Activities at Tyspane Care Home

The fairground is a quintessential part of British culture, bringing joy, excitement, and a touch of nostalgia to people of all ages. These vibrant spaces, filled with thrilling rides, enticing games, and sweet treats, have a rich history that reflects the social and economic changes in the UK.

Many of the residents at Tyspane Care Home talk fondly about traditional fairgrounds and their childhood memories of spending time at the fairground. However, for Vernon, one of the residents at Tyspane Care Home, the love of the fairground has continued throughout his life. His passion for the traditional attractions, such as the dodgems and the big wheel, has never dwindled. However, Vernon’s visit to Barnstaple’s annual carnival and fair has not been possible for the last few years due to mobility issues and frailty, but that has never stopped him talking about the fair and his past visits, especially over the last few months. Then more recently, he expressed an interest to Sandra (Vernon’s special family friend) about being escorted to Barnstaple Fair.

So, as a result, Tyspane Care Home arranged “Make A Wish Come True,” for Vernon and he attended this year's Barnstaple Fair. He relived his favourite moments and thrills by riding on the big wheel and driving the dodgems. He loved every moment, he never stopped until it was time to go home, but not before buying candyfloss and toffee apples.

Vernon stated, “I really hope I can go next year. It was great.”

A massive thank you to everyone who made this day so special for Vernon, old memories were relived and new memories made. Simply wonderful.

Faith plays a significant role in the lives of many individuals, and this is especially true for residents in care homes. For many people, their faith is a source of comfort, strength, and guidance, and it is important for care homes to recognise and respect the religious beliefs of their residents. By doing so, care homes can create a supportive and inclusive environment that meets the spiritual needs of their residents.

Faith can also provide a sense of community and belonging for residents in care homes. By recognising and supporting faith and traditions, care homes can create a sense of belonging and foster a supportive community for their residents.

So, today it was wonderful for staff at Tyspane Care Home to accompany Helen to one of her Quaker meetings in the local area. The Quaker meeting creates a space of gathered stillness. The meetings are based on silence: a silence of waiting and listening.

Thank You Helen for sharing your beliefs and values with Tyspane Care Home it was a privilege.

Creating a sense of community is essential in residential care homes. Relationships between residents themselves, as well as staff can be fostered in many ways. Namely through enrichment activities, such as reminiscence activities, puzzle solving, art or dramatherapy and exercise classes.

At Tyspane Care Home, the activities team have worked tirelessly with the physiotherapy team to create a timetable that encourages residents, families, friends, professionals, community and staff to participate in physical activities. Physical activity and regular exercise play a crucial role in maintaining the health and well-being of seniors residing in care homes. Exercise not only contributes to physical fitness but also has numerous mental and emotional benefits. 

Traditions are crucial for social cohesion, cultural identity, and passing down wisdom and values. They provide a sense of belonging, stability, and continuity, connecting individuals to their heritage and fostering a shared understanding in the world.

At Tyspane Care Home, the gardening club members have grown beautiful sunflowers each year, not just for ascetic reasons but to embrace the challenge of growing a taller sunflower each year. This tradition was started when Alex from Lucern Care Home in Exeter, (one of our Barchester sister homes) bet us they could grower taller sunflowers than Tyspane Care Home.

This wonderful tradition has certainly inspired residents, families, friends, professionals, staff, community, and our young volunteers to become involved. This year the sunflowers were taller than previous years, simply amazing measuring a staggering 320 inches in height.

Starting this tradition has certainly benefited everyone involved by fostering a sense of identity, belonging and connection. It has allowed us to provide a framework for shared experiences, create lasting memories, and offer a sense of continuity and predictability, which is important for all our residents.

Dementia memory boxes are personalised containers filled with meaningful items that help stimulate memories and encourage communication for individuals with dementia. Memory boxes serve as a valuable tool for individuals with dementia, helping to trigger long-term memories and facilitate conversations. They can evoke emotions and memories associated with past experiences, which is particularly beneficial as many individuals retain long-term memories while struggling with short-term recall. The use of memory boxes can enhance the quality of life for those with dementia by providing mental and emotional stimulation, promoting social interaction, and fostering a sense of connection to their past.

Boots UK have launched a nationwide initiative to spark conversation and rekindle memories for those affected by dementia. Boots UK have created 1,000 memory boxes, which they have distributed across the country to care homes and communities. Boots has a long-standing history of supporting those living with dementia, and has a unique experience of being part of health and beauty in the home for more than 175 years, being a part of people’s lives through generations. The boxes were created following research by Professor Victoria Tischler, that for many people with dementia, handling familiar objects that combine distinctive smells and attractive designs can provide wellbeing benefits including enhanced mood, social inclusion and memory retrieval. Simple prompts like familiar smells from a person’s past can stimulate recall and bring people into the present moment.

Tyspane Care Home has been one of the lucky care homes to have received one of these memory boxes to support residents who live with dementia. Tyspane Care Home understands that dementia memory boxes are a powerful tool for enhancing the well-being of individuals with dementia, providing a means to reconnect with their past and engage in meaningful conversations.

Elderly individuals, particularly those who have lived through significant historical events and have experienced the ups and downs of life, often become role models for the younger generation. They provide wisdom, guidance, and perspective that can help younger people navigate life’s challenges and make informed decisions. 

One such example of this is Tony Proverb, a resident at Tyspane Care Home. Tony has participated in, and actively taught, young children's and young adults’ athletics throughout his life and continues to do so despite being retired. Only after this event did Tony visit North Devon Athletics Club to support The Penguin Sports Foundation. 

The Penguin Sports Foundation provides a Hydrotherapy programme with 1:1 sessions, Frame Running club and a brand-new Hydrotherapy afterschool club. Tony was welcomed with open arms by the Director of The Penguin Sports Foundation, Gemma Rous. Gemma qualified from Brunel University in September 2007 and became a highly experienced Paediatric Physiotherapist working with children from 0–19 years old with special needs and/or physical disabilities. Gemma was also coached by Tony in her earlier years and he is a well-loved family friend. 

The evening was full of laugher, fun and chatter. The young children and families engaged with Tony as he offered encouragement and advice. He was a true inspiration. Tony stated, “The children are wonderful, they had so much fun on the bikes, I could hardly keep up.”

Thank you to everyone who made this evening so special. Tony will be back.  

Cultural sensitivity means being aware of and respecting the cultural differences that influence how people view their health, aging, and care. It’s not just about knowing traditions or languages. It’s about fostering an environment where residents feel understood and valued, regardless of their backgrounds.

Working with elderly residents from various cultural background is extremely rewarding, it teaches compassion, provides knowledge on different beliefs and traditions and gives one a unique perspective and experience on life.

At Tyspane Care Home, our residents can be deeply impacted if their choices and beliefs are not respected, which in turn they can impact their sense of comfort and dignity. To support residents, families, friends and staff to understand cultural sensitivity our activities team complete “Get To Know Me” booklets to gain greater depth of our resident’s needs. 

A still life is a drawing or painting that focuses on still objects. The subject matter is inanimate and never moves, typically with a focus on household objects, flowers, or fruits. Still life work contrasts figure drawing which focuses on a live human model. With a still life you know the objects won’t ever move and you can practice objects with different properties like shiny metal, clear porcelain, or bulbous apples. Creating a still life is a starting point for someone to practice fundamental skills. When drawing inanimate objects, you can be sure they will stay in the same position until you move them, making it an easier task for beginners.

At Tyspane Care Home, we understand that all our residents are different and enjoy different hobbies and interests, and through our Getting To Know Me booklets we discovered that we had several artists and residents who were interested in art, and as a result of this knowledge we have introduced a still life group. The activities lounge was packed this morning with residents to participate in our first still life group; some to draw, others to watch.

Aime Bown, General Manager replied:
“At Tyspane Care Home we celebrate life through everything we do. Life at Tyspane is about more than just the care needed so our teams are trained and committed to enriching the lives of all our residents, through stimulating the mind, the body and soul.”

Young disabled individuals can face unique challenges when pursuing new ventures, but there are resources and opportunities available to support them. Tyspane Care Home provides residential and nursing care for older people, as well as younger adults with physical disabilities.

Tyspane Care Home understands and believes that it is people that can make changes to those residents who face daily challenges and need extra support to be brave. For young adults at Tyspane Care Home physiotherapy is increasingly being recognised for its significant role in supporting mental wellbeing, extending beyond physical rehabilitation, it now encompasses holistic well-being. Physiotherapists can address mental health concerns by integrating techniques like relaxation training, breathing exercise, body awareness practices, and supporting life enrichments in treatment plans. In essence, physiotherapy offers a holistic approach to health, recognising the crucial link between physical and mental well-being. By addressing both physical and mental health needs, physiotherapists can empower individuals to improve their overall quality of life.

So imagine, walking into the physiotherapy suite today and seeing a young resident participating in a new hobby, the hobby in question being boxing! He was Sparring with our young volunteer Emily, under the guidance and supervision of Head Physiotherapist, Babs Spear. The atmosphere was intense, energetic, and focused. It was a focused training session full of  camaraderie, and the palpable feeling of hard work. For those who know Babs Spear she is a formidable woman, she is one of the luminaries in the boxing world.  

Tyspane Care Home is a place which nurtures bravery, courage and determination in all its residents. Simply the best! 

Creating and maintaining genuine, meaningful connections is incredibly important whatever age you are. However, it’s particularly vital for people as they grow older, providing fantastic boosts for their physical and mental wellbeing. As we age, it’s all too easy to slip out of the routine of getting out and about, seeing friends, and keeping up with hobbies. But we should always go the extra mile to ensure this doesn’t happen.

So, at Tyspane Care Home we are exceptionally lucky to be invited to Braunton Caen Rotary Memory Café at the Vivian Moon Centre Braunton on the last Wednesday of each month. The atmosphere is warm, friendly and engaging, the activities and events held are stimulating for all ages.

Guest speakers this month were volunteers from Braunton Library who spoke about the history of the library, events past and present, the role and importance of local volunteers. It was wonderful to hear that Braunton Library had been named the South-West winner of the Library of the Year. Braunton Library has become a key part of the local community, offering regular events such as children’s Lego Club, Mini Readers, and groups for adults like Knit and Natter and Creative Writing. The library also hosts author visits, live music, IT sessions, and reading groups. With 1,589 members and around 24,500 visits a year, the library runs about 300 events, attracting roughly 3,000 attendees annually. Absolutely incredible.

Pam (Resident) stated, “What a wonderful afternoon.”

Julie (Activities Assistant), “This is an amazing local community group.”

Thank You Jennie Tomlinson for the monthly invite.

Each person’s needs and choices will be unique to them. This means that all staff at Tyspane Care Home must do all they can to help the person convey their personal aspirations and goals, and the support they need. Creating the care plan with the person or their chosen representative will keep the focus on what is important to that individual and will enable their care and support to reflect this.
Actively involving other people who are part of the person’s life will usually improve their care and support. Linking into a person’s existing support network will bring together all the information about them, so that their care and support are tailored to meet their specific needs and preferences. This will help to improve the residents' experience and promote their wellbeing, rather than merely responding to problems as they arise. For young adults at Tyspane Care Home, person-centred care is crucially important in supporting their mental wellbeing, and by offering guidance to help them create new aspirations and goals, they feel included, represented, and in control of their own destiny. 

Sean, one of our young adults, moved to Tyspane Care Home in July 2025, and with help and support from Babs Spear (Head of Department, Physiotherapy) started a person-centred training programme to increase his physical and mental wellbeing, and create new aspirations and goals. Part of this programme involved boxing; adaptive boxing is a sport that’s inclusive and tailored to individuals with diverse abilities.

For Sean, today, (Saturday 13th September 2025), one of his new goals came true. Sean joined community, professional and professional boxing champion, Billy Stanbury at the opening of Braunton Boxing Academy, The Old Tiki Factory, Velator.
Sean was welcomed with open arms and made to feel part of something special. Coaches engaged with him and offered him personal guidance and a chance to spa with Lee Chappell was a dream come true for Sean. The opening of the new boxing gym was packed with local community, professional coaches and local businesses, 

Lloyd Chappell (Manager of Braunton Boxing Gym) stated, “We are grateful to all those who made this possible. It is just amazing how supportive the local community have been. One of the aims of Braunton Boxing Gym is to inspire the younger generations.”
Lee Chappell (Coach and Son of Lloyd Chappell) stated, “It would be a privilege to coach Sean, on a one-to-one basis, as long as Babs Spear coaches me!”

Sean replied, “It has been one of the best days of my life, thank you.” The afternoon ended with two further surprises, a visit to McDonald's and a visit to his Nan (Juliet) house.  Thank you to everyone who made this day so special for Sean. It was truly inspirational. 

Wisdom is a priceless asset that transcends time and generations. In every society, elderly individuals have long been recognised as keepers of profound knowledge and life experiences, making them a reservoir of invaluable wisdom. As we journey through life, their guidance and insights serve as guiding lights, illuminating the path for younger generations. 

At Tyspane Care Home, our residents have accumulated a lifetime's worth of experiences, each encounter leaving an indelible mark on their understanding of the world. These experiences encompass personal triumphs and trials, career challenges, family dynamics, and countless life lessons. Such experiences offer a unique perspective that can't be replicated or substituted by any amount of formal education.

At Tyspane Care Home wisdom and knowledge was shared amongst residents, families, friends and staff today by Chris. Chris is an exceptionally gifted, intelligent, well-spoken gentleman who brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience as the guest speaker at our Book Club Group. He volunteered and was chosen for his experience on the topic of J M Barrow. J M Barrow was a Scottish novelist and playwright best known for creating the character Peter Pan. Chris was very adept at interacting with his audience, managing discussions and adapting his content to the audience’s reactions. His role was crucial in providing valuable insights and fostering a stimulating conversation, leaving a lasting positive impact on the audience. 

Thank you Chris, we cannot wait to hear you speak again.   

Mindfulness means maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surrounding environment, through a gentle, nurturing lens. Mindfulness is the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us. It is a quality that every human being already possesses. It’s not something you have to conjure up, you just have to learn how to access it.

With World Mindfulness Day approaching, Tyspane Care Home organised its annual mindfulness day dedicated to promoting mindfulness and its benefits for mental and physical well-being. Today, residents participate in activities like meditation and mindful practices to connect with the present moment and cultivate inner peace. In addition, residents and their families spent the afternoon in the Community Garden enjoying live peaceful music played by Jonathan on his saxophone.

The Community Gardening is the perfect place for mindfulness as residents can relax and focus on their senses - what they can see, hear, smell, taste, and feel.

Hopefully everyone who attended this special day of mindfulness found a way to cultivate a more balanced and grounded relationship with themselves.

Today, residents, friends, families, staff, professionals and children from the local community, Little Fishes Preschool, gathered in the activities lounge for an extraordinary visit to Really Wild Learning in Bideford. Really Wild Learning was formed with the aim of making a difference. Its main aim is to get people connected and involved with wildlife through educational and fun-based learning. They believe that all animals are important to our planet and the only way to promote conservation and respect is through education and positive up-close animal interaction.

The children from Little Fishes Preschool and the local community were captivated, courageous and careful as they handled the snakes, tortoise, bearded dragon and many more reptiles.

Michelle (Visitor) stated, “That was absolutely amazing, so much fun.”

Joan (Resident) stated, “That was lovely, I was so pleased to hold the reptiles.”

Chester (Local Child), “We were all so brave.”

Brian (Resident) gave a massive thumbs up to the bearded dragon.

Thank you, Really Wild Learning, for an incredible morning. See you soon. 

Summer isn’t summer without a fete. Part country fair, part a celebration of community, the Tyspane Care Home English village fete is a social institution. Let’s face it where else can you buy afternoon tea, freshly baked cakes, take a chance on winning the tombola and raffle and browse handmade items on stalls.

The Tyspane Care Home fete was alive with entertainment. Centre Stage School opened the show with a spectacular array of songs and dances.  Centre Stage School, Barnstaple, is an innovative, stage school that gives young people the chance to develop in acting, singing and dancing. Helen Cole (Principal, Dance Teacher) created a wonderful opening to the Fete, residents, families, friends, local community, professionals and staff were full of admiration for all the performances; solos and groups. 
Refreshments were served to the wonderful sound of Jonathan Phippen playing the clarinet and saxophone on the rear patio. The residents browsed stalls whilst children played in the gardens.

The afternoon slipped by, but not without the Sing Off Karaoke hosted by the fabulous Terry Bond. Residents, families and staff sang their favourite songs before being judged by Amie (General Manager), Helen (Administration), John (Maintenance), Emily (Young Volunteer) and Josie (Friend and Volunteer of Tyspane Care Home).

Tyspane Care Home fetes, are a cherished tradition, deeply rooted in British heritage and community spirt, they represent a bend of social gathering, charitable fundraising, and celebration of local talents and produce. 
A massive thank you, to everyone who made this day so special; all the staff at Tyspane Care Home, the performers and the sponsors of raffle prizes (Gratton’s Butchers Barnstaple, SQ Braunton, Blakewell Services Ltd, John Patt’s Greengrocers, Braunton, Hockings Ice Cream, The Bargain Shop, Braunton and the Veg Shed).

Miriam (Volunteer and Mother of Mary, Resident) stated, “You are all amazing, not one you stopped all afternoon whether in uniform or not….the entertainment was BRILLIANT….YOU REALLY EXCELLED TODAY.”

Terry Bond (Entertainer) stated, “Fantastic afternoon everyone was totally brilliant.”