Celebrating life at Barchester

At Plas y Dderwen Care Home, we love building friendships and making connections within our local community, and recently we enjoyed a lovely visit to Carmarthen Men’s Shed at Parc Dewi Sant.   

Our residents spent time chatting with Dave and the team, learning more about their workshop, sharing stories and discovering more about the hobbies and interests we enjoy. We also had the opportunity to try a selection of games, including tabletop curling, memory games, dice games and magnetic games, which brought plenty of laughter, smiles and a little friendly competition! These visits are about so much more than simply getting out and about. They give our residents opportunities to meet new people, share experiences, try something different and build meaningful friendships beyond the care home.

We are proud to be part of the Carmarthen community and love seeing these connections grow. A huge thank you to Dave and everyone at Carmarthen Men’s Shed for welcoming us so warmly. We had a fantastic time and look forward to many more opportunities to come together, share experiences and make wonderful memories.

A beautiful celebration filled with love, laughter and excitement took place in honour of the wonderful Deputy Manager, Adriana, and Razvan as they prepared to welcome their precious baby girl!

Surrounded by balloons, thoughtful touches and happy memories, the special occasion marked the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the growing family. The celebration was filled with warmth, joy and heartfelt wishes for the little princess who is already so loved.

Congratulations, Adriana and Razvan!

Wishing you both endless love, happiness and countless precious moments as you prepare for this wonderful new adventure into parenthood. May your little girl bring sunshine, laughter and even more love into your lives.

Your little princess is already surrounded by so much love and anticipation.
 

On Friday 6th of November, we welcomed twelve local businesses and community leaders to Stonebridge Manor for our very first Businesses Who Brunch.

Over coffee, croissants and quiche, guests from the local care industry, Tenterden Town Council, health and wellbeing businesses and St Michaels Car Hire got to know each other and the home. Our Home Services Advisor, Miri, and General Manager, Rikki, showed everyone round ahead of our opening. One guest told us they were blown away by the thought, care and attention to detail that has gone into everything.

We came away with plenty of ideas for working together across Tenterden, and we can’t wait to welcome everyone back for our festive edition on Friday 4th of December.

October brought plenty of pink, smiles and laughter to the home as residents and staff came together for Wear It Pink in support of Breast Cancer Now. From a lovely coffee morning to a fun-filled pink-themed game of bingo, everyone enjoyed a wonderful day while supporting a cause close to so many hearts.   

Breast cancer affects thousands of people and families across the UK every year. Raising awareness and encouraging early detection are vital in helping people access treatment as early as possible.

It was a heart-warming occasion that brought everyone together, celebrating community spirit while supporting a cause that touches the lives of so many of our residents, families and friends.

At Ashfields we celebrate birthdays not just as a mark of ageing another year but as a celebration of life, achievements, and personal growth. It's a time for reflection, gratitude, and looking forward to future possibilities. Birthdays provide a special opportunity for us to help residents to gather with loved ones and create lasting memories.

The Month of October was particularly special as we mark 4 ladies birthdays with a total age of a whopping 349 years! To mark this occasion for them all we arranged to have their favourite musician Nick to come in and host a party.

Congratulations ladies from all at Ashfield's.       

The residents of Hilderstone Hall enjoyed a wonderful afternoon at the races, filled with excitement, laughter and friendly competition. It was a warm day but windy.

Dressed in their finest outfits, everyone gathered together to watch the horses thunder around the track, cheering enthusiastically as they approached the finish line.

There were plenty of smiles, lively conversations and predictions about which horse would win. Refreshments were enjoyed, and the atmosphere was full of fun and anticipation. For some, it was the thrill of the race; for others, it was simply spending quality time together. Everyone returned home with happy memories of a fantastic afternoon out.   

It was a crisp autumn morning, and the garden was covered in golden leaves. The summer flowers had begun to fade, and the air was getting colder. The residents gathered together, ready to prepare their garden for the winter months ahead.

Everyone had a job to do. David planted a huge Banana Plant, some residents carefully removed dead flowers and weeds, while others collected fallen leaves and tidied the garden paths.   

As they worked together, everyone shared stories, laughter and cups of warm tea. The garden slowly transformed into a neat, colourful space, ready to face the colder weather. Everyone agreed. They felt proud of what they had achieved together.

Here at Hilderstone Hall, we enjoyed a visit from a group of students from Blythe Bridge High School to enjoy a craft session with the residents. They brought colourful paper, glue, ribbons and paints. Together, they made beautiful greeting cards and pictures.

Everyone shared stories, laughter and creative ideas. By the end, everyone felt happy and proud. The visit created wonderful memories and new friendships, and we look forward to the students visiting again.