Activities at Hyacinth House Care Home

Whilst we had wonderful weather we decided to take a trip out,

Conrad and Margot decided on Haskins Garden Centre Longham. This lovely couple celebrate a special anniversary this year.

As we strolled amongst the vibrant flowers and beautiful blooms, they spoke fondly of the gardens they'd visited in the past. After all that exercise we took time to relax and enjoyed a well earned cup of tea, basking in the warmth of the sunshine. Continuing our conversation we moved to childhoods, Margot shared memories of visiting family in Ireland and Conrad’s memories of Scotland, they have given us tips of places to visit!

It was a perfect afternoon filled with warm and cherished memories from a wonderful couple.

We would like to congratulate our wonderful Managing Director, Natasha Lazovic, on her 10-year anniversary with Barchester Healthcare.

Natasha had a huge surprise recently when Barchester’s CEO, Dr Pete Calveley, presented her with her 10 years’ service award and a beautiful bouquet of flowers.

Natasha joined Barchester in May 2014 as Regional Director leading 10 homes, which then doubled to 20 as Senior Regional Director, and now as MD she is in charge of more than 80 care homes across the South of England. She leads us with amazing energy and a can-do attitude, she has also in recent months won the Businesswoman of the Year category in the Women Achieving Greatness in Social Care Awards 2023. There really is no stopping her!

Congratulations Natasha and thank you for everything you do to support us!

Residents, relatives and community guests gathered for a charming night filled with tasty drinks, delicious canapes and live music.

Adding to the ambiance was Richard Carpenter, General Manager of The Libertine in Westbourne, who shared his mixology expertise with us for the night. Guests enjoyed a variety of cocktails and mocktails, including the classic Cosmopolitan, refreshing Mojito, Strawberry Bellini, Pimm’s and more, they even had a chance to try their hand at making a couple under Richard’s guidance, adding a fun, interactive element to the evening. One highlight was revealing Hyacinth House's own signature cocktail, named ‘Hyacinths’ Bouquet’ a refreshing summer drink made from gin, elderflower, ginger ale, lemon thyme and Apple.

The culinary experience was equally enjoyable, with a variety of delectable savoury and sweet canapes, prepared by the Hospitality team.

We were delighted to welcome back guitarist and singer, Nigel Revill, who created the perfect atmosphere with his musical talents and song choices.

"We want to extend our thanks to Richard for sharing his time with us. Our guests had a wonderful time and it wouldn’t have been possible without Richard’s knowledge and skill of mixology. The evening was a success, with guests enjoying good company, delicious food and drinks, we look forward to hosting more memorable events to bring the community together.” said Kamila Gagala, General Manager at Hyacinth House

One resident said “We had lots of fun trying the cocktails and learning the art of making them - my favourite was definitely the Hyacinths’ Bouquet, it was delicious!" 

We have received wonderful feedback from the evening, one guest wrote “The cocktail man was inspiring! You and all your team, including the chefs, did a first class job and it was obvious that a lot of thought, time and effort had been put into the evening to make is so successful. Thank you so much.”

We cherish hearing the stories of our residents, from family holidays to precious moments they long to experience again. Eveline, for instance, often reminisces about her travels with late husband Tony, such as their journey to BulBarrow Hill to marvel at the bluebells in the woodlands and how they'd stroll through Milton Abbas to admire the quaint cottages. Although it's been some years since she last embarked on this trip, she fondly expressed her desire to revisit those cherished memories.

Say no more! Tammy and team orchestrated a trip to the summit of Bulbarrow Hill. Eveline, Arthur and Brian boarded the Hyacinth minibus and journeyed through the countryside, taking in the sights of spring. We ventured through the woodlands to admire the blankets of bluebells and savoured a picnic at the top of Bulbarrow Hill, soaking in the panoramic view and the freshness in the air! 

Returning through Milton Abbas, we admired the charming white cottages and stopped for a coffee, we exchanged fond memories of excursions and trips before heading home. 

On their return, they all mentioned how they'd enjoyed the day and for Eveline, how special it was for her and grateful we made it happen.

At Hyacinth House, we prioritise not only mental stimulation, but also physical activity to promote independence amongst our residents.

Love to Move Dorset is a regular to our home, Katy exercises the body and mind and provides a really interactive session that our residents thoroughly enjoy and look forward too. Activities Co-ordinator Tammy, also encourages a new variety of exercise such as Tai Chi, chair Yoga and other alternatives through our amazing and extensive Oomph subscription, this offers live or recorded virtual classes that can be used as a group session or in the privacy of resident rooms.

In a heart-warming gesture of reminiscence and connection, we recently offered resident Douglas Harvey, affectionately known as Doug, a journey through time with a personalised visit to the Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum in New Milton. 

During Doug's recent respite at Hyacinth House, Tammy our Activities Co-ordinator took the time to delve into Doug's past and interests. What she discovered was a lifelong passion for motorbikes, dating back to his youth in 1947 when he purchased his first motorcycle, a 250 BSA Empire Star, for the then considerable sum of £60. At this time he was of similar age to Sammy Miller and would watch him compete.

Tammy learnt that Doug's love for motorbikes wasn't just a hobby; it was a defining part of his life. From his days of off-roading to his time spent as a despatch rider in the army, motorcycles were always at the centre of Doug's world. During his stint in the army, he became a despatch rider and was riding a BSA 500 army bike. This experience left an indelible mark on Doug, and his recent visit to the Museum brought back a flood of memories from those days.

After completing his army duty, Doug continued his passion for motorcycles, exploring the roads with his wife as his loyal pillion rider from the scenic routes of Bulbarrow Hill to the exhilarating grass tracks of Blandford, he also joined the XHG Tiger MCC, a motorcycle club founded on 20th January 1945 for ex-despatch riders. Not one to miss out on the thrill of the Isle of Man TT, Doug attended numerous occasions, watching his other idol, the legend Geoffrey Duke.

For Doug, the trip to Sammy Miller's Motorcycle Museum wasn't just a visit; it was a chance to relive a lifetime of memories, to reconnect with his past, and to share his passion with those around him. He commented on how grateful he was for the visit, expressing the experience made not only his day but his entire stay memorable and special.

At Barchester we believe that every moment is worth cherishing. We want everyone we care for to know how important they are to us. Here at Hyacinth House, we believe in celebrating the lives and passions of our residents. We are grateful to have been a part of his special experience and creating more cherished memories with our residents.