Activities at Ross Court Care Home

During our recent Open Day, we were delighted to welcome talented singers Christine and Gareth Davies to our home. Their wonderful performance filled the home with music, laughter, and joy, creating a truly memorable afternoon for everyone. Residents and visitors were treated to a fantastic selection of songs, beautifully performed, that encouraged plenty of singing along and even some dancing. It was so lovely to see our residents joining in, moving to the music, and sharing special moments with friends, family, and members of the community. The atmosphere was alive with energy, and the smiles on everyone’s faces showed just how much the music was enjoyed. Our Open Day is all about welcoming the community to see and experience daily life at our home, and Christine and Gareth’s performance captured the spirit of fun and togetherness perfectly. We are grateful to them for making the day so special.

This week, our residents enjoyed a memorable outing to the Violette Szabo GC Museum, a place dedicated to honoring one of Britain’s most remarkable World War II heroines. Violette Szabo was awarded the George Cross for her extraordinary bravery and sacrifice as a secret agent during the war, and her story continues to inspire generations.

During the visit, residents were able to explore a wide collection of personal items, photographs, and wartime memorabilia that brought Violette’s story vividly to life. Many found the experience deeply moving, reflecting not only on her courage but also on the countless sacrifices made by her and so many others during those years.

The trip sparked engaging conversations among residents, with some sharing their own family memories connected to the war years. Outings like these are a wonderful way to combine learning, remembrance, and community, and we are grateful for the opportunity to experience such an inspiring and thought-provoking day together.

Our home was filled with excitement and lots of barking as we hosted a dog show that brought joy to residents, staff, and visitors alike. The event showcased a wonderful variety of furry friends, each eager to impress with their wagging tails, clever tricks, and playful personalities. The highlight of the day was undoubtedly Alfie, a charming and spirited dog who captured everyone’s hearts with his energy and affection. Alfie impressed the judges with his obedience, friendly nature, and a special trick that had the audience cheering. When the time came to announce the winner there was no doubt that Alfie deserved first place. He proudly received his prize – a voucher kindly donated by Creature Comforts pet shop – which will certainly keep him well stocked with treats and toys. The day was filled with smiles, warm memories, and the joy of celebrating the special bond between people and their pets.

At our care home, we love finding creative ways to bring joy to both our residents and the wider community. Recently, our residents have been busy colouring and decorating pebbles with bright designs, cheerful patterns, and kind messages. Each pebble is unique and full of personality, reflecting the talents and imagination of the people who created them. Once finished, the pebbles will be placed in various spots around the local area, ready to bring a smile to anyone who comes across them. If you’re lucky enough to find one, we’d love for you to share your discovery! Simply post a photo of the pebble on our Facebook page and let us know where you found it. This little project is a wonderful way for our residents to feel connected with the community while spreading happiness, kindness, and creativity to everyone who takes part.

At Ross Court Care Home, we create days filled with purpose, enjoyment, and companionship. Our activities programme supports physical health, mental wellbeing, and social connection.

Some mornings start with gentle exercise to music – improving mobility, boosting energy, and sharing smiles. At other times, we slow the pace with mindful colouring, a relaxing way to express creativity and focus the mind.

Quizzes are another favourite, sparking friendly competition, conversation, and laughter while keeping minds active. Whether it’s an energetic workout, a peaceful art session, or a lively challenge, our aim is always the same: to create moments that matter.

With the support of our caring team, residents can join in as much or as little as they wish – there’s always something to suit every mood.

At Ross Court Care Home, we recently enjoyed a fabulous pampering session led by our wonderful Activities Coordinator, Carly, who is also a skilled nail technician. Our lovely ladies were treated to soothing face masks, refreshing cucumber eye treatments, and dazzling nail makeovers. It was a day filled with relaxation, laughter, and joyful conversation — a true celebration of friendship and self-care!

Carly’s creative touch and warm personality made the experience unforgettable, and the ladies left feeling refreshed and radiant. Events like these are a regular part of life at Ross Court, where we focus on wellbeing, community spirit, and making every day special for our residents.

At Ross Court Care Home, we believe in creating joyful moments and unforgettable experiences for our residents. Over the last two weeks, we’ve had the pleasure of taking our residents on not just one, but two exciting trips to Barry Island – and what a time we had!

These seaside outings offered a perfect mix of relaxation and fun. Our residents enjoyed breathtaking views of the beach, treated themselves to traditional fish and chips, indulged in delicious ice creams, and even had a go at the local arcades. The smiles and laughter throughout the day said it all – everyone thoroughly enjoyed the fresh sea air and lively atmosphere.

Opportunities like this are part of our commitment to enriching the lives of those in our care. Getting out and about, especially to such a cherished location, helps promote well-being, social engagement, and a strong sense of community.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to our team for making these outings smooth, safe, and so memorable.

At Ross Court Care Home, we believe our carers are the heart of everything we do. Their compassion, dedication, and commitment make a lasting difference in the lives of our residents every single day. Whether offering a listening ear, lending a helping hand, or simply sharing a smile, our care team enriches the lives of those around them with kindness and empathy.

Carers Week is a special time to celebrate and recognize the extraordinary work our team does. It’s a moment to reflect on their selfless contributions and show appreciation for the tireless support they provide. At Ross Court, we took this opportunity to spoil our carers with sweet treats, chocolates, and heartfelt thanks – small tokens of gratitude for their big impact.

Our residents thrive because of the nurturing environment our team creates, and we are incredibly lucky to have such passionate individuals at the core of our home. Thank you to each and every one of our carers for always putting residents first and for making Ross Court a truly special place to live and work.

On the 29th of May we celebrated our beautiful Olive turning 100 years young. Olive has been a resident here at Ross Court for many years, and it was a pleasure to spend the special day with her.

The day started with a guard of honour from all the staff singing ‘Happy Birthday’. Olive's family came in to spend the day with her. Olive received many birthday cards from friends, family and other Barchester homes – and a special card from the King and Queen.

Our Head Chef Helena made her a beautiful cake to celebrate the day.

It's safe to say that Olive had a great day filled with love.

What a lovely afternoon we had a Ross Court on Wednesday. Residents and staff came together to attend Megan’s baby shower.

We all enjoyed the afternoon, sharing our pregnancy stories and reminiscing about when our children were babies, looking at all of Megan’s lovely gifts, and we all enjoyed a buffet thanks to our amazing chefs.

Everyone at Ross Court wants to wish Megan the best for the imminent birth of her baby girl. 
The residents and staff cannot wait to meet the new bundle of joy!

We also wanted to send our congratulations to Megan and her new husband, Richard, on their recent wedding!

Our most recent outing was to the St Fagans National Museum of History in Cardiff. 

This was a lot further than we usually go on our outings, but the residents who went all agreed it was worth the travelling! The residents enjoyed having a stroll around the museum and the stunning grounds, taking in all the history of people in Wales over the years.

Everyone loved the beautiful scenery, looking at the old buildings and all the fabulous items from history.
We would highly recommend this trip to everyone. The museum has so much to offer!

Our residents have been talking about St Fagans since they returned and how much they loved their time there. Thank you to all the staff and volunteers at the museum who made our resident's trip a memorable one.

On Saturday we celebrated International Family Day – the sun may not have shone, but we still had a lovely day.

We have sent out invites to families, friends and colleagues to come and join in with the celebrations. We started the day with our regular entertainer Mansel, who had us singing and dancing along to his songs.

Afterwards, our fabulous chefs hosted a wonderful BBQ.

It was a great day!

This weekend, we had a selection of classic cars at Ross Court.

There were a variety of styles and colours! The residents all loved coming out and looking at them. There was plenty of reminiscing about what cars they used to drive – the Morris Minor was a favourite!

It was a lovely sunny morning, and all the car owners were happy to discuss their vehicles with the residents.

Today at Ross Court we had a great time celebrating the 80th anniversary of VE Day.

We started the day reminiscing with each other, sharing stories. Then in the afternoon we were lucky to have the fabulous Eddy, who came to sing for us.

In the evening, we went to St Mary’s Church, Ross-on-Wye, who hosted a special event to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of Victory in Europe. The event was led by students from John Kyrle High School, Veterans, Royal British Legion Members, Scouts, Guides and Uniformed Military Cadets. We were joined by the local community, and felt honoured to be there. 

Several of our residents recently spent a day at The Willow Trust in Gloucestershire on a canal boat. We were super lucky with the weather, and enjoyed a picnic lunch in the sunshine. Everyone enjoyed their time on the boat, and had a lot of fun taking it in turns to captain the boat!

We all enjoyed looking at the beautiful scenery around us, and seeing all the other boats on the water.
It was a truly magnificent day out and is still the talk of the home.

We are planning our next visit to The Willow Trust.