Celebrating life at Barchester

A lovely morning here with Bee Chumley Vocalist, singing popular songs including favourites: When the Lights Go On Again
and Land of Hope and Glory.

It was a moving start to our VE Day Celebrations countdown. Music that brought back memories, sparked conversation and even some dancing as we all sang along.

We're looking forward to marking the day in style on 8th May, if you would like to join our celebrations call our team to reserve your place.

This week are doing all things gardening related! Today was a lovely day with a minibus trip to Barley Wood Walled Garden in the morning followed by an interesting talk from Hilary and Kate from the Yatton Horticultural Society this afternoon!

The walled garden was absolutely beautiful and John said it has changed so much since he last visited. We enjoyed a nice drink after our walk in the sun to cool down ☕️

Hilary and Kate had lots to share about Yatton Horticultural Society’s work and our residents enjoyed all their gardening advice 🌱

We started the week with garden games, bingo, and crosswords and will finish the week planting some herbs and learning about the flower market. The big finale being our gardening quiz to test our knowledge  and Pimm's o Clock on the patio with our Local Community Friday afternoon

Just perfect weather for National Gardening Week this year ☀️

Please contact General Manager, Audrene Abrigo, for more information about the goings on at Cadbury Hall:

Audrene.abrigo@barchester.com

The Food Standards Agency visited the home unannounced on the 17^th April, and the home, run by Barchester Healthcare, was rated 5 Stars with nothing to improve upon.

Audrene Abrigo General Manager at Cadbury Hall said: “We are delighted that Cadbury Hall was rated 5 Stars following the Food Standard Agency’s most recent inspection. The team at Cadbury Hall work so hard to ensure the home has the very best hygiene levels so it is wonderful to have everyone’s hard work recognised.”

As we commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE Day, we are reminded of this momentous occasion in history. We have the privilege of hearing first-hand accounts from those who lived through it, including Betty Parker, a resident at Cadbury Hall Care Home in Yatton.

At 101 years young, Betty shares her vivid memories of May 8, 1945—the day that marked the end of World War II in Europe. She recalls this day as filled with mixed emotions—relief, joy, and an overwhelming sense of hope for the future.

Living in Ilfracombe at the time, Betty vividly describes the atmosphere in her community as news spread of Nazi Germany’s surrender. "There were celebrations everywhere," she recalls with a twinkle in her eye. "People poured into the streets, singing and dancing. It was as if the whole world had come alive again!"

With nostalgia, Betty recounts the celebrations that followed. Families, friends, and neighbors came together, sharing food and laughter, united in their joy. "We had a feast! Everyone brought something to share—there were cakes, sandwiches, and even homemade lemonade. We were so grateful to finally have peace," she remembers fondly.

For Betty, VE Day was not just a celebration of victory; it was also a moment of reflection for all those who made the ultimate sacrifice. "We lost many friends and loved ones during the war. While we celebrated, we also honoured their memory," she states solemnly.

As Betty shares her story with us today, she reminds us of the resilience and strength shown during those challenging times. Her memories serve as a testament to the human spirit's ability to endure and find joy even in the darkest of days.

Now, at Cadbury Hall, Betty continues to inspire those around her with her stories and wisdom, showcasing that even at 101 years of age, the spirit of VE Day lives on in her heart. As we commemorate this significant anniversary, let us take a moment to reflect on the sacrifices made and the bonds strengthened during a time of turmoil.

Thank you, Betty, for sharing your beautiful memories and for being a living link to our history

🌿✨ A Journey Through Tea✨🌿 

A huge thank you to Katharine Parsons from Clipper Teas for leading such an informative and enjoyable virtual tea tasting experience! Did you know there are 150 different flavours of tea, which can vary depending on the country?  

At Clipper Tea, they never bleach their tea bags and use no chemicals when producing decaffeinated tea. Our residents had a wonderful time learning about the history of Clipper Tea and how to brew the perfect cup. From rich Black Tea to refreshing Green Tea and delicious fruit infusions like Lemon & Ginger and Berry Burst, it was a tasting experience to remember! 

We are thrilled to share the captivating stories from Angela HSA about her time at tea plantations in Mauritius and India.  Residents shared experiences of their travels , time drinking tea in Singapore , china and Japan. 

Did you know that each region produces unique flavours and types of tea based on the soil, climate, and specific cultivation techniques? Angela's anecdotes about the vibrant communities and the traditional methods used in the plantations were truly enlightening! 

It was an enriching experience for all, and we left with a deeper appreciation for not just the tea we enjoy but also the hands and hearts behind its production.

When Museum to You (MTY) visited Crandon Springs recently our residents got hands-on with local history as they were treated to a blend of storytelling, activities, and sensory experiences. Inspired by the history of Farleigh Hungerford Castle, residents explored replica artefacts, listened to tales of family scandals, and even shot their own medieval inspired long-bow at each other!

MTY, in partnership with English Heritage, works to enrich the lives of older people and those with learning disabilities. They are making history accessible and enjoyable by taking interactive and entertaining learning directly into care homes, sparking memories, imagination and conversation.

After the event, Emily, our Activities Coordinator said, “It was wonderful to see everyone so engaged. Many of our residents have lived in this area their whole lives and have a deep connection to its history. These sessions allow them to learn, reminisce and feel a renewed sense of connection to their community.”

Last week, we had our staff meeting led by our General Manager Beth.

It is coming up to a year since Beth joined us, so we came together to talk about all of the amazing things that we do here at Cumberland, as well as discussing the importance of continuing to deliver the high level of care and service that we give to our residents as our number one priority.

As a home, we are always striving to be the very best. We have such an incredible team, full of hard working dedicated individuals who do this job for the fulfilment of seeing our residents well cared for and happy.

We want Cumberland Grange to feel like a home from home, and with some truly wonderful feedback that we have received this year alone so far from our residents and their families, we know that we have created just that.

We are individuals who are proud to work within this team.

Our staff, our residents, their families and our volunteers are what make Cumberland Grange a truly special place!

Staff at Thistle Hill Care Home in Knaresborough have opened up their doors to welcome the emergency services personnel in their local area.  

As a way of saying thank you to the paramedics, nurses, police officers and other emergency services workers who don’t always have time to go home or back to their workplace on their break, the team and the residents of Thistle Hill will provide free food and drink to all emergency service staff.

Today, our home is filled with happiness and pride!  We are absolutely delighted to share that, following our recent Care Inspectorate inspection, we have achieved grades of 4 across the board, which means GOOD in all key areas!

This result is a true reflection of the dedication, care, and professionalism of our entire team. Every member of staff has worked incredibly hard, embraced positive changes, and stayed committed to providing high-quality care, even through challenging times.

Resident, Alison had always wanted to go on holiday to St. Andrews, so staff at the home made her wish a reality, proving the old adage, it’s never too late.

Alison, a resident of the homes Seven Arches community, enjoyed a week in a lodge with hot tub and balcony in St. Andrews was accompanied by nurse, Val and carer, Nikki, who supported her on this getaway.

Alison has lived at South Grange for 13 years and is loved by staff and residents alike. Staff at the home were delighted to be a part of making this possible for her, as they know how much it means to her to be able to live her life to the fullest. 
 

Team Bayleaf have finally opened the doors! we have hosted our first open weekend this weekend, it has been truly inspiring welcoming our community and prospective future residents. We was joined by two amazing local artists who came to have a sing and a dance with us on Saturday. Sunday we was joined by Michelle and her therapy petting zoo. Families have had a great opportunity to have a look around our beautiful new home and have some fun along the may. This is just the beginning! Keep an eye on our events page for new and exciting events happening throughout May 

Supporting residents to enjoy outings, shopping, meals out and other trips is a key aspect of the weekly activities calendar. 

Our Residents enjoyed a trip to "Proper Vintage Tea Rooms" for a trip down memory lane. At the tea rooms there was even an entertainer singing some vintage tunes from the 40s and 50s. Not only did our Residents enjoy a sumptuous afternoon tea they also joined in the fun with a sing along.

At Derham House we support and encourage our residents to continue doing the things they love whilst also making new friends and exploring new adventures. 

National celebrations and family-friendly events are just some of the ways that we ensure the residents at Derham House remain connected with their loved ones and the wider community. 

Our Residents enjoyed a visit from the Easter Bunny with gifts of chocolate eggs Eggs and brought big smiles to our Residents. She even visited Residents in their rooms to bring some Easter cheer.

At Derham House  that's what we like to do - create memories, and ensure our residents are leading full enriched lives.

This week we went for our trip to Garsons Farm and had a lovely time looking at all the flowers, plants and beautiful gifts. After our walk around, it was time to enjoy tea and cake or a fruit scone and jam

Animal therapy is one of the cornerstones of our life enrichment program and features regularly on our resident-led weekly activity planner.

Our Residents enjoyed a visit from some fluffy lambs and enjoyed some cuddles and affection. The Lambs enjoyed a good feed from the Residents. There was Baaaughter all round.

Residents at Ritson Lodge love the animal therapy sessions that our dedicated Activities Team organise. As one of the foundations of our Life Enrichment program, we know that animal therapy can help reduce blood pressure and improve overall cardiovascular health. 

A Big thank you to all our visitors for the Easter Bunny Hunt.

Ensuring that we host events that relatives and friends can join is very important to us here at Ashfields Care Home.

We had a great hunt and the children who visited loved our lucky dip and picked many a treat. The creepy critters went down a storm with the children and our Residents getting some hands on expertise.

At Ashfields Care Home we love hosting events that we can open up to our relatives, friends and the wider community. Life at Ashfields is about being part of the local community.

The residents of White Lodge went out in a minibus trip to the The Classic Motor Hub, based at the historic site of RAF Bibury in the heart of the Cotswolds. It was absolutely magical to look around all the different classic car collections. One of the residents G.W found his red car on the showroom!

The residents and families at White Lodge had a wonderful afternoon where they had Dementia Musical Moments with Wiltshire Hope and Harmony - RWB Dementia Choir. 

The choir lead Lisa and volunteers did an amazing job by engaging with the residents throughout the session using different props and instruments. The activity coordinator Shayla volunteered to be the white (or pink) horse riding from the song ''she will be coming round the mountain'' that absolutely bring laughter and joy.
 
The residents would like to thank the Wiltshire Hope and Harmony - RWB Dementia Choir for making our day special and they are looking forward to your next visit.

The residents at White Lodge enjoyed themselves as they were able to make the most of the sunshine, taking in the bright blue sky and enjoying a breath of fresh air in the garden. The warmth of the sunshine was enjoyed by everyone and played ''Royal Family'' quiz in the sunshine followed by ice lollies to help keep them hydrated and cool!

The residents at White Lodge went on a minibus trip to Purton Village Hall to attend an event organised by Celebrating Age Wiltshire. Bird Nerd & the Red List is an exiting new dance theatre performance piece, focusing on popular UK birds on the endangered species 'red list'. 

The journey was embodied with four different birds- Lark, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Swift and Nightingale through dance, music, sound and spoken word.

Over the last couple of days our residents have been working hard and enjoying the lovely sun shine in our woodlands courtyard.
They’ve been planting more seeds and hanging some new garden decorations.

Time to cool down after all there hard work by soaking there feet in there pool of cool water and some light refreshments, what a cool way to relax on a day like today.

Today our residents enjoyed a lovely visit to the The National Herb Centre, exploring fragrant gardens and learning about a variety of herbs and enjoyed a relaxing morning with tea and cakes. Fresh air, great company and sweet treats can't be beat!

The day was topped off with a cheerful tea party back at the home with music and drinks all round! This created a joyful, relaxing atmosphere. 

Days like these support well-being, social connection and stimulate the senses!

The residents at Chacombe Park have been making the most of the beautiful weather, sitting outside admiring the views across the golf course and keeping cool with an ice cream whilst chatting the day away protected from too much sun under the shades.

Being outdoors is not only refreshing, but it also brings a sense of peace and joy that we cherish here at Chacombe Park, whether listening to the birds or taking a walk around the grounds, life is good at Chacombe Park.

Did you know you are welcome to come to the home and join us on lovely days like these?

Simply pop in for a cool drink and enjoy a sit in the sun/shade or stroll around the paved grounds taking in all that nature has to offer.

This afternoon our residents were taken back to some old time musicals as they were entertained by Fiona Harrison - A Voice in a Million as she sang songs from Oliver, Casablanca, Mamma Mia, Chicago and many more. The performance had the residents tapping away to the familiar tunes.

Residents thought the activities team had gone mad when they walked into the lounge with two miniature horses, but alas, both were on their very best behaviour. 

All the residents just loved getting to meet the two ponies from 'Happy Hoofbeats' and were amazed at how loving and gentle they both were. It was a truly magical afternoon enjoyed by all. 

Residents worked hard the days before Easter on their Easter bonnets showcasing their creative sides! 

Our residents of Memory Lane had a great time sticking fluffy chicks, flowers and even some bunny butts to their woven straw hats. We then all went outside to sit in the Easter sun, all while being protected by our new hats! 

We love to celebrate all the staff here at Canmore Lodge, but for Admin appreciation day our admin team were the stars of the show. Residents spent the day before making homemade thank you cards which were gifted to the admin team along with a bottle of wine each. 

The admin ladies were really touched by this gesture and loved receiving the homemade cards.