Celebrating life at Barchester

Our reception area was transformed into a nostalgic wonderland today as we welcomed the lovely Rebecca from Sweet Memories of Hadleigh!

The home was filled with the wonderful scent of old-fashioned sweets as Rebecca set up her traditional stall. It was a true blast from the past, with favourites sold by the quarter and weighed out on classic scales.

General Manager Elina House said "from pear drops to midget gems, the selection was incredible! All our residents, visitors, and staff stopped by to browse, and the smiles and delight on everyone’s faces truly said it all".

There is nothing quite like a familiar treat to spark a happy memory and a great conversation. A huge thank you to Rebecca for bringing such a sweet touch of nostalgia to our day. We can’t wait to have you back!

What a joy it was to have the lovely nursery school children back to the home for a fantastic visit, with bingo games with lots of winning numbers, story reading , magic painting and of course the sweet voices singing songs.

Our residents are so grateful for the visits which brings such joy into the home from the moment those little feet cross the threshold until they departed with a sing song chorus of goodbyes as they left the home.
 

We know that intergenerational activity is hugely beneficial to all involved as it encourages communication and social skills. Intergenerational contact also helps to develop language and reading confidence through shared activities, as well as increasing confidence and self-esteem. Lastly it helps children to develop empathy, care and kindness, helping them to understand and talk more positively about ageing and older people.

Barchester Healthcare don’t just care for our wonderful residents and their families—but also care deeply about our incredible STAFF too! 

We want to hear what our staff have to say about their experience working with us and the wider Barchester Healthcare family. That’s why Barchester have launched the “Your Voice” Survey, and to make it extra special. As a thank you to our staff, we have set up our very own Carenival Station (yes, with an extra ‘e’ for the extra care we give!) in the home.

We are asking our staff to have Their Say and provide feedback which is important, by scanning the main survey via the QR code at the station set up in the main lounge. There is also a BIG BONUS,  the extra bonus survey—staff could win a massive £1000! 

Our lovely General Manager has also provided Sweet Treats in a relaxed space for staff to scan their QR code to complete the survey.

Our incredibly talented Chef, has created a truly fabulous Carnival Cake! It’s on display right now in the home. Come and take a look!! Staff can grab a coffee and cake while you scan and share your thoughts.
Your voice matters. Let’s make it heard!

The skies above Westergate House were lit up in a blaze of colour and cheer as residents, staff, volunteers, family and friends gathered to enjoy our annual fireworks extravaganza. 

A wonderful evening where laughter and ‘oohs’ and ‘ahhs’ filled the air, and bursts of red, gold, blue and green danced overhead in showers of colour.  Adding to the pizazz of the night, Chef Konnie and her amazing kitchen team kept everyone well-fed with sizzling hotdogs, homemade soup and cups of hot chocolate – perfect for keeping the chill at bay. 

Residents kept snugly and warm, wrapped in blankets, and enjoyed the display with their loved ones. It was an evening of sparkle, community and joy, where smiles lit up faces as brightly as the fireworks overhead.

We enjoyed a lovely visit from the miniature donkeys for well-being. This activity is one of our favourite and really brings everyone together. 

What we love about this session is we are able to get round and see every one of our residents, especially those nursing bedbound. This is just so important to help raise a sense of self-worth for our residents.    

First-time visit to Ashlar House for The Experience duo, Jasmine & Doug, and truly, it’s in the name. The lounge was full, the room overflowing with love, laughter, hugs, and singing.

The camera was on fire, capturing so many beautiful moments. This afternoon is one Ashlar House will never forget.   

We took some of our residents to visit Royal Victoria Place in Tunbridge Wells to finish off the festive shopping. 

An early start was in order to allow our residents plenty of time to visit all the shops and have a spot of lunch. They also had plenty of time to enjoy the delight of the beautiful decorations. It was a long day out, but good fun was had by all.     

We held a lovely cheese and wine evening on New Year's Eve to celebrate. 

Once the food was eaten, staff and residents joined in the karaoke and a fun evening was had by all.   

Residents and staff  were in for a treat with a visit to the local pub to see a performance by an Elvis tribute singer. 

One of our residents here at Sycamore Grove is a lifelong fan of Elvis, so when we found out Andy T King was appearing at the Red Lion Pub as Elvis, we were determined to take her to see him. Along with her daughter and granddaughter, she had a wonderful evening, smiling and laughing the whole time. 

‘Elvis’ sang to her and even gave her a scarf to make it a memorable occasion. We thanked Andy for his kindness in making someone very happy.