Activities at Tyspane Care Home

Squirrel Appreciation Day takes place on the 21st of January every year, celebrating one of nature’s most acrobatic and playful creatures. This day is an opportunity to learn about and appreciate the role of squirrels in our ecosystems and to enjoy their charming antics and unique behaviours.

So, today it was a wonderful delight today to spend time with Angela and Helen making squirrel balls for the squirrels who live in the gardens at Tyspane Care Home. 

Helen (Resident) stated, “I think the pigeons will enjoy them too!”

This week at Tyspane Care Home we are celebrating National Activity Providers and Professionals week. As Activities Co-Ordinator at Tyspane Care Home, it gives me great pleasure to say a massive thank you to Julie Sharpe and Jaye Yeo for their creativity, compassion and commitment, bringing joy, enrichment and connection to our residents, families, friends and staff at Tyspane Care Home. However, in the words of English author John Donne, "No man is an island," meaning no one is self-sufficient; everyone relies on others. This being so at Tyspane Care Home, where staff work together to create person-centred care for residents. Tyspane Care Home staff are talented, experienced, empathetic, professional and dedicated.

Aime Bown (General Manager) stated, "I am proud of all the staff at Tyspane Care Home, everyone engages in order to achieve goals. They are flexible, willing to change if necessary and adapt to different roles, as well as being supportive and respectful of each other. Furthermore, Tyspane Care Home nurtures open communication, continuous employee success, and recognition."

Tyspane Care Home Health-care's whole home approach is a person-centred care model that aims to help residents live fulfilling lives. The approach involves tailoring activities and care plans to the individual needs and preferences of each resident. It works by;

Getting to Know Residents - All Tyspane Care Home staff spend time learning about each resident's life story, interests, and preferences.

Involve Family - Families are involved in decision-making and care plans are regularly updated.

Provide a Variety of Activities - Tyspane Care Home offers a range of activities to stimulate memory, encourage problem-solving, and promote independence.

Create a Welcoming Environment - Tyspane Care Home is designed to be safe, comfortable and welcoming.

All of which benefit residents to;

- maintain their independence and live their lives to the full 
- to participate in activities that they enjoy
- to feel at home and happy

David J Prior (Resident Ambassador) stated, "Tyspane is one big family."

So, in the words of Michael Jordan, "Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships."

Gardening and outdoor activities are ideal for encouraging residents to be physically active and engaged. Residents really benefit from spending time in the garden as it lowers blood pressure, provides exercise, improves motor skills, relieves stress, and helps with much more.

With this research in our minds, it was wonderful that on this chilly Sunday morning Mary was up ready to visit her special garden plot at Tyspane Care Home to check on the spring bulbs her mother Miriam planted in November 2024. Mary’s plot is a raised garden bed specially modified to allow Mary to access and use gardening tools independently.

Tyspane Care Home gardens have lots of modifications to allow residents, families and friends to enjoy a spot of gardening. Modifications include raised beds, wide paths, wild areas, use of ergonomic tools, low maintenance plants and a wide selection of seating areas.

Mary (resident) stated, “I know it’s cold, but I have enjoyed being outside, especially watching my bulbs spring into life.”

Sharing memories amongst residents can be important because it can helps them feel valued, connected, and in control of their lives. It can also help reduce stress and improve their emotional wellbeing. At Tyspane Care Home, we understand that reminiscing sessions can help residents feel like they have a sense of purpose and meaning in their lives, feel valued and rekindle their sense of self-worth, improve communication skills by creating new pathways in the brain whilst giving older adults a sense of agency and independence.

So this afternoon, whilst residents, families, friends and staff gathered in the activities lounge waiting for the talented “Golden Girl” Elaine to perform, they began to reminisce about their early careers. The conversations were enlightening whilst providing opportunities for laughter and nurturing a feeling of being connected to those around them.

Peter (Resident) proudly said, “I used to be a car mechanic, I like to fix and create things. I made a special ornament out of a car piston with the emblem of the car oil Dove on it. I have kept it safe.”

Vera (Resident) replied, “Very interesting, I owned a preschool in Surrey and worked on a farm when I was young.”

Heather (Resident) laughed and said, “My father owned a farm and we had many animals on the farm, including a Llama who thought it was a cow and a squirrel monkey.”

The afternoon was a wonderful way to remind residents of their accomplishments, their contributions to society and family, and how they have lived long and meaningful lives.

At Tyspane Care Home, we believe in supporting active lifestyles and promoting overall health. Tennis is just one of the many ways we encourage physical activity, offering a fun and engaging way for you to stay fit. With a focus on well-being, we ensure that there are opportunities to stay active and connected for everyone.

Tennis also offers a range of physical health benefits, particularly for ageing adults. Staying active is essential to maintaining overall well-being as we age, and tennis can be a rewarding and engaging way to do just that. The physical health benefits of tennis for seniors go far beyond recreation. The sport helps improve mobility, strength, balance, and cardiovascular health, supporting an active and healthy lifestyle for you and your loved ones.

Over the last twelve months, Tyspane Care Home Tennis Club has gone from strength to strength, especially with the introduction of the double’s tournaments. The matches involve lots of laughter, fun and excitement mixed with a small dose of talent. Residents, families, friends and staff enjoy the thrill of spending time together. 

Tyspane Care Home understands the importance of joining a sports club and how sport brings people together, it helps them achieve personal goals, supports mental and physical health, and provides a rich tapestry of memorable experiences.

Tony (Resident) stated, “The time has flown past, we have been playing for an hour, and it seems like five minutes.”

David (Resident Ambassador) replied, “That’s because we are having so much fun. It’s a pleasure to see new players such as Helen, who has not stopped laughing.”

As humans, we are inherently social creatures. Our need for connection and interaction doesn’t diminish as we age; if anything, it becomes even more crucial. While alone time can be beneficial for reflection, relaxation, and peaceful activities such as reading, extended periods of isolation can be extremely detrimental to both mental and physical health, especially for the elderly. Whether an elderly person is living in a care home or at home, regular community engagement and activity programmes can be highly beneficial. These benefits range from physical health improvements to mental well-being enhancements, making social engagement an essential component of elderly care. With these thoughts in our mind, Tyspane Care Home Activities Team visited the local community in Braunton today to create new friendships and build on existing friendships.

Our first port of call was at Caen Community Primary School (Caen Foundation Centre) in Braunton. The children had already visited Tyspane Care Home on the 13th December 2024 to perform a Christmas Concert for residents, friends, families and staff. It was a magical event and a marvellous example of intergenerational equity. Intergenerational equity is the idea of fairness or justice between generations. The concept can be applied to fairness in dynamics between children, youth, adults, and seniors. It was wonderful to meet Mr Page, the Head Teacher at Caen Community Primary School and brainstorm ideas on how to bring students and older people together during the school year in order to build connections to support the development of social-emotional learning skills.

Julie Sharpe (Activities Assistant) stated following her visit to Caen Community Primary School, “What an amazing morning. Building a stronger sense of community is inspiring. By connecting with those around us and participating in local initiatives, we create meaningful relationships which enhance our sense of belonging and drive positive changes for our residents.”

Jacqui Conroy (Activities Co-Ordinator) replied, “Collaborating with others on a common goal can be incredibly inspiring and empowering. Whether it’s working together on a community garden, contributing to an art project or organising a concert, these shared efforts foster a strong sense of connection and purpose.”