Activities at Tyspane Care Home

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!

In today’s fast-paced world, mealtime has become a solitary experience for many individuals, especially for seniors. However, research has shown that eating together with others, whether it be family, friends, or in a communal setting, can have numerous positive effects on overall well-being, particularly for seniors. Mealtime conversations provide intellectual stimulation, which is crucial for seniors to keep their minds sharp. Engaging in discussions on various topics, sharing stories, and even challenging each other’s perspectives can help exercise cognitive skills. By being exposed to different viewpoints and engaging in thought-provoking conversations, seniors can foster intellectual growth, enhance their communication skills, and keep their minds active and engaged.

To support this, Tyspane Care Home formed the “Good Friends Club,” which is held every month at 6.00pm. Residents choose which meal they would like to eat, and it is then acquired from a local restaurant or takeaway. This month, residents chose to eat an authentic Chinese meal from the local village.

David J Prior (Resident Ambassador) said, “It has been a wonderful evening full of wonderful conversations.”

James (Resident) said, “A lovely evening.”

Michelle (Visitor), “It has been a wonderful evening. I am grateful to have shared this evening with my friends.”

It was a wonderful evening, full of laughter and merriment.

LitWorld founded World Read Aloud Day® (WRAD) in 2010 to celebrate the power of reading aloud to create community and amplify new stories, and to advocate for literacy as a foundational human right. Since then, WRAD has evolved into a global movement of millions of readers, writers, and listeners from across the world coming together to honour the joy and power of reading and continue expanding the definition and scope of global literacy.

Tyspane Care Home Book Club understands people remember more words if they read them aloud than if they read them silently. This memory-boosting effect of reading aloud is particularly strong in children, but it also works for older people too.

For residents who are cared for in rooms, reading aloud can have a positive impact on their mental health as it prevents loneliness and connects them with the outside world. Allowing residents to immerse themselves in books (reading or listening) creates a sense of escapism that distracts from loneliness whilst reducing stress. Furthermore, brain-changing activities like reading are thought to help delay the onset of Alzheimer’s and dementia, which are common obstacles for older people.

Michelle (Visitor and Book Club Member) said, “I enjoy listening to the activities staff read aloud, it is relaxing.”

Patricia (Resident) replied, “Yes, it is so relaxing I fall asleep.”

David J Prior (Resident Ambassador) stated, “I often have to spend time in my room and listening to someone read to me, makes me feel included.”

So remember, if you or a loved one is getting on in years, reading could be their next big thing!

Flower arranging is well known to be a therapeutic activity. But for seniors, there are also psychological and physical benefits. Starting with a sense of relaxation and mindfulness, thanks to the repetitive nature of flower arranging. It is very similar to meditation, calming the mind and reducing stress. Meanwhile, those with arthritis or limited mobility will benefit from the gentle movements. A great alternative form of exercise, it will promote fine motor skills and improve hand-eye coordination.

Personally, it will also promote a sense of accomplishment! It is important for seniors to feel that they have a purpose, and flower arranging will allow them to express their creativity and take pride in their creations. Thereby boosting their self-esteem and generating a sense of joy and fulfilment.

This morning, Tyspane Care Home arranged flowers for Gillian’s birthday and for the activities lounge to brighten everyone’s mood and wellbeing.

Clare (Resident), “This is wonderful, and these are the best flowers for flower arranging.“ 

Intergenerational equity in economic, psychological, and sociological contexts, is the idea of fairness or justice between generations. The concept can be applied to fairness in dynamics between children, youth, adults, and seniors. At Tyspane Care Home, we understand that children who regularly mix with older people have better language, reading and social skills. Furthermore, bringing young and older people together can help tackle some of the big social problems facing the next generation.

Today was a wonderful example of intergenerational companionship as residents of Tyspane Care Home attended Caen Community Primary School (Braunton) lunch club. The lunch club allowed residents and primary-aged school children to spend time together playing games, reading books and socialising. Aging residents are one of the best groups to spend time with young children, not only because they can pass on decades of wisdom, but also because they are at a point in life where they have the availability and patience to do so and can provide the kind of stimulation that young children need to thrive.

Patricia (Resident) stated, “The children and staff at Caen Community Primary School were wonderful, it was a pleasure to visit, and I look forward to returning.”

Noreen (Resident) stated, “I had a wonderful morning, it was so much fun.”

Jacqui Conroy (Activities Co-Ordinator) commented, “I would like to thank Sam Page (Head Teacher) and all the staff and children at Caen Community Primary School for making this morning happen. It was truly magical and immensely beneficial for our residents.”

From the simplest acts of kindness – a smile, gathering essentials for those in need, volunteering time or sharing memories, each gesture, no matter how small, has the power to transform lives. Random Acts of Kindness Day is normally celebrated in February. It is a beautiful day that inspires people to spread love, compassion, and positivity through small, unanticipated acts of kindness.

However, today at Tyspane Care Home our chef, Amy Austin, delivered a simple act of kindness that simply cannot go unnoticed or unrecognised. Michelle (Resident Day Visitor) loves a good quality cup of coffee when she enters Tyspane Care Home in the morning, in a special mug that stays at Tyspane Care Home when she is not visiting. Unfortunately, the mug was accidently broken, which left Michelle disappointed and seeking a new mug. 

Amy, our chef, regularly mingles with residents as part of Tyspane Care Home, person-centred care and recognised the impact of the broken mug on Michelle and took it upon herself to acquire a personalised mug especially for Michelle. Michelle was delighted with the gesture, even tearful.

Aime Bown (General Manager) stated, “Knowing our residents well is the key to delivering great care. We want all our residents to feel at home and our friendly teams are always interested in learning about the lives of those at our home. Thank you, Amy, for this simple random act of kindness.”