Celebrating life at Barchester

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What better way to celebrate than with friends enjoying a chocolate fondue with all your favourite treats, including: fruit, brownies, doughnuts and marshmallows.  Yummy!
Our residents had a great time eating the delicious treats coated in their favourite chocolate sauce.
Needless to say, this was a very popular activity. 

Staff and residents at the home in had a fantastic time celebrating World Chocolate Day on July 7, surely one of the best days of the year!

Overseen by head chef Karen Garbutt, staff and residents enjoyed a selection of different chocolate treats from chocolate cupcakes, chocolate tarts and treats.

The home wished to spread the chocolate joy and had the pleasure of delivering an assortment of chocolate goodies to their friends at the Dementia Forward Hub in Burton Leonard. 

oday we experienced another milestone at Pinetree. 
We opened our top floor with two very special residents. 
These lovely ladies had the opportunity to bond and have lunch and supper together. 
They chatted, exchanged stories and had all the experiences of their beautiful surroundings. 
We look forward to welcoming more lovely residents to this community in the following weeks. 

Keeping Cool and Hydrated is the name of game when you’re in the middle of a heat wave.

Residents, staff and families were treated to ice cream, fresh fruit and chilled drinks in the shade of the garden. 

We understand the importance of keeping hydrated in the warmer weather and its also a lovely chance for all to be united in the really warm conditions and to have a moment together to quench some thirst and have a chat.  

We are also lucky enough to be able to offer the most beautiful outside spaces, including residents very own patios, these give residents the freedom to be able to come and go as they please.

London Fashion Week 
A slightly delayed London Fashion week inspired crafting activity. Where we made collage handbags with the assistance of our artist Judy Goring.
Some fabulous creations, Louis Vuitton will be calling for sure

We are so proud to be able to offer our space to this incredible community project.
Our residents are benefiting from mixing with the community on very special projects that make a huge difference to the lives of the community.
The community are benefiting from making new friends and being able to get out and use a beautiful setting to engage in every week all under the superb watch of Kinder Essex Rochford.

Singing releases endorphins and oxytocin, hormones associated with happiness and reduced stress. It can effectively combat anxiety and depression, providing a natural mood booster.

Wilton Place residents sang their hearts out when our regular entertainer Dave Dawson visited us recently. Music from across the decades was enjoyed by all and some residents couldn't stop themselves getting up to dance along.

We have had so much fun, betting on the races  (fake money of course!!) and sipping cocktails all whilst looking Ascot stylish in our hats.
Well done to all our winners.

Our recent Memory Sand Art Jars activity brought color, creativity, and smiles to our community. Residents gathered to layer vibrant sands into jars, each design a personal expression of memories and joy. This hands-on sensory and visual experience was not only relaxing but also deeply engaging.

The soft texture of the sand and the soothing process of pouring and arranging colors sparked conversation, laughter, and storytelling. Residents loved watching their jars transform into beautiful keepsakes, each one uniquely meaningful.

It was an unusual activity, but one that we will definitely repeat in the future!

Preparations for Ascot Ladies Day
What a fun afternoon trying on hats preparing for tomorrow’s event.
We’d like to take this opportunity to thank everybody that’s has donated or lent us hats for this event, your support has been overwhelming.

When the last couple of days has been brilliant and too much to single anything out.
From dancing, singing, biscuit decorating and games to our outstanding housekeeping girls being awarded Employees of the month.
The laughs we have shared, the memories we have made, its been unbelievably beautiful, and its only Tuesday 

Following a recent exemplary report from the Care Inspectorate, staff and residents at Highview House care home were further delighted to be named one of the UK’s Top 100 care homes out of more than 14,000 care homes across the whole country, by online care finder, Lottie.

The inaugural Lottie Awards recognise and celebrate care homes across the UK that demonstrate exceptional commitment to residents, families and staff. The team at Lottie conducted a comprehensive, data-driven review of thousands of homes across the UK, assessing them against key criteria that matter most to families when choosing care, including CQC ratings, enquiry response times, digital presence, team wellbeing and resident feedback.
 

On Saturday  we celebrated the 77th birthday of NHS England.

Our General Manager, has been was out in the community visiting Tewkesbury Community Hospital, Bredon Surgery Mythe Medical Practice and Church Street Medical with bags of goodies to thank all NHS staff for the tireless efforts and dedication.
You are an invaluable part of everyone’s daily lives, your hard work never goes unnoticed.

From everyone here at Tewkesbury Fields, thanks to everyone who works and worked for NHS

As part of our “Resident of the Day” programme, Joan made a special request to visit a garden centre. So off we went to the Malborough Farm Shop & Garden Centre in Studley, where Joan was in her element!

She spent a lovely afternoon browsing the vibrant flowers, pots, and gardening bits and bobs, taking her time to explore each section with great interest. Her face lit up with joy as she admired the beautiful blooms and chatted about her own gardening memories.

To top off the visit, Joan enjoyed a delicious hot chocolate and a freshly baked homemade scone in the café. She was absolutely chuffed, telling us how ecstatic she felt to be out and about, soaking in the fresh air and colourful surroundings.

A truly heart-warming outing for a very special lady. 

We’re delighted to introduce our newly appointed Resident Ambassador, John and Relative Ambassador, Beverley!!

If you often visit the Kings and Queens community, you’ll likely recognise their friendly faces. They’ve both been a big part of our home for some time, and we’re thrilled to see them take on these important roles.

To celebrate, we held a small party where we were able to offer a huge congratulations to John and Beverley.

If you ever have a concern or simply want a chat, they’re always happy to listen.

Peter, a resident, had always been a big supporter of the football team, Nottingham Forrest, so the staff at the home made his wish a reality, proving the old adage, it’s never too late.

Peter has lived at Maple Leaf Lodge for many years and is beloved by staff and residents alike. Staff at the home were delighted to be a part of making his dream come true, as they knew how much it meant to him, and they all wanted to be there to see the smile on Peter’s face when his dream was realised.

Peter, a lifelong supporter of Nottingham Forest, was absolutely overjoyed to open a personalised ‘thank you’ letter sent directly from the club. The letter acknowledged his decades of loyal support and expressed the team’s appreciation for fans like him who have stood by them through every season.
 

You can't beat enjoying your favourite ice creams in the garden whilst the sun is shining and the birds are singing!

What a beautiful day.

Our garden is really treating us to gorgeous flowers at the moment, too - it’s a real joy!

One of our Care Assistants has received a prestigious 10-Year Service Award in celebration of working at Barchester Healthcare for 10 years.

Saru Dahl, now Care Assistant at the homes Memory Lane community, started at Barchester in June 2015 and has worked with residents and their relatives to ensure that their needs have been met over the years. 
 

Our residents had a whimsical time celebrating Alice in Wonderland Day with a delightful Mad Hatter's Tea Party! From quirky hats to colourful cupcakes, the afternoon was filled with laughter, fancy dress, and plenty of tea and treats. 

Thank you to our staff for creating such a magical experience and to our residents for joining in the fun with such spirit and style! 

 

What a wonderful way to start the day — a scenic minibus trip to the breathe taking Upton House & Gardens, complete with a cosy hot drink to keep us warm as the summer weather brought some cooling winds. Our residents loved exploring the beautiful grounds, soaking up the fresh air, and sharing laughter together.

Regular outings are just one aspect of our life enrichment program and all the trips we take are at the request of the residents. Our monthly activities calendar boasts a range of outings and entertainment. Here’s to more memorable moments and joyful adventures. 

Today we had a Mad hatters themed tea party where by residents, family members and community guests gathered together in the garden to have fun and enjoy the delicious cakes and scones baked by our talented chef Gill.

We were joined by the lovely singer Vintage Ruby who sang a brilliant variety of songs from 'Run rabbit run' and 'All around my hat' and in honour of the party theme, and as it's American Independents day too she sang some classic American tunes including 'Achy breaky heart!

We had a wonderful afternoon taking a drive to Burton Dassett hills as requested by some of our residents. 

Everyone enjoyed beautiful views, a lovely change of scenery, good company and a delicious picnic of sandwiches, fruit, and cool drinks. A peaceful escape to nature and a wonderful afternoon well spent.

Regular outings are just one aspect of our life enrichment program and all the trips we take are at the request of the residents. Our monthly activities calendar boasts a range of outings and entertainment.

Today marks the end of our successful 5-year contract with Oxfordshire NHS Trusts and the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Chacombe Park. We’re proud of the excellent care standards we maintained, helping patients regain independence and return home with improved quality of life.

Sincere thanks to the Discharge Coordinators Sharon Wells, Fay Kempson and Tima, and the wonderful Physiotherapy Team; Mitali, Bridget, Lesley and Siju their expertise, compassion, and tireless efforts in helping the individuals in our care reach their full potential.

This partnership stands as a testament to what can be achieved when healthcare professionals work together with a shared goal: better outcomes for patients.

'Namaste everyone'

Our residents enjoyed a peaceful yoga session with Sarah today, helping everyone feel calm, stretched, and refreshed. A perfect way to relax and unwind.

We had a lovely visit from Isla the PAT dog from Therapy Dogs Nationwide.

The concept of Therapy Dogs was originally devised by Lesley Scott-Ordish back in 1976 when she discovered the trauma experienced by the elderly if forced to give up a much-loved pet upon going into residential care.

Isla and her wonderful volunteer handler brought so much joy, cuddles, and wagging tails to everyone at Glebefields care home. 

Our residents enjoyed a wonderful afternoon with freshly baked scones, lashings of cream and jam, and plenty of tea to go around. A perfect treat and a lovely way to spend time together!