Celebrating life at Barchester

There was a very special reason to celebrate at Red Oaks as we came together to wish Donald a happy 105th Birthday.
What a remarkable milestone: 105 years of memories, stories, laughter and life. We are incredibly privileged to be able to celebrate this very special occasion,

Donald enjoyed celebrations over several days with a lovely birthday party surrounded by family and friends, a delicious birthday cream tea with his fellow residents and a trip out to the local garden centre with friends. It was wonderful to see Donald enjoying his special day.

Staff and residents came together for what has become an annual tradition at the home, where staff and residents spend a day celebrating their different cultures. We are proud to have team members from eight different nationalities working at the home, from countries as diverse as Brazil to Norway, Romania to Afghanistan and Portugal to the Philippines, bringing a wealth of different traditions and experiences for everyone to share and enjoy together.  

On Culture Day, many staff members like to wear traditional dress from their different countries, bring in cultural objects to show to the residents and cook traditional dishes for everyone to share. As the team members introduce each country, they play the national anthem of that country and give an introduction to the foods that they have provided, and some facts about their country. Not only that, but this year Virginia and Lesley demonstrated a traditional dance from the Philippines and Smahane demonstrated an Algerian dance. The residents and their families had a wonderful time joining in the dancing and sampling all the different dishes the team members had brought for everyone to try.

Residents enjoyed a lovely morning out in the local community as they attended the Baptist Church Coffee Morning and Fellowship. Maintaining meaningful connections with the community is an important part of life at Fordmill, particularly for residents who have enjoyed attending church and being part of a faith community throughout their lives. Supporting residents to continue these familiar routines and interests helps them remain connected to the people, places and traditions that are important to them. The visit provided a wonderful opportunity for residents to enjoy fellowship, friendly conversation and, of course, a welcome cup of tea or coffee. 

The warm atmosphere gave everyone the chance to socialise, meet members of the local community and enjoy a relaxing morning together. We believe that moving into a care home should not mean losing connections with the wider community. Trips such as this allow our residents to continue doing the things they enjoy while maintaining friendships, interests and a sense of belonging.         

There was plenty of excitement and celebration at Fordmill as our lovely resident Greta marked a very special milestone, her 90th birthday. Greta celebrated her big day surrounded by her family and fellow residents, who were delighted to join her for such a wonderful occasion. The celebrations were filled with smiles, laughter and warm birthday wishes as everyone came together to make Greta feel extra special. 

Reaching 90 is a remarkable milestone and provided the perfect opportunity to celebrate Greta and the many memories she has made throughout her life. Spending the occasion with those closest to her made the day even more meaningful. At Fordmill, we believe that birthdays and important milestones should always be celebrated, and Greta’s 90th was certainly no exception. It was wonderful to see her enjoying the company of her family and friends and sharing such a memorable day with her fellow residents.      

Residents enjoyed a wonderful visit from the children and staff of Ferryden Playgroup, bringing together different generations for a very special time filled with smiles, laughter and friendship. The children received a warm welcome from residents, who were delighted to spend time with their young visitors. Throughout the visit, the home was filled with happy chatter and plenty of laughter as residents and children interacted and enjoyed each other’s company. 

The regular visits from Ferryden Playgroup have become something that residents look forward to, with the children bringing a fantastic energy and sense of fun into the home. It was heart-warming to see the smiles on residents’ faces as they spent time with the youngsters and shared precious moments together. Intergenerational activities are an important part of life at Fordmill, giving residents opportunities to maintain strong connections with the local community while enjoying meaningful and stimulating experiences. 

Residents and staff came together for a wonderful afternoon of singing, dancing, and entertainment with Sue & Dee, a regular singing act that we love to invite into our home. The room was filled with classic songs, happy memories, and plenty of smiles. The care staff enjoyed dancing along with the residents for a fun afternoon all round. Of course, no afternoon would be complete without tea and cake enjoyed by all! 

At our recent professionals networking breakfast, it was wonderful to see such a great mix of local businesses coming together to chat, connect, and build new relationships. Everyone enjoyed fresh coffee, delicious bakes, bacon and sausage sandwiches, yoghurt and granola, and our tasty chorizo egg bites.  

A special thank you to Gregory from Everseed for this month’s spotlight talk. We all agreed that his creative vision is truly inspiring, and it was fascinating to learn more about his cinematic Life Movies project and the incredible stories behind it. We look forward to hosting another Networking Breakfast next quarter!

Residents at Rothsay Grange recently enjoyed a fascinating visit from the Andover Museum of the Iron Age, who brought along a selection of intriguing artefacts from the local area.

The collection sparked plenty of memories and conversation, with many of the items dating back to a time that residents themselves, or their parents and grandparents, may have known. Among the objects on display were a tuppence coin discovered in Andover, a traditional rug beater, and a remarkable 150-year-old wooden clothes peg.

Museum staff also explained how heavy-cast iron flat irons were once used in the home. They shared that in many Victorian and early 20th-century homes, it was common to have two or three "sad irons" (the old term for heavy flat irons) heating together, so one was always ready to use. This made the labour-intensive task of ironing more practical and efficient.

Residents were also interested in learning about a historic bottle from a local aerated water manufacturer that produced drinks such as soda water and ginger beer for local delivery. The premises were later developed into modern flats, which was very common for this type of premises to be later re-used for other industries.   

The visit provided a wonderful opportunity to explore local history and connect with everyday objects from the past.

Residents at Juniper House Care Home have been enjoying a new experience after taking part in their very first silent disco.
The fun-filled event brought music, laughter and plenty of smiles to the home, with residents putting on their headphones and enjoying a selection of music together.

It was wonderful to see so many residents getting involved in their own way, from singing along to favourite songs and tapping their feet, to moving their hands and dancing to the beat.