Activites at Hafan-Y-Coed Care Home

Animals have always played such an important part in our residents' lives here in the Wheatlands, from growing up in the countryside and on farms to being the wife of the local vet. They love the companionship and comfort they bring but also are able to reminisce about their own pets at the same time and share wonderful memories. 

Jenny loves nothing more than chatting to Lauren, Winston’s owner, about her pets and sharing her photo albums with her. While Barbara enjoys teaching Trixie new tricks each time she sees her. Our residents look forward to visits from both of our therapy dogs throughout the month.     

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. 

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.”

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.

We kicked off our commemorations in style with a wonderful afternoon party in the garden of our Pemberton community! Residents and staff came together to honour this historic occasion with music, laughter, and plenty of red, white, and blue.

There was dancing, delicious treats, and touching moments of remembrance as we reflected on the bravery and sacrifices of those who served. It was a joyful start to what promises to be a heartfelt celebration.

Our Royal Navy Veteran, Dennis, who served in World War II, said “It was such a well-organised event, which was made extra special that my family were invited to spend the day with me. Thank you to all who made it a day to remember”. 

Residents enjoyed a delightful minibus outing to the Llanelli Wetland Centre, where they had the chance to see a wide variety of birds and ducks, with the flamingos being a particular favourite! 

Mary said “What a lovely day. It was so lovely soaking up the sun with the other ladies and gents. I really enjoyed myself!” We spent the morning ambling around the spectacular grounds trying to identify the different species. The residents soaked up the glorious weather and all had a fantastic day.  

The home was filled with joy, laughter, and a touch of magic as we welcomed a very special guest — the Easter Bunny! Residents were delighted to see the Easter Bunny hopping down the halls, spreading smiles and plenty of cheer.

Everyone got involved in the fun — The home was filled with laughter as the Bunny made their rounds, handing out goodies and posing for some egg-cellent photos.

The festive decorations, cheerful Karaoke, over a glass of bubbly, and lovely spring atmosphere brought a wonderful sense of togetherness and celebration.

This week, we paid a cheerful visit to the garden centre to pick up some new bedding plants for the garden. Our residents love getting involved in outdoor activities, and the fresh blooms are a beautiful addition to our space.

Arts and crafts have also been in full swing, with residents creating colourful flower plates that now brighten up our communities. As always, we’ve kept moving with our regular music and movement sessions, exercise classes, and, of course, karaoke!

We also celebrated St George’s Day with a fun and engaging quiz, and yesterday we tuned into a relaxing live-stream tea tasting session by clipped tea.

National Jelly Bean Day brought some sweet fun with cupcake decorating, which turned out to be a wonderful sensory activity.

Today, residents enjoyed a delightful minibus outing to the Wetland Centre, where they had the chance to see a wide variety of birds and ducks — with the flamingos being a particular favourite!

Back at the home, some of our residents soaked up the glorious sunshine while enjoying music in the garden, creating a relaxing and joyful atmosphere.

Merlys said “It was such a beautiful day, spent in the sunshine with a lovely group of people.”

Meanwhile, some families and residents took part in a special keepsake experience, designing beautiful silver jewellery capturing the imprints of their loved ones — a truly meaningful and memorable day.