Celebrating life at Barchester

December at Cadbury Hall was a wonderful celebration of the festive season, bringing together residents, families, and the wider community to share moments of joy, connection, and tradition.

The month was filled with festive highlights, including a much-loved pantomime, seasonal cocktails, and garden centre shopping, where residents enjoyed selecting decorations and embracing the sights and sounds of Christmas. Together, residents and staff decorated the home, creating a warm, welcoming, and festive atmosphere throughout Cadbury Hall.

A variety of Christmas parties filled the home with music, laughter, and cheer, while family days offered valuable opportunities for loved ones to come together and celebrate. Christmas Eve celebrations provided a special time of reflection and togetherness, followed by the excitement of Santa’s visit on Christmas Day and a memorable family Christmas lunch shared by residents and relatives.

Residents also enjoyed enriching cultural and creative experiences, including the Age UK concert at Wells Cathedral, Christmas poetry sessions, festive floristry activities, and a special visit from The Note  Warehouse Orchestra, who performed a beautiful production of The Snowman, creating a truly magical and moving experience for all.

Strong links with the local community remained central to life at Cadbury Hall. Throughout December, residents enjoyed meaningful connections with local groups including the WI, Yatton Library, and Yeo Valley Lions. We were delighted to take part in events hosted by the Methodist Church and St Mary’s Church, and to join in wider community celebrations such as Strawberry Line activities, the local school fete, and the festive Christmas light switch-on.

Intergenerational activities were a particular highlight of the season, bringing together residents and younger members of the community to share stories, creativity, and festive fun, strengthening bonds across generations.

To ensure everyone could take part in the celebrations, we hosted a range of live virtual events, including festive bingo, charades, and a lively New Year’s Eve celebration. The festivities continued into January with a New Year’s Day lunch shared with families, marking a joyful close to the festive season.

Alongside our group activities and celebrations, we remained focused on individual wellbeing and inclusion. Room visits and one-to-one activities were provided to ensure every resident felt engaged and supported throughout the festive period. Residents also benefited from regular functional fitness sessions, including seated exercise, yoga, and Pilates, supporting mobility, confidence, and overall wellbeing in a safe and inclusive way.

We also took time to celebrate what matters most to each individual, marking residents’ birthdays with personalised celebrations, ensuring everyone felt recognised, valued, and celebrated during the festive season.

December at Cadbury Hall truly reflected the spirit of Christmas — a season filled with warmth, celebration, meaningful connections, and person-centred care.

Ivy celebrated her 100th birthday this month with a truly memorable day. 

She enjoyed a private dining experience with her sister, nurses, carers, and her solicitor. Our chef prepared her favourite cake, and the whole home joined together to wish her happiness on this very special milestone. 

We welcomed the New Year in true style as 2026 began with a live, uplifting saxophone performance. 

Everyone joined in the celebration, raising a glass of champagne kindly donated by our resident, David. Laughter, music, and joy filled the room as we embraced 2026 together with elegance, fun, and great spirits.         

Santa visited every resident at Worplesdon Care Home, bringing joy and warmth throughout the day. 

Each person received a personalised gift they had wished for over a long time, making the moment truly special. Smiles, laughter, and happiness filled the home as everyone delighted in Santa’s visit together, joyfully, smiling.          

Activities at Westvale where we got creative making our New Year sign with decoupage and flowers. A fun, hands-on activity that boosts brain activity and dexterity — with lots of smiles along the way!            

Thank you to everyone who got involved and helped make it such a lovely day. We love how beautiful it turned out!  

Transforming the home into a magical Christmas wonderland. 

The residents were delighted to share their own traditions of Christmastime, bring this to life at Oulton Park, unravelling the fairy lights, and hanging the baubles ready for a whole host of Christmas celebrations. 

Oulton Park hosted their annual Christmas fayre in December. The home welcomed lots of wonderful stalls with their fabulous gifts on offer, from knitted clothes, engraved woodwork, raffle and delicious cakes. 

The home raised a fantastic amount for the resident’s fund, £404.42. A massive thank you to everyone who supported and joined the home for this festive afternoon.            

Congratulations to Andrew, who was awarded the management recognition award.  

You’ll see Andrew with a smile on his face, and he is often heard singing as he goes. Always going above and beyond. Keep up the fantastic work Andrew!       

Residents were delighted to attend St Michael’s Church to watch Oulton Broad primary school's Christmas performance. 

The children’s voices rang throughout the church as they sang, and the residents joined the festive spirit, singing along to the carols. A wonderful way to spread Christmas cheer!