Celebrating life at Barchester

We celebrate life through everything we do, from our thoughtful experiences and activities to our delicious food. We offer the latest technology as well as sensory engagement to nurture the wellbeing of our residents. With a wide variety of tailored activities and events we make sure our residents have the best physical, mental, spiritual and social stimulation, all bespoke to them. Take a look at what we’ve been up to…

Bryn Ivor Lodge Care Home

Teddy Bears Picnic

If you go down to Bryn Ivor today your in for a big surprise!

Well actually if you were there last Friday you would have been right in the middle of our Teddy bears picnic!

With DJ Nick James rolling out the tunes what a magical day spent with the residents, families and the Ranntastic Intergenerational mother and toddler group, everyone looked so cute!

West Abbey Care Home

Flower Arranging

Our residents recently enjoyed a wonderful flower arranging activity, getting creative with a beautiful selection of fresh blooms. It was lovely to see everyone sharing ideas, arranging colourful displays and reminiscing about their favourite flowers and gardens.

All Aboard

Our residents enjoyed a wonderful day out on the water as we set sail from Weymouth Harbour and headed to Portland. After docking, everyone enjoyed a delicious picnic on board while taking in the beautiful coastal views and fresh sea air. The highlight of the day was the opportunity for both residents and staff to have a go at sailing the boat, creating lots of excitement, laughter and unforgettable memories.

The trip was especially meaningful for one of our residents, who spent much of his life building and sailing his own boats

Gentlemans Trip

Rainy weather certainly didn't stop these gentlemen!

When asked what they'd like to do, the answer was simple: "Pop to the local pub for a pint!" So off we went for an afternoon of good company, plenty of smiles, laughter, and a bit of friendly banter.

Nation Beer Day Celebration

What a fantastic afternoon we had here at the home as we celebrated National Beer Day in true style, with the residents enjoying a beer and some great music from Mat Roberts. Everyone sang along and danced in their seats, songs were requested and Mat delivered. National Beer Day is celebrated on the 15th of June in the UK, and it was also the date that the 'Magna Carter' was sealed in 1215, and the word Ale was mentioned in clause 35 of the Magna Carte, which states "Let there be throughout our kingdom a single measure for wine a single measure for ale and a single measure for corn".

Dog Show

A huge thank you to everyone that came along and supported our dog show yesterday.

We had glorious weather, lovely food and a lot of fun. There were plenty of great tricks, wagging tails and beautiful dogs.

We were raising money for Helpful Hounds Community Dogs and Helpful Hounds Assistance Dogs who bring their lovely dogs in to see our residents here.

The Fernes Care Home

Meet Waffle!

We are so excited to introduce our wonderful new Pets as Therapy dog, Waffle!

Waffle is a three-year-old long-haired dachshund who visited our home for the very first time yesterday, accompanied by his lovely owner, Claire. From the moment they arrived, they brought smiles, warmth and plenty of excitement to our residents.

It’s safe to say that Waffle was an instant hit! Residents absolutely adored spending time with him, enjoying lots of fuss, cuddles and conversation. The positive impact animals can have on wellbeing is truly remarkable, and we are delighted to be welcoming Waffle into our home on a regular basis.

We can’t wait to add Waffle to our activity schedules, including room visits for those who prefer to stay in their own space, ensuring as many residents as possible can enjoy the comfort, companionship and therapeutic benefits that he brings.

A huge thank you to Claire for sharing Waffle with us. We are looking forward to many happy visits ahead!

Turning Old Books Into Beautiful Blooms

Today we got creative with a wonderful recycling project, transforming old books that had seen better days – with missing pages or no longer suitable for reading – into beautiful flower book vases.

At first, some of our residents were a little unsure of what the finished creation would look like, but with guidance from Gemma in Activities, everyone soon got stuck in. As the project began to take shape, the excitement grew, and the finished results certainly did not disappoint!

The handmade book vases look absolutely fantastic and are now proudly displayed throughout our home, brightening up our reading nooks and creating a lovely feature in reception. Not only have we given new life to books that could no longer be enjoyed in the traditional way, but we have also added colour, creativity and personality to our surroundings.

Most importantly, our residents were incredibly proud of what they achieved. Seeing their finished creations on display around the home has brought lots of smiles and a real sense of accomplishment.

Ladies’ Day at Ascot Comes to The Fernes

Today we celebrated Ladies’ Day at Ascot in style, with our residents dusting off their finest hats and fascinators for a wonderful afternoon of music, laughter and elegance.

The fantastic Freddy Saxo provided the perfect soundtrack, filling the home with beautiful jazz and soulful melodies while residents relaxed and enjoyed a refreshing glass of Pimms, complete with fresh fruit and all the traditional accompaniments.

Our ladies absolutely loved trying on the different hats and fascinators, feeling every bit as glamorous as if they were attending Ascot itself. The afternoon sparked plenty of smiles, conversations and memories, creating a truly special atmosphere throughout the home.

A huge thank you goes to the families who kindly donated hats and fascinators, and to Gemma’s mum for her generous contribution. Your kindness helped make our ladies feel extra special and added the perfect finishing touch to a wonderful Ladies’ Day celebration.