Activities at Tyspane Care Home

Resident, Mary Grogan, at Tyspane Care Home had always wanted to own a Meerkat so much so that she became a regular visitor to Exmoor Zoo and adopted a Meerkat when she was younger. Miriam, Marys mother used to arrange for family members to club together to find the seventy pounds each year to sustain the adoption membership. However, as the years passed by Mary’s love for Meerkats’ continued as did the array of photos, jigsaws and stuffed Meerkats’ in her room, her dream didn’t fade it simplified into wanting to see a Meerkat again and stroke their beautiful soft fur.

Therefore upon hearing about Mary’s dream the Activities Team at Tyspane Care Home set about making this dream a reality, providing the old adage, it’s never too late. Exmoor Zoo were contacted and to everyone’s surprise remembered Mary and her family and how they used to be regulars at the zoo and visited “Simples” one of their earlier Meerkats’. Therefore, without hesitation they jumped into action providing dates and times they could visit with one of their new Meerkats’ and arranging for another stuffed toy to be delivered to Mary. 

On Thursday 3rd August 2023, residents, staff, family and friends of all ages gathered together in the downstairs lounge at Tyspane Care Home to experience Exmoor Zoo at their best. They listened to interesting facts about animals, handled mice and stroked a barn owl before the highlight of the show, stroking Mary’s dream, the Meerkat.  It was truly a wonderful moment, everyone was smiling and the atmosphere was electrifying. 

We therefore extend our heartfelt gratitude to staff, family, friends and residents. Their generosity and collaboration played a vital role in creating a truly memorable experience for Mary. It is a testament to the everyone’s determination to make dreams come true, no matter the age or circumstance.

Today at Tyspane Care Home residents, families, friends and staff were taken by surprise when Mrs Gwen Barrow started to play the electric organ in the lounge. There was not a dry eye in the room when Gwen sat by the organ and played an array of melodies from Handel’s Messiah to Silent Night composed by Franz Xaver Gruber. Gwen played the pieces from memory, not a musical sheet anywhere. Such an amazing talent.

Truly spectacular and totally mesmerising.

Today at Tyspane Care Home we celebrated the final stage of growing sun flowers, our beautiful sun flowers are now in full bloom. The display is truly spectacular and we are in no doubt that we have won the sun flower competition against Lucerne House Care Home. Well done Tyspane Care Home!

Creating the Gardening Club at Tyspane Care Home has allowed residents, staff, friends and families to stay connected whilst improving social networks and community links. A wealth of evidence shows that positive relationships and shared activities contribute to wellbeing. So long may we all sow the seeds of friendships.

Today at Tyspane Care Home we were honoured to welcome Torridge and District Motor Club. Torridge & District Motorcycle club was founded in 1957. The club organised Trials, Motorcross and Enduro events for over 50 years but now concentrates on running Trials events for people of all ages and abilities. The club operates in the North and West Devon area organising trials all year round from Tavistock to Hartland.

The activities lounge was packed with residents as the motor bike was brought in and balanced on a stand in the middle of the room for all to see. It was truly, a spectacular sight for sore eyes. The residents were captivated by the stories of the riders and couldn’t stop asking questions and recounting their own experiences about motor bikes. Who would have thought that so many of the residents at Tyspane Care Home owned and rode motor cycles in the past? The stories emphasised that trial riding really is one of the most technically demanding and challenging disciplines. Riders need exceptional balance, patience, as well as amazing throttle and clutch control. The values and ethos of Torridge & District Motorcycle Club did not go un-noticed as they talked by encouraging friendship, companionship, loyalty whilst supporting independence and challenge all of which our residents appreciated.

Thank you Chris and John for a wonderful afternoon.

Lorna, Dennis and Brian, residents of Tyspane Care Home visited Braunton today for coffee and cakes. Whilst seated in the sun, Lorna captivated everyone with her exceptional storytelling, especially the tale of St Brannocks Church.

According legend and Lorna the Church owes its foundation to Brannock, a missionary who came across the Bristol Channel from Wales (some authorities claim he came from Ireland) to bring Christianity and improved agriculture to the area. The legend states that Brannock attempted to build a church on a hill above the settlement but it kept falling down. He then had a vision and was told to build his church at a spot where he would find a sow and piglets. This legend is commemorated on a highly coloured roof boss immediately above the font. A similar boss can also be found in Exeter cathedral.

Luckily for the residents of Tyspane Care Home the only visions we encountered in Braunton was the beautiful sunshine and spectacular array of cakes!

At Tyspane Care Home, we believe that every moment in life is worth cherishing, and we are thrilled to share the heart-warming fulfilment of a special wish for one of our residents. This month, we celebrate David Prior.

David shared that whilst living in Sussex as a teenager his stepfather Peter taught him to drive around the farm fields on a 1947 Massey Ferguson. David described the feeling as amazing and has wonderful memories of driving this now vintage tractor. He recalled that it was this early experience that helped him pass his driving test at 17 years of age and acquire his first car, a black standard 8. David expressed that it would be a dream come true to see a 1947 Massey Ferguson again.

As a result of David sharing his dream, Jaye Yeo (Activities Team) screamed with excitement as she owned a 1947 Petrol Massey Ferguson Tractor. Jaye agreed to speak to her son James about surprising David by driving the tractor to Tyspane Care Home. James who is 23 years old, is a passionate collector of Massey Ferguson Tractor and is the proud owner of four vintage tractors. With careful planning and a smile on his face, James set off from Muddiford, North Devon down the winding roads at 10 miles an hour. He joked that there was no traffic in front of him, only behind him!

Whilst on his way, the staff at Tyspane charged into action and lead David and other residents to the front of the building where James was waiting with his tractor. The whirling and growling of the vintage tractor along with a sensory blast of oil and petrol fumes only added to the experience. David couldn’t believe his eyes, it was exactly like the one he had learnt to drive on.  It was a lovely afternoon as everyone chatted and reminisced about early experiences in their lives, it was wonderful to hear stories about how they knew about Massey Ferguson tractors.

We therefore extend our heartfelt gratitude to Jaye and James Yeo. Their generosity and collaboration played a vital role in creating a truly memorable experience for David Prior. It is a testament to the staff’s determination to make dreams come true, no matter the age or circumstance.

Here at Tyspane Care Home we continue our mission to provide exceptional care and support to all our residents. We are committed to creating an environment where dreams are nurtured, cherished, and celebrated.