Activities at Ashlar House Care Home

At 6pm, we gathered for a beautiful Evening High Tea, served in elegant bone China, with a delightful platter of fresh fruit complementing the birthday cake.

As the lights were dimmed and colourful spotlights illuminated the room, the atmosphere became warm, intimate and wonderfully celebratory. The evening was enhanced by live jazz from Alex, who brought timeless favourites to life and created the perfect musical backdrop for such a special occasion.

Surrounded by family, friends and peers, we came together to mark Audrey’s remarkable 95th birthday  an evening filled with laughter, music, cherished memories and the joy of celebrating an extraordinary milestone.

It was a truly memorable evening, filled with music, colour, elegance and love, celebrating 95 wonderful years of Audrey’s life.   

As one of our colleagues so beautifully said this morning, “Welcome to our little paradise” and we couldn’t agree more!

Ashlar House had the pleasure of welcoming Jo FitzGerald, Managing Director of Barchester, and Sarah Lander-Scott, Customer Service Director, to our home.

It was a wonderful opportunity to share what makes Ashlar House so special from our amazing residents and dedicated team to the warm, homely environment we are so proud to create every day.

Thank you, Jo and Sarah, for taking the time to visit us. It was a pleasure to welcome you both with open arms and share a little piece of our Ashlar House family with you.          

Our residents had a wonderful trip to the garden centre, enjoying a browse around the beautiful plants, flowers and seasonal displays.    

Afterwards, we enjoyed a lovely spot of lunch together, with plenty of smiles, good conversation and great company. 

It was a lovely opportunity to get out and about, enjoy the fresh air and spend quality time together.

Our residents always enjoy their special live entertainment sessions with Carly Ann!

Her room visits and small-group showcases have become a much-loved part of life here, bringing music, smiles and plenty of wonderful memories.

What makes these sessions extra special is the personal touch. Residents can share their favourite songs with Carly Ann in advance or make a request during her 15-minute showcase.

Sometimes, these sessions lead to wonderful sing-alongs, with families joining in and sharing the joy of music together. It’s lovely to see residents, relatives and Carly Ann singing along, reminiscing about special memories and enjoying music that means something to them.

A little music can create some very meaningful moments.  

Even when the celebrations happened in the evening, the planning committee was always hard at work—from the comfort and privacy of the room, surrounded by family, good vibes, and, of course… McDonald’s!

And because nothing said “Happy Birthday” quite like homemade love, the homemade chef’s special birthday cake made its way to you!

Happy Birthday, Alan!

We hope your day was filled with happiness, laughter, cake… and maybe a few extra McDonald’s fries!   

Josh, also known as Joltage, one of the DJs at Raving 4 A Reason C.I.C, wanted to take part in their latest Random Act of Kindness challenge and he chose to make it a very personal one.

Raving 4 A Reason is a community initiative that takes part in festivals and events to raise money for charities and support youth music development, helping make music and opportunities accessible to everyone.

For his act of kindness, Josh decided to buy a special gift for Ashlar House Care Home, a place that holds many precious memories for him and his family.

Josh Grandad, Alan Yates, was a resident at Ashlar House before he sadly passed away in 2019. Jose has many fond memories of visiting his Grandad there and wanted to give something back as a small thank you for everything the care home did for Alan and for their family.

Alan absolutely loved the garden and enjoyed watching the birds, so Josh chose a robin bird bath as a lasting gift in his memory.

Josh hopes that the residents at Ashlar House will enjoy watching the birds visiting the garden just as much as his Grandad did.

It’s a beautiful way to remember Alan while bringing a little joy to the residents and staff at a place that meant so much to his family.

To all at Raving 4 A Reason C.I.C thank you, Josh, for showing that a small act of kindness can carry such a meaningful story.     

As summer began to come to an end, we squeezed in one last high-energy beat of music! p Creating joyful moments, sharing laughter, and making memories for everyone to enjoy, including our wonderful Showaround visitors. 

A day filled with music, fun, and unforgettable summer vibes!   

An afternoon of music, laughter and a little bit of craziness! 

Several acts, all brought together for one wonderful afternoon!

The pictures below really do speak for residents, families and staff, all under one roof, singing, laughing, dancing and enjoying the joy that music brings. There were smiles all around, plenty of laughter, and perhaps a little bit of craziness too!

What a beautiful afternoon filled with music, togetherness and memories that will last long after the music stops.

Music truly has a wonderful way of bringing everyone together!           

What a fantastic Friday at the home! We have been delighted to welcome more new faces and wonderful additions to our home.

There was certainly no need for our new residents, loved ones, and families to worry about settling in — our warm welcome, caring atmosphere, and friendly faces helped everyone feel right at home from the very start.

Our live entertainment brought the home to life, with laughter, singing, and music echoing through the foyer. The room was full of smiles and joy, and we even had the pleasure of witnessing some fantastic dancing skills!

It was a lovely opportunity to come together, make new memories, and celebrate the newest members of our home. We are so pleased to have you with us and look forward to many more happy moments together! 

We are delighted to welcome our two new gentlemen into the Ashlar House family.

At Ashlar House, we take the time to truly understand each resident as an individual. Their happiness, wellbeing and life enrichment are at the heart of everything we do. As they settle into their new home, we look forward to discovering their interests, passions and favourite activities, creating meaningful experiences alongside our wonderful care team.

Today was all about getting to know each other, spending time together through relaxed conversations, sharing books and discovering common interests.

Throughout the day, we introduced ad hoc activities whenever they felt appropriate, allowing everyone to participate naturally and at their own pace.

A special thank you to Little George for taking part in a word search with us and for sharing your interest and enthusiasm for your game console. It was lovely to see you sharing what you enjoy and getting involved in your own unique way.

We also understand how important reassurance is for loved ones. It was lovely to welcome their families and introduce them to the home, our team and the warm, caring environment we are so proud to provide.

Our aim is for every resident and family to feel that Ashlar House is not simply a care home, but a home filled with love, dignity, respect and belonging.

Welcome to the family, gentlemen — we are so happy to have you with us!     

The leaves are falling, and the trees are dropping pine cones, shiny conkers, helicopters and acorns, creating a beautiful natural collection on the ground. 

Our little friend shared her collection with the residents, who enjoyed exploring the different textures, shapes, colours and smells. The conkers, helicopters and acorns were particular favourites, sparking memories and conversations about autumns gone by. 

A lovely sensory activity connecting everyone with nature and the changing season.   

These relaxed and friendly lunches provide residents and their peers with an opportunity to spend time with the management team, share their views, talk about their experiences and contribute ideas about life at Ashlar House.

For residents, it is a chance to feel heard, valued and involved. For managers, it provides an opportunity to listen directly to residents, understand their experiences and work together to make positive improvements.

We look forward to continuing these lunches and creating more opportunities for meaningful conversations, stronger relationships and shared experiences.           

Peace’s journey at Ashlar House is a powerful story of dedication, ambition, and perseverance. She began her career as a Nurse and, through commitment, hard work, and a passion for growth, progressed to become our Deputy Manager.

Alongside her professional development, Peace continued to pursue her academic dreams, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing while also studying for a Master’s Degree in Computer Science with Software Engineering.

Her achievements reflect not only her determination but also the strength of the support around her. With the encouragement of our Regional Director, Oana, our Manager, Sharon, and a culture rooted in teamwork, opportunity, and compassionate leadership, Peace was empowered to reach her full potential.

Her story reminds us that when people are supported and given the opportunity to grow, remarkable things are possible.

We are incredibly proud of you, Peace, and inspired by all that you have achieved!          

The Virtual Reality session was warmly welcomed by residents, regular participants, new members, and their families. Everyone had the opportunity to experience different destinations virtually, creating a sense of adventure and allowing them to explore places beyond their everyday surroundings.

The experience sparked enthusiasm and led to meaningful conversations about favourite places, past holidays, travel memories, and destinations residents would love to visit. It was particularly valuable for those who may no longer have the opportunity to travel, offering a way to reconnect with familiar places or discover somewhere completely new.

The session supported social engagement, reminiscence, curiosity, and emotional wellbeing, while also providing families with an enjoyable experience to share together. It encouraged interaction and storytelling in a relaxed and enjoyable setting.     

At just 5 weeks old, little George the piglet decided it was time to leave the farm and see what all the fuss was about in the big wide world!

His last stop was Ashlar House, where he made a very brief but VERY memorable appearance!

The residents were absolutely delighted to meet their tiny four-legged visitors, although we’re not sure who was more excited… the residents to see George, or George to see all the fuss being made about him!

At only 5 weeks old, George is already quite the celebrity. He arrived, stole everyone’s hearts, posed for a few cuddles and then headed off again to talk about making an entrance!

We think he’ll need a manager soon!