Activities at Hafan-Y-Coed Care Home

This month we have introduced a new musical drumming session. We tried the session on one of our memory lane communities, and it went down a treat. Residents got to experience using the unique drums and other musical instruments from around the world by making their own sounds. 

It had everyone up dancing or smiling and lifted everyone’s spirits. This incentive has been brought to us by volunteers from ‘Burry Port Drummin Fun’ and we are all very grateful for this uplifting experience for our residents.   

To mark Mexican Independence Day, residents enjoyed a fun week of preparations leading up to a themed Mexican dining experience. Our wonderful kitchen team pulled out all the stops to create a feast of chilli and enchiladas, tasty nachos and tortillas and, to finish off, the most amazing churros. 

We did hold off with the tequila despite the fun pictures. During the week, we invited the local ‘Tuesday Friends’ community group to help with making themed decorations and Mexican hats. Margaret, one of our residents who lives in our general community, said, “It was a lovely afternoon. I enjoy trying foods from different countries and the team put on a real treat of music and décor to match the day”.

Our summer event took place in the glorious sunshine with a fun sports day twist. We began with live entertainment from Robbie Lee, who sang beautifully while everyone enjoyed cocktails and hot dogs.

Afterwards, the excitement built as residents and staff cheered on either Team Yellow or Team Red in our sports day challenges. From the classic eggs and spoon race to the lively obstacle course, there was something for everyone to enjoy. Residents clapped and encouraged all those taking part, creating a fantastic atmosphere. One resident said “This day certainly brought back many happy memories of my children’s sports days, great fun days.” 

To celebrate National Cream Tea Day, we followed the Yellow Brick Road to Oz for a Somewhere Over the Rainbow-themed afternoon tea. The room was decorated with plenty of colour to mirror the rainbow theme. Our residence were joined by Dorothy, the Lion, and the Scarecrow to enjoy Prosecco, scones filled with jam and cream, and of course, cucumber sandwiches. Everyone was entertained with live music and had a truly lovely day. Manager Sarah said “We love a themed day at Hafan Y Coed, the activities team always get the residents involved in the arrangements and it’s lovely to see it all come together so well on the day. Everyone laughed and enjoyed from start.”

Some of our residents boarded the bus for a lovely trip into the local town, where children from nearby schools were showcasing their Young Traders 2025 Project. It was heart-warming to see the creativity and enthusiasm of the students and even more special to see some of the schools who had visited our home before taking part.

Dennis, one of our residents, was treated like royalty by the children. They were amazed to meet a 100-year-old gentleman, especially when they learnt he was one of the last surviving veterans in Wales. Dennis served in the Navy, and the children were fascinated to hear just a little of his story. We’re thrilled to share that Dennis will soon be visiting local schools to talk more about his wartime and naval experiences, something we know will be a privilege for students. Dennis said, “I really enjoyed the day and meeting all the children. I am looking forward to being invited to the schools to talk about my experience.”

After the market, we stopped for a delicious lunch at anyone's waiting café, which everyone thoroughly enjoyed.

Later in the afternoon, another group of residents headed out to Park Howard to enjoy a stroll through the beautiful gardens. The sun was shining, and the flowers were in full bloom. The outing was topped off perfectly with good conversation and some well-deserved ice cream. 

Residents took full advantage of our pamper day this month by our in-house beauty therapist for activities. Our ladies enjoyed choosing their own nail colour for their manicure, whilst the gents enjoyed a clip and shape. During the one-to-one session, residents took time to chat whilst sipping on bucks fizz or a drink of their choice.  

One of our residents, Tom, said, “I have to say this is the best manicure I have ever had, and I especially liked the relaxing hand massage too. I will ask for your expertise in the future and look forward to the next one.”     

This month saw residents enjoy a cocktail and canapé afternoon, which was a fun-filled celebration enjoyed by all! Residents sipped on Piña Coladas, Tequila Sunrises, and a selection of refreshing mocktails, while the delicious canapés went down a treat.

The atmosphere was brought to life by the fantastic Mother and Daughters Choir, who performed a wonderful selection of songs. With song sheets handed out, residents were soon toe-tapping, singing along, and fully immersed in the musical fun. Val said “it really was a fabulous afternoon, the choir was fantastic and the cocktails and canapés even better”. One choir member said “it made me so emotional seeing just how much the residents were enjoying it and what a lovely idea to have the cocktails to enjoy whilst watching us perform. Fantastic care home.”   

Some of our residents had a fantastic day out at Ffos Las Racecourse, enjoying the sunshine, the excitement of the races, and even placing a little flutter on the horses!

We were incredibly fortunate to have two of our amazing volunteers, Sandra and Karen, join us once again to support the Activities Team. They’ve been wonderful companions on recent outings, and we’re so grateful for their continued help. Val said, “It was great to go out to the races. I had a little flutter on the horses but didn’t win, sadly. It was a great day out in the sunshine with friends.”

To top off a perfect day, everyone enjoyed a refreshing Magnum in the sunshine. It really was an all-around great day out.

Some of our residents had a fantastic day out at Ffos Las Racecourse, enjoying the sunshine, the excitement of the races, and even placing a little flutter on the horses!

We were incredibly fortunate to have two of our amazing volunteers, Sandra and Karen, join us once again to support the Activities Team. They’ve been wonderful companions on recent outings, and we’re so grateful for their continued help. Val said “It was great to go out to the races, I had a little flutter on the horses but didn’t win sadly. It was a great day out in the sunshine with friends”

To top off a perfect day, everyone enjoyed a refreshing Magnum in the sunshine. It really was an all-around great day out.

Some of our residents had a fantastic outing this month, taking full advantage of the beautiful weather! We hopped on the bus and headed out to Port Eynon Beach, with stops along the way at Swansea Airport to watch the aeroplanes and then onto the breath-taking Three Cliffs Bay.

The highlight of the trip? Enjoying traditional fish and chips with a scenic view, a perfect seaside treat! The social atmosphere was full of smiles, laughter, and good company. Joan said, “I absolutely love being in the sun and really enjoyed my fish and chips.”

On the way home on the bus, the residents enjoyed a good old sing song to songs like ‘She’ll be coming round the mountain’ and ‘We’re all going on a summer holiday.’ Nancy said “I’ve had a wonderful day out.”

This month residents were entertained by the fabulous ‘Kelly’ who performed an array of songs from earlier decades. The songs were so uplifting and had everyone up on their dancing or tapping their feet to the well-known songs. Whilst the music was playing, residents indulged in a fantastic afternoon cream prepared by our kitchen team. 

A selection of sandwiches were enjoyed with other savoury delights, followed by scones with cream and jam and washed down with a glass of prosecco or cup of tea. Val said “I love to sing and dance, and I especially love sweet treats. I am very grateful for all the staff have done to make the afternoon memorable. When is the next one!?”

This week, residents had the opportunity to visit Llanelly House, once owned by the Stepney family. The beautifully restored Georgian house is an important part of the town’s history, and it was interesting to learn more about its past during the visit. Residents also enjoyed a wonderful afternoon tea, leaving with full tummies and smiling faces! 

Margaret said “I remember the house when I was a little girl and my mother worked in the pub opposite. I used to image what it would be like to live there and it was wonderful to go and spend the day there in person” Gwyneth, a previous school teacher said “I remember us raising money to go towards restoring the building. It is important that the children in schools know about the towns history and I’m glad schools pay visits to the house.”  

We turned up the jukebox and stepped back in time for an unforgettable American dining experience! Residents enjoyed classic favourites like hot dogs, fries, and juicy burgers, all served with a side of rock and roll vibes! The home was decorated with an American Diner theme and as always our activities team and volunteers wore American attire to match the day’s theme.

To top it all off, we had a very special guest Elvis Presley himself (well, almost!)who had us all singing, clapping, and dancing along to the King’s greatest hits. Mike said “I somehow manage to get roped into dressing up with the activities theme but it’s always such great fun whenever there’s a dining experience and my wife loves to listen to the music.”

It was a truly joyful afternoon full of smiles, music, and great food. 

We pulled out all the stops to celebrate Dennis turning 101 with a fabulous Gatsby-themed 1920s party, and it couldn’t have been more perfect.

Surrounded by his wonderful family and friends at Hafan Y Coed, Dennis spent the day reminiscing, laughing, and enjoying every moment of a celebration truly worthy of his incredible life. From the vintage décor to the jazz tunes and flapper-style outfits, the spirit of the roaring twenties came to life, all in honour of a man who’s lived through more than a century of memories.

Dennis said “it was such a remarkable day, and I’d like to thank everyone, especially the activities team who made it so special”.

Dennis Steer, a remarkable resident of our care home, has just celebrated his 100th birthday. Born in 1924, Dennis is one of the last surviving veterans of the Second World War, and his story is one of courage, skill, and dedication.

Dennis joined the Royal Navy at the age of 18, serving from 1942 until 1948. His journey began with six months of intensive training—not in a traditional military camp, but at Butlin’s holiday camp, which had been repurposed for wartime training. There, he qualified as a wireless operator, a role that played a critical part in naval communications using Morse code.

“It was a very skilled job,” said Dennis. “I had to be able to transmit and understand at least 20 words per minute.”

Following his training, Dennis was assigned to active duty. He vividly remembers the end of the war, though his service continued beyond that point, taking him to East Africa where fighting with Japanese forces persisted.

One of his most harrowing memories was from his first naval assignment, when the ship struck an iceberg and had to be abandoned during a fierce storm. “We had to jump ship—it was quite frightening,” he recalls.

Dennis later served on a vessel identified as MMS1005, which he remembers was eventually gifted to the Russians as part of post-war arrangements.

When asked why he chose the Navy, Dennis replied simply, “It seemed the most attractive of all the forces.”

Now 100, Dennis remains immensely proud of his service and the medals he earned. Though they are kept safe by his family, he takes great pride in knowing they will be passed down to his grandchildren—a legacy of bravery and service.

His life is a testament to resilience and duty, and it is a privilege to have such a living piece of history amongst us at Hafan-Y-Coed.