the full cruise experience without leaving Fordmill. The afternoon was filled with life music provided by Gordon on violin and Isobel on the piano, making the occasion even more special. Our virtual cruise was about much more than having a fan. 

It was a lovely opportunity to encourage conversation and social interaction while giving our residents something different to experience together. The success of the cruise has certainly inspired us to continue our virtual travels and continue to discover even more wonderful destinations together.  

Our residents enjoyed a very special afternoon as we celebrated World Elephant Day, combining learning, conversation and plenty of fun. The activity gave everyone the opportunity to discover more about the magnificent animals, where they live, the differences, family groups, communication and some fascinating facts about their daily lives. 

They learnt how intelligent and sociable elephants are, their great memories, the strong bonds between their families and the way they care for and protect one another. This activity led to some lovely conversation about animals, wildlife and memories of visits to the zoo, holidays and documentaries the residents had watched over the years. Activities like this bring the residents at Fordmill together, encouraging conversation and continuing to learn while having fun.       

Who said once you are in a care home that school days are over? Well not if you are at Fordmill! Our residents went back to school, and what a fun-filled afternoon we had!

There was plenty of laughter, learning and a friendly competition as everyone put their knowledge to the test. From remembering old school days to answering questions and joining in with our classroom activities, our residents showed us that you’re never too old to learn something new.

 Of course, our classroom wasn’t all serious work, there was lots of chatting, joking and cheeky behaviour too! It was lovely to see so many smiles and hear residents sharing memories of their own school days, favourite teacher and subjects. It was a brilliant afternoon full of fun and friendship.

On Thursday mornings, we join together to play our favourite games, Scrabble and Word Association. What better way to spend a Thursday morning than with plenty of laughter, and a good cup of tea? Together, residents put their word skills to the test, sharing stories, and cheering each other on as the letters came together. “I haven’t played Scrabble in years, but it all came back to me. The best part isn’t winning, it’s the laughter around the table, it keeps my mind active and gives me something to look forward to every week.”

These simple moments of connection, conversation, and friendly competition are what make life in our home so special. Thank you to everyone who joined in, we’re already looking forward to next Thursday! 

Activity Assistant Marie ensures all residents' accessibility needs are met, whether this be profiling tables or large print, taking extra time or ensuring everyone is encouraged to be involved.     

On Thursday last week, the sun hadn’t got to us, we weren’t going mad, (or maybe some of us), we were treated by the Globe Theatre to a live virtual puppet event, and created our own puppets from newspapers! Our ladies and gents enjoyed sharing their memories of favourite puppets gone by, ones we’d forgotten and finding new ones!  

Thank you to all the team for another instalment of such great virtual life enrichment. Technological systems still amaze our residents today, connecting the old with the new.

What a wonderful day of pampering we’ve had! Our residents enjoyed some well-deserved manicure time, with lots of smiles, chats and a little bit of glamour.   

It was especially lovely being able to take photos and share these special moments with their loved ones across the world.  

Knowing that families can feel part of these precious moments, no matter how far away they are, makes them even more meaningful. A beautiful day filled with relaxation, friendship and lots of lovely nails!