Celebrating life at Barchester

Our residents enjoyed a trip out to The Kestrel, where we settled in for some good food, conversation and a game of Beetle while we waited for our orders.
Most of the group fancied something sweet, although one resident decided to splash out and enjoy a steak! 

We spent time chatting about the pubs everyone used to visit and sharing plenty of memories along the way.

Residents enjoyed a rootin’, tootin’ afternoon of music, laughter and friendship as they celebrated Cowboy Day in true Wild West style.

The afternoon was full of excitement as residents and staff donned their cowboy hats and embraced the spirit of the Wild West for a very special afternoon of entertainment. Adding to occasion was the fantastic Steve Carmel, who entertained everyone with a brilliant selection of music that had the room buzzing from start to finish. From the very first song, residents were singing along, clapping their hands and tapping their feet. The whole afternoon was filled with laughter, smiles and wonderful moments of togetherness as residents enjoyed the music alongside staff and friends.

Tina, Activities Co-ordinator said, “The residents had a truly wonderful time, they were able to express themselves and simply enjoy the company of those around them. Steve really sparked a lot of enthusiasm, with familiar songs which encouraged residents to sing along and join in at their own pace.”

General Manager, Larisa Bledea, said: “It is so wonderful to be able to celebrate Cowboy Day, it was a great afternoon of music, dance and so many wonderful memories were made. Days like these are so important in our home, they really create magical moments for our residents, friends and family.”
 

Residents and staff enjoyed a wonderful afternoon of friendship, laughter and music as they came together to celebrate Friendship Day.

The afternoon was filled with smiles and happy memories, with residents enjoying a fantastic live performance from talented singer Gavin, who provided the perfect choice of songs for the afternoon. The lively selection of songs had everyone joining in, singing along and soaking up the atmosphere. The special celebration brought residents and staff together for an afternoon dedicated to the importance of friendship.

Tina, Activities Co-ordinator said, “We all had such a wonderful time, friendship is such an important part of everyday life, particularly for our residents. Having the opportunity to be together, sharing stories, enjoying music and simply having fun, it really created a wonderful sense of belonging and connection for all.”

General Manager, Larisa Bledea, said: “The day was a wonderful reminder that friendship has no age limit. Gavin provided us with fantastic entertainment and the enthusiasm of staff and residents allowed for an afternoon full of smiles, fun and lots of happy memories. The afternoon celebrations highlighted the warm community spirit we have here at Elm Bank.”
 

What a wonderful time we had with our Young at Heart party for world senior citizens day. The ever popular Stephen Dunnett entertained us all, singing all the classics to get us up and dancing. 
Megan our activities coordinator hosted the event and the rest of the amazing Hazel Lodge team obviously couldn't resist a boogie themselves. 
We often hold events such as these and Steve is a regular entertainer for us, if you know someone who would love to join in for the afternoon then please do pop along, everyone is welcome. 

The garden was out of bounds this afternoon due to the intense heat. We stayed in our lovely air-conditioned café, and decided to make individual homemade pizzas. With a choice of many toppings and a homemade base, residents and their families enjoyed creating their own pizza.

Not forgetting those in their rooms, we took a mobile trolley round to get them involved. They were thoroughly enjoyed afterwards, some saving them for their supper.     

By resident request, we took another visit to Raystede Centre for Animal Welfare this morning. On arrival, we had a lovely surprise as our chefs, Karen & Susan, met us there.  

We loved seeing the birds, goats, horses, small animals, tortoises and more. The weather was gorgeous, and we enjoyed some drinks and snacks before heading back. We even managed a purchase in the charity shop! Another lovely morning trip. We’re so lucky Raystede is right on our doorstep.       

Residents have enjoyed spending time in the garden throughout the summer months, taking inspiration from all the beautiful flowers around them. 

Residents had the opportunity to get creative and make their own paper collage bouquets using a variety of colours and designs. 
Residents enjoyed being creative, sharing their ideas and seeing their finished bouquets come together.