Activities at Cepen Lodge Care Home

The residents of Cepen Lodge enjoyed a truly special day out on the beautiful Kennet and Avon Canal, thanks to the kindness and generosity of The Bruce Trust, who kindly awarded us a grant towards half the cost of our wonderful barge trip.

There was great excitement as everyone climbed aboard and prepared for our very own “Ship Ahoy!” adventure. Our residents proudly donned their sailors’ caps, ready to set sail and make some very special memories together.

Once on the water, the atmosphere was full of happiness and anticipation. We were treated to live entertainment and a wonderful onboard buffet, making the trip feel like a real celebration. There was plenty of laughter, singing and conversation as we cruised gently along the canal.

One of the highlights was being able to get close to the wonderful wildlife along the waterway. Our residents loved watching the birds and looking out for the different animals and nature along the canal banks. There was something magical about being able to slow down and simply enjoy the world around us.

The gentle lull of the water created a wonderfully calming sensory experience. For our residents living with dementia, it was a peaceful opportunity to enjoy the sights, sounds and fresh air, while spending quality time together away from the usual surroundings of Cepen Lodge.

And then came a very special moment for one of our gentlemen, who was lucky enough to have a turn at steering the barge! With a big smile and plenty of concentration, he took on his captain’s role — and managed to enjoy a spot of train spotting at the same time as we sailed alongside the railway line!

It was a day filled with adventure, laughter, music, friendship and beautiful moments. Most importantly, it gave our residents the chance to experience something different, enjoy the freedom of being out on the water and create memories together.

A huge thank you to The Bruce Trust for their generous support and for helping to make this wonderful day possible. Your kindness helped give our residents a truly memorable Ship Ahoy day!    

The residents of Cepen Lodge enjoyed a fantastic afternoon out as we climbed aboard our minibus and headed into town for the much-anticipated Chippenham Carnival.  

The streets were filled with colour, music, and laughter as we watched the wonderful carnival procession pass by. There were beautifully decorated floats, talented performers, and plenty of friendly faces waving to the crowd. It brought back many happy memories for our residents, who loved reminiscing about carnivals they had attended over the years.

The trip was full of smiles, conversation, and community spirit. It was a lovely opportunity to get out together, enjoy the summer atmosphere, and create new memories with friends.

A big thank you to everyone who helped make the day so special. We can’t wait for our next adventure!

Our ladies have been out enjoying their very first trip in our brand-new mini bus!

We took a lovely drive across Wiltshire, soaking in the beautiful views, before stopping off at a cosy pub for a refreshing shandy in the sunshine. 

Smiles all around, great company, and a perfect spring day—here’s to many more adventures ahead!    

Our Residents and their families enjoyed a wonderful Mother’s Day celebration here at Cepen Lodge, marked with a special afternoon tea party filled with delicious treats, laughter and lovely company. The lounge was beautifully set and everyone came together to celebrate the incredible mothers and mother figures in our home.

As a unique surprise our resident ladies were invited to take part in a pearl experience. Each person opened a shell to discover their very own pearl, before choosing a pendant and chain to place it in, creating a beautiful keepsake to remember the day.

The activity brought lots of excitement and smiles, making the celebration even more special. It was a truly memorable afternoon and a lovely way to show appreciation for the wonderful women in our community.

We had a wonderful time with our lovely residents during baking club. Each cookery session take place in the homes living kitchen and all bakes are created from scratch, with love and laughter! We certainly have 3 master chefs within the home, these fluffy cupcakes were a delight for everyone to enjoy with afternoon tea.

The ladies at Cepen Lodge had a wonderfully creative afternoon when they put their imaginations to work with a very unusual flower-arranging challenge — teapots!

With plenty of colourful flowers, greenery and, of course, lots of enthusiasm, the ladies set about creating their own beautiful displays. Each teapot soon became a little work of art, bursting with bright colours and cheerful blooms.

There were smiles and laughter all around as everyone carefully chose their flowers and arranged them in their own unique style. It was lovely to see the ladies sharing ideas, admiring each other’s creations and enjoying the fun of being creative together.

By the end of the afternoon, the room was filled with the most beautiful, bright and colourful teapot arrangements — each one as individual and special as the lady who created it.

What a wonderful time the ladies had, filling their teapots with flowers, creativity and lots of happiness!    

We celebrated VE Day yesterday with a wonderful day of remembrance, music, and togetherness at Cepen Lodge. Our residents enjoyed fantastic entertainment from the fabulous D-Day Dollies, bringing plenty of wartime favourites to everyone throughout the morning.

We were also honoured to welcome Andy, a veteran from Health Hero, who joined us to support the celebrations and spend time with our residents.

The celebrations continued with a traditional fish and chip lunch followed by a delicious afternoon tea shared with residents, staff, and visitors.

A truly memorable day filled with reflection, gratitude, laughter, and community spirit as we remembered and honoured those who gave so much for our freedom.

Our residents have been busy baking treats for the doggos ready for our annual Dog Show on Saturday 23rd May! 

This event is always very popular with the community and residents, who love getting to see all the pooches lined up for their classes.      

With the arrival of the warmer weather our residents have been delighted to begin preparing the garden for the months ahead. After a long winter, the recent spell of sunshine has provided the perfect opportunity to get outside, enjoy the fresh air and start our spring gardening.

Residents have been busy tidying flower beds, clearing away winter debris, and getting the soil ready for new plants and flowers. Gardening is always a much-loved activity and it has been wonderful to see everyone working together and enjoying the simple pleasure of being outdoors again. The garden is an important space for relaxation, socialising, and connecting with nature, so preparing it for the summer is something everyone looks forward to each year.

Spending time outside in the sunshine has also brought many smiles, with residents sharing stories, laughter, and memories while working side by side. These moments not only help keep the garden looking beautiful but also provide a great sense of achievement and wellbeing.

As spring continues, we look forward to planting colourful flowers and watching our garden slowly come to life. With a little care and plenty of sunshine, it will soon be a vibrant and welcoming space for everyone to enjoy throughout the summer.

Our residents have such fun during the Boogie Beat Music & Movement North Wiltshire playgroup sessions held at Cepen Lodge.
 
It was all bubbles and babbles as the children played happily, singing and dancing in intergenerational fun. Extra special for resident Jean as her granddaughter and great-granddaughter attended making her day truly magical!

The residents of Cepen Lodge enjoyed a wonderful afternoon out with a visit to the Rowdey Cow farm café and ice cream parlour, accompanied by Lola, a student from Sheldon School who spent the week with us on her work experience.

The sunshine made the perfect backdrop as everyone tucked into delicious homemade ice cream, with plenty of favourite flavours to choose from. Laughter filled the tables as residents shared stories, chatted with Lola, and enjoyed each other’s company.

Lola was a fantastic companion throughout the afternoon, taking the time to get to know everyone, helping where needed, and bringing smiles to all of our residents. It was lovely to see friendships beginning to blossom across the generations.

A huge thank you to Lola for joining us and making the day so special. It was a sweet treat in every sense, and a trip that everyone will remember with a smile.    

Our lovely Pat told the team she really wanted to go and see the Michael Jackson movie. When at home she would visit her local cinema twice a week – a trip out that she really enjoyed and has missed recently. With some help from our Senior General Manager and planning with the team, she was out in a taxi that afternoon with Tracey to go and watch the movie at REEL Cinema Chippenham.

Pat had a great time, engrossed in the movie whilst nibbling on popcorn and sipping a prosecco, she thanked the team and Jade for getting together so quickly to help her enjoy one of her favourite past times.   

Supporting our residents with magical moments like this to make them smile and enrich their lives is such a key focus for us here at Cepen.       

Our residents recently enjoyed a wonderful baking session with our talented Chef, marking an early and exciting start to our Easter preparations. The home was filled with delicious aromas as everyone got hands-on creating their own cupcakes, from mixing ingredients to decorating their sweet treats.

It was a truly engaging activity, with residents fully involved every step of the way, sharing tips and enjoying the process together. The session also sparked lovely conversations, with many reminiscing about baking with their children and family members when they were younger.

Moments like these are so meaningful, bringing back cherished memories while creating new ones. It was a joyful, interactive morning that left everyone smiling—and of course, with some delicious cupcakes to enjoy!

The beautiful dapple-gray therapy horse 'Vino' from Happy Hooves Equine Ltd - Equine Assisted Therapy & Transport always brings the biggest of smiles to our residents faces. He's so well-behaved, trotting from room to room giving out kisses and head snuggles. 

Our residents and staff adore him!

Birthday celebrations were in full swing all day to ensure Melvina marked her centenary in style. Joined by staff, relatives, friends and other residents she not only received a card from King Charles and Queen Camilla, Melvina was surprised to receive over 300 birthday cards from school children, and others unknown to her from across the UK, all sending their best wishes  in recognition of her landmark birthday.

The home organised a party with live entertainment from Mini Concerts and a lavish buffet of savoury snacks, sweet treats and fizz before guests enjoyed a slice of the special birthday cake made and decorated by the home’s Activities Coordinator; Anita.

Bristol born Melvina left school at 15 and spent her working life in various administrative roles, the last being with The Royal Mail in which she signed the Secrecy Act as it involved handling Home Office correspondence. At 23 years old Melvina married the love of her life Len, a Naval Officer who she met during an August Bank Holiday dance at Page Hall, when he ‘cut-in’ and became her dance partner for life!

Len and Melvina were blessed with a daughter, Karen who gave them a granddaughter Jennifer, who is married to Stephen and in turn have graced Melvina with two amazing great-grandchildren; Sienna and Harlow who light up her life on every visit.

As an additional surprise Melvina received a ‘Family History Binder’ from Kirsty Gray, Managing Director of Family Wise Limited who generously created Melvina’s family tree dating back to 1700’s!

The birthday girl, said: “I thought my birthday would be a quiet affair, spent with my family however Anita had other ideas.” When asked what she thought of the day Melvina replied “‘Fantastic’ there’s no other word for it”.