Celebrating life at Barchester

By taking regular feedback and requests from our residents we can enhance our life enrichment program to suit the interests of the residents.

Our Activities Team plan daily activities to create a weekly and monthly calendar to ensure that there are a wide range of activities available to suit the interests of our Residents at Werrington Lodge.

Arts and crafts offer significant benefits for the elderly, including enhanced cognitive function, improved fine motor skills, and reduced anxiety. 

At Werrington Lodge we know that being able to continue lifelong hobbies or interests is a key part of our resident's identities, and we make every effort to encourage and support each resident to be able to do so.
 

Our Residents enjoyed some baking fun. After making the sumptuous chocolate muffins they topped them off with  even more chocolate. Then came the best bit time to eat.

Our Activities Team are dedicated to ensuring that the Residents at Werrington Lodge enjoy daily activities to keep them interested life at the home.

We had a lovely, If a little chilly, morning as we took a trip over to Ramsey Pavilion for their Memory Support Group.

We then went on to visit the local church, which had some beautiful displays of crocheted and knitted flowers.

Freda enjoyed sitting in the church and talking about the different stained glass windows while John enjoyed having a good walk around.

We also took a drive past Ramsey Gatehouse and the Abbey, which was very pleasing for John as he is very interested in the history.

We look forward to our next adventure!!

The Harmony Project is a beautiful intergenerational initiative led by Perth Theatre and Concert Hall, designed to bring school children and Care Home Residents together through music, storytelling and creative exploration. Over several weeks, both generations will collaborate to share memories, learn from one another, and co-create an original song that will eventually be recorded at Perth Theatre and Concert Hall. It’s a project rooted in connection, creativity, and the joy of bringing different ages together in meaningful ways.

We had a wonderful start this afternoon. From the moment the session began, our residents stepped in with enthusiasm, curiosity and those unmistakeable big smiles that tell you something special is happening. The room quickly filled with warm conversation, laughter, and a joyful sing song that set the tone for the whole experience.

Many residents shared afterwards that the session left them feeling uplifted, energised and genuinely connected, not just to each other, but to the young people they’ll soon be meeting from Oakbank Primary School.

Over the coming weeks, our residents will be sharing folk stories, exploring movement, and helping to shape a brand-new song alongside the children, which will eventually be recorded at Perth Theatre and Concert Hall.

Haggis and Bagpipes galore to commemorate Burns Night. Finlay MacGhee, Pipe Major with the Royal Airforce, performed the address to the Haggis, gave a fascinating talk on the history of the bagpipes and tartan, his travel adventures with the RAF and his meeting with Queen Elizabeth 2nd.  Residents enjoyed traditional Scottish fare including haggis, neeps and tatties, of course, prepared by our fabulous head chef, Dawn Bailey. 

The afternoon was spent engrossed in a whisky tasting class prepared by Karen Holmes from our Administration department.  Our residents loved every minute of the day, with June saying ‘It's been a really wonderful day, so interesting.’

We had a brilliant afternoon when Owl Adventures visited us. Francesca brought a barn owl, little owl and hawk for our residents to learn about. There were many questions and much excitement. 

June was surprised at how soft the birds were and Sue commented on how light they were when sitting on her arm. It was fascinating learning about these glorious birds and not something you experience every day! 

Keith celebrated his 100th birthday in style with a party attended by 4 generations of his family and friends that travelled from far and wide.  His daughter, Hilary, made a wonderful ‘This is your life’ video presentation and later gave an oboe recital accompanied by her grandson, Fred, on the piano. 

Receiving a card from the King and Queen was the icing on the cake! Asked what his secret to life was, Keith responded that he did not have a secret but just kept on going.   

At Westergate House we love a special occasion! Today we were delighted to celebrate a very special wedding anniversary with our married couple, Doreen and Colin. With over 70 years of marriage behind them and still going strong, their love and commitment continue to inspire everyone around them. 

The couple marked the occasion by enjoying a delicious lunch in our bistro with their family, sharing precious time together and creating new memories. Paul and Nikki presented Doreen and Colin with flowers and chocolates and wished them their warmest congratulations. It was a heart-warming day, and we were honoured to be part of something so special.     

At Westergate House, ahead of  the Winter Olympics, we have been involved in winter sports! The lovely Donna from RISE put us through our paces with a fabulous seated exercise session in our memory lane community. A game that followed the theme of curling brought fun, movement, and friendly competition to everyone involved. Our residents were divided into two enthusiastic teams – The Red Sliders and The Blue Skiers, and from their seats, took turns throwing soft balls toward a target, aiming carefully to score points for their team based on accuracy. 

The room was filled with laughter, encouragement, and plenty of team spirit as everyone cheered each other on. Both teams showed great focus and determination, making it a close and entertaining contest. In the end, The Red Sliders claimed the trophy, celebrating their success with big smiles and applause. Thank you Donna, always a pleasure, and a wonderful example of how exercise, creativity, and teamwork can create a warm and engaging atmosphere for all.