Activities at Tyspane Care Home

Between spring and Autumn 2024, Tyspane Care Home Gardening Club created the Tyspane Care Home Community Garden. The garden was built by David, Kelvin and John (Tyspane Care Home Maintenance) and the design, planning and planting was led by Patrick (Tyspane Care Home, Resident) alongside Julie and Jacqui on the Activities Team and families and friends. 

The Community Garden was accessible to wheelchairs. The planning process incorporated smooth pathways and comfortable seating areas. The Community Garden was a huge success for residents, families, friends and staff. It was a place of beauty with an abundance of vegetables which were donated to those in need. In addition, the Community Garden was used by residents to sit with families and celebrate birthdays and special occasions, entertain visitors or sit in quiet contemplation. The Activities Team used the area for grand and fascinating performances and shows throughout the summer months.  

The success was discussed at one of our residents' meetings. Tyspane Care Home residents meetings allow residents a chance to facilitate open dialogue between residents, staff, and leadership. Through these meetings, residents can express their needs and preferences directly to decision-makers, ensuring their voices are heard and concerns addressed promptly.                    

Aime Bown (General Manager) stated:
"At Tyspane Care Home, we support residents to maintain contact with those important to them, and always do our best to work alongside them, and their family and friends, to deliver the best care and support. This is achieved through great communication, whether it be through meaningful conversations or more structured meetings. We actively recruit and support resident ambassadors, to benefit residents' health and wellbeing. We welcome ideas and feedback, so colleagues can act to improve our services."

At the last meeting, the residents requested the Community Garden continue and, if possible, be extended to create more opportunities for outdoor summer events and fêtes, growing fresh produce to donate to local charities, seating spots for meditation and sensory experiences. As part of the "You Said, We Did" culture, a whole-home approach is being adopted to support the expansion of the Community Garden.

According to Age UK, more than 2 million people in England over the age of 75 live alone, and more than a million older people say they go over a month without speaking to a friend, neighbour or family member. People can become socially isolated for a variety of reasons, such as getting older or weaker, no longer being the hub of their family, leaving the workplace, the deaths of spouses and friends, or through disability or illness. Whatever the cause, it's shockingly easy to be left feeling alone and vulnerable, which can lead to depression and a serious decline in physical health and wellbeing. Someone who's lonely probably also finds it hard to reach out. There's a stigma surrounding loneliness, and older people tend not to ask for help because they have too much pride. Additionally, it's important to remember loneliness can – and does – affect anyone of any age.

At Tyspane Care Home we ensure that, as part of our daily activities timetable and daily routine, we build in time to experience talking moments. One method to support confidence in conversations with new people is to ask questions in order to find some common ground. This could be a shared interest, a particular experience, or a current event or news story that you’ve heard about.  However, today I was privileged to sit amongst residents in the lounge and talk effortlessly about hobbies, life experiences, family and friends, careers, the beauty of gardening and flowers. The list is endless.

Lorna (Resident) stated, “It was a nice morning.”

Marian (Respite Resident), “We should be called the ‘A Team’. We have talked all morning.”

Thank you Marian, Diane, Gwen, Lorna, Mary, Michelle, Doreen, Patricia, Noreen, Elizabeth, Bernard and Pippa or rightly named the ‘A’ Team. It was a wonderful and blissful morning. 

National Pasty Week’s (also called Cornish Pasty Week), an annual week-long celebration, begins in late February each year and honours the city of Cornwall’s favourite food, the pasty. This year, it takes place from February 27 to March 4. Traditionally a savoury recipe, this British-origin (from Cornwall) dish is now both a sweet and savoury dish, depending on the filling inside the shortcrust cover. The Cornish pasty, the original version, is so popular that more than 120 million are made each year.

Never one to shy away, Julie (Tyspane Care Home, Activities Assistant) was set the challenge by Tyspane Care Home Baking Club to find a recipe for their next baking session. Julie is an expert baker and to ensure she found the perfect recipe, she practiced at home until she found a tasty but practical recipe that could be made by residents at Tyspane Care Home.  Julie understands the importance of person-centred care and equity for all. Julie is always keen to make a positive difference, demonstrating a can-do approach within the Activities Team.

Barchester, Tyspane Care Home, Aime Bown, General Manager, believes:

“Our residents, patients and their families expect great services, so our professional and dedicated team of specialists actively recruit people who are focused on continually improving the quality of life for the people in our care, to achieve our ambition of Barchester as the leading provider of care services.”

The Baking Club worked effortlessly today to create the perfect Cornish Pasty whilst discussing Ted Gundry - 

Ode to a Pasty – by Ted Gundry

The Scots have got their haggis,
Made from offal which seems messy,
Each year 'tis served on Burns night,
At a function rather dressy.

But.........In Cornwall down the ages,
The Pasty's reigned supreme,
With taties, turnip, onion,
And chuck steak shoved in between.

To Cornish folk 'tis tasty,
So, relax don't eat in haste,
Just tuck in and enjoy it,
And let nothing go to waste.

Michelle (Day Visitor) stated, “They smell absolutely wonderful. I cannot wait to try.”

Patricia (Resident) replied, “Wow, Wow, Wow.”

Thank you Tyspane Care Home Baking Club.

Strictly Come Dancing represents the pinnacle of ballroom dancing. It could be argued that as one of the UK’s most popular entertainment shows, Strictly Come Dancing has amassed a devoted viewer base that holds its celebrity contestants to exceptionally high standards. At Tyspane Care Home, some of our residents, families, friends and staff are fans of Strictly Come Dancing, so to bring a little joy and glamour to a rainy afternoon, Thea, an extremely talented singer and dancer from Mini Concerts, performed 'Strictly At Home.’  

Thea set the room on fire as she performed hits from the show, the many dress changes added glamour and her tap dancing was wonderful to watch. David Prior (Resident Ambassador) stated, “The performance was better than good. It was amazing.”

Mini Concerts commented, “A huge thank you to the residents and staff at Barchester Healthcare’s Tyspane Care Home who made Thea’s visit such a treat. A huge thank you to the activity superstars who really did bring the Blackpool vibe to Barnstaple for their wonderful residents.”

Remember, every day brings a chance for you to draw a breath, kick off your shoes and dance.

As we go through life, we often come to depend on our family relationships to provide emotional support and guidance both in good times and during moments of difficulty. While maintaining strong family connections is important at all stages of life, it has become increasingly important for older adults. Family relationships provide resources and support that can help an individual cope with stress, engage in healthier behaviours, and enhance self-esteem. In addition, family relationships evolve over a lifetime, which allows us to share important life experiences and milestones with one another, often deepening our emotional connection.

So, this evening it was wonderful to welcome Patricia's extended family to Tyspane Care Home to join Patricia for a traditional Fish and Chip supper. It was wonderful to listen to everyone catching up, sharing memories whilst listening to the children retell events of the day.

Patricia (Resident) stated, "It all looks wonderful, I am excited to see my family."

Ella Jolliffe (Resident) replied, “Thank you so much for making it happen, it was so beautiful and thoughtful! All the magic of going out to a restaurant but with the care and support that’s needed. The children absolutely LOVED going to dinner at ‘Great Nan’s really big house’ ❤️

Simply Magical!

Tony was born on 18th July 1945 to parents Tom and Violet. He was the older brother of Paul. Tony was born with Cerebral Palsy, a condition which symptoms include poor coordination, stiff muscles and tremors. As for many children born with a disability in the Black Country (West Bromwich), life was hard, Tony was not treated and respected in the same way as his peers. The view taken by many was that he did not have the same right to an education, which meant that Tony’s early experiences of schooling was one of neglect and rejection.

Tony’s strength of character and determination grew and grew, especially in 1966 when he developed spasms in his left arm and legs, which led him to make the decision to have neurosurgery. Tony’s bravery didn’t stop there though, despite developing epilepsy twelve months after neurosurgery, he soldiered on ever more determined to combine his love of sport with education and, after moving to Exeter in the 1970’s, enroled at college, later passing many NVQ’s and gaining his coaching qualification. These educational successes changed Tony’s life and led him down a new path, one of athletics, which was his original dream of combining sport and education. 

Tony’s career rocketed. His accomplishments included competing for England’s Cerebral Palsy Athletics in the 1980’s, being short-listed for the Para-Olympics four times and working on a voluntary basis at Exeter Harriers coaching up and coming athletics with and without disabilities, many of which went on to have very successful careers.

Tony suffered a stroke in the same year that he received a cancer diagnosis, however, after much heart ache he found his way to Tyspane Care Home where he met Bab’s, Rob, Georgie and Katie (Physiotherapy Team) and the bond was instant. The team encouraged and supported Tony socially, emotionally, mentally and physically to start his path of recovery. From this moment on Tony has pursued his dream to walk, stay physically fit and healthy whilst retaining his independence.

Through one-to-one “Get To Know Me” sessions with Tony, he explained that he missed being “track side” and being able to support and coach others especially young children/adults with disabilities. As a result of these conversations the Activity Team contacted Braunton Athletics Club, Gemma Rous Independent Paediatric Physiotherapy who knew Tony from her early training days. Gemma is a qualified England Athletics Coach and leads a frame running club every Thursday, 5 - 6.30pm at the North Devon Athletics Club. When she heard about Tony’s wish to coach and be “track side” again she invited Tony and Tyspane Care Home Activity Staff to her club and allowed Tony to support the young children “track side.” 
Tony was extremely emotional and was proud to tell his stories to the young children as he watched them ride bikes and train. He helped coach offering suggestions and ideas. He is self-esteem flourished and he never stopped talking about his happy memories of athletics. Tony felt he had made a difference that night and made new friends.

Tony stated, “I am so pleased to be here, I cannot wait to come again. This has been a wonderful experience for me, just like old times. Thank you to everyone who made this possible.” “It has been lovely to talk to Gemma Rous and Tim Sharpe and reminisce about old times and people I used to know through sports.”

Julie (Tyspane Care Home, Activities Team) replied, “It’s a pleasure to have supported this evening, I am sure we will be visiting again.”

Gemma Rous (England Athletics Coach) said, “It is lovely to see Tony again and how passionate he still is about athletics, he is welcome to visit anytime.”

Plans are underway for Tony to visit on a regular basis and with the support of Tyspane Care Home Physiotherapy Team next time it is hoped he will be able to ride a specially designed bike around the track (The frame is designed to offload the weight of the user by up to 60% meaning that people who cannot walk independently can be supported to move at speed with their own feet). Watch this space!