Activities at Plas-Y-Dderwen Care Home

At our recent residents’ meeting, we discussed the exciting idea of exploring new topics and holding educational sessions each month. To begin the sessions, we decided to focus on a fun and cute subject – National Squirrel Day, which fell on January 21st.

We kicked off National Squirrel Day with a fun and informative session all about these cheeky creatures! Did you know there are around 285 different species of squirrels worldwide? This includes tree squirrels, ground squirrels, chipmunks, marmots, and even flying squirrels! 

Our residents had a blast learning more about these adorable little animals, especially since we often spot them in our gardens, especially near the bird feeders. We finished the session by colouring in our very own squirrels ready to decorate our board. 

Every month, we are fortunate to be visited by the wonderful volunteers from Carmarthenshire Therapy Dogs. Wendi and Zakadoodle, a lovable Labradoodle. Have been visiting us for around 18 months now, and our residents eagerly look forward to their arrival. The excitement on their faces when they see Zakadoodle is truly heart-warming.

It is a joy to witness the smiles and happiness they bring, and we are incredibly grateful for the time they dedicate to visiting all of our communities. Their presence makes such a positive difference in our residents' lives.

On New Year’s Day, we celebrated not only the arrival of the new year but also the remarkable 102nd birthday of our beloved June. Having celebrated 102 New Year’s Days, her first one being the day she was born in 1923, this milestone was truly special. 

The day began with a celebration tipple of sherry, followed by a lively Pyjama Karaoke Party in the afternoon. Staff and residents joined in the fun, singing along to some timeless classics. June was surrounded by her family, who joined in the festivities and enjoyed a delicious homemade chocolate cake.

We are incredibly proud of June for reaching the extraordinary milestone of 102 and feel so happy to have shared this unforgettable day with her!

Christmas Day at Plas was truly special. 

An Elf and Mrs Claus visited all the communities, delivering thoughtful person-centred Christmas presents from the home. The residents had a fantastic time, and seeing the joy on their faces as they opened their gifts was magical! The magic of Christmas is real!

The chef prepared a delicious Roast Turkey lunch that was a hit with everyone, and the afternoon was filled with cheer and merriment.

We had a truly delightful time on our minibus trip for Christmas lunch at The Hollybrook Country Inn. We made two outings in December to ensure that many residents had the chance to visit the Hollybrook Christmas Lunch.

The Hollybrook Country Inn holds a special place in our hearts here at Plas, as one of our residents once ran the pub with his wife, and it is now managed by their daughter. Being able to bring him back to the pub he once ran, along with other residents, makes this experience even more meaningful to us.
It is an absolutely charming place! The bar and dining area were perfectly decorated, creating a festive wonderland with a beautifully arranged Christmas tree that set the perfect holiday mood. 

We started with a drink in the bar before heading into the dining room for a sumptuous roast turkey lunch — the most delicious Christmas dinner we could have asked for. The residents thoroughly enjoyed pulling crackers and engaging in lively conversation. Several family members joined us for the occasion, making it an unforgettable time for everyone involved. 

On our way home our minibus took a tour around Carmarthen Town to see all the Christmas Lights sparkling around the Town. A huge thank you to Gemma and Jacqui at The Hollybrook, for their warm welcome and for all the care and effort they put into providing this experience for our residents, absolutely fantastic service!

Excitement reached fever pitch when we welcomed Welsh singer-songwriter, Bronwen Lewis, into our home for a wonderful afternoon of entertainment.  

On Friday December 13th, Welsh singer/songwriter, Bronwen Lewis visited Plas Y Dderwen to entertain our residents and their families, and sprinkle her Christmas magic along the way. In a break from selling out gigs, Bronwen Lewis delighted everyone by performing an intimate gig just for the staff, residents and their families. The whole home was blown away when we won Bronwen’s social media-run competition to have our own concert. 

Everyone was amazed by her generosity in taking the time to come to the home and entertain us with her amazing vocals and her fabulous back catalogue of songs translated into Welsh. It really was a dream come true for the home who literally could not believe their luck.
Senior General Manager, Sharon Herbert, commented: “We are so grateful to Bronwen for coming to perform a concert just for us, we really had to pinch ourselves to believe it was happening! Everyone was so excited!  We all feel incredibly blessed that singing royalty like Bronwen came to visit us at Plas Y Dderwen.  It felt like the best Christmas present in the world and one I am sure we will remember and treasure forever. We all want to thank her from the bottom of our hearts.”  

Geraint Griffiths, a resident at Plas Y Dderwen, added: “Bronwen has the most amazing voice, it was wonderful to hear her singing just for us. We all had the most fantastic time. It was so kind of her to come and visit us. It is all anyone can talk about, just how lucky we are that we won the competition! What an absolutely marvellous thing to happen!”