Celebrating life at Barchester

Bushey House Beaumont was delighted to welcome Annie Brewster, Deputy Lieutenant of Hertfordshire, to the home yesterday as part of our International Women’s Day celebrations.

Annie was greeted by the senior team before joining residents, relatives and visitors in our magnificent dining room, where she gave a fascinating talk about her distinguished career in public service. Guests were captivated as she spoke about her journey through a number of prestigious roles, including Mayor of St Albans, Chairman of Hertfordshire County Council, High Sheriff of Hertfordshire and now Deputy Lieutenant of Hertfordshire.

Residents particularly enjoyed hearing how Annie’s path into leadership first began when she was Head Girl at school. She spoke warmly and with great humility, sharing that she had always known she would hold leadership roles, but wanted to be “a great number two to a fantastic number one.”

A real highlight of the afternoon was seeing Annie in her formal uniform, as well as the High Sheriff uniform she kindly brought along to show everyone. Following her talk, Annie answered questions from the audience before spending time speaking with each attendee individually, making everyone feel special and included.

To round off the occasion, our talented Head Chef Roman prepared a delicious cake and scones especially for Annie, thoughtfully tailored to her dietary requirements 

It was a memorable and uplifting afternoon for all involved, and we extend our sincere thanks to Annie for spending time with us.

Ello, ello, ello what do we have ere then...

We were delighted to welcome back David, who is a retired police officer who runs the Mobile Police Museum, for an afternoon of a historical journey of over two centuries in policing. This session was about the police mounted department from over the years. 

Mr. David Hardcastle provided a captivating presentation, showcasing numerous artifacts and objects acquired throughout his extensive career. He talked us through the evolution of police horsing equipment, including truncheons and handcuffs, and demonstrated their operational use, along with some interesting stories within the mounted police force, were particularly engaging. The afternoon proved to be highly informative and enjoyable for residents, families, and staff – we had so much.    

We stepped back in time as residents explored the Boots UK Memory Box. We looked and reminisced at various items ranging from the 1930s right through to the 1980s that were included in the box. The Memory Boxes are multisensory kits designed to support people living in care homes and/or living with dementia by sparking conversation and recalling memories. 

A number of familiar, nostalgic items such as vintage toiletries, old photos, and sensory objects like powder compacts were all explored. We are so grateful to Boots UK for granting Cookridge Court  a lovely memorable box for our residents to use. It was a lovely morning enjoyed by all.    

At Tyspane Care Home, keeping elderly residents active is crucial for their overall health and wellbeing, and this is why we include at least three exercise classes on our weekly activities' timetable. The classes are delivered by our Head of Physiotherapy Department, Babs Spear, and are well attended. The classes allow residents to socialise, be supported whilst keeping fit, healthy and support residents' mobility.

However, recently we felt something was missing. What you may ask. Well, the answer is simple, children and young adults. It is commonly accepted that when elderly residents engage with children and young adults, they foster relationships that allow for growth, increased wellbeing, offer a sense of belonging, and emotional stability for both parties.

So today, Tyspane Care Home welcomed Braunton Academy, and arranged an exercise class (one our residents would normally complete) with Babs Spear. Residents and Year 8 students participated in a lively armchair class, and wow, the atmosphere was electric. Smiles, cheers, and singing could be heard all around the home. The class was followed by talks from George (Assistant Physiotherapist) about her passion for Art and Bertha (Unit Lead Nurse), who talked about Nigeria, which was absolutely fascinating.

The morning was one of high spirits, fun, excitement, and shared interests. A massive thank you to everyone who made this so special.     

Residents at South Grange were treated to a well-deserved cheese and wine afternoon. Residents were pleasantly surprised to see the activity girls making their way throughout the home, with a well-prepared cheese and wine tuck trolley. 

Eyes lit up and smiles spread as they made their way around the home, going room to room and through the lounges, making sure everyone, even those who prefer to relax in their own home comforts, had the offer of a little treat. Residents enjoyed slices of cheese served with a range of different crackers and an optional spoonful of pickle on the side. 

To top it off, they were offered a small glass of red or white wine to wash it down. The visit brought laughter, conversation and a lovely social moment, turning a simple afternoon into a special and memorable experience for everyone involved.      

It is so beautiful where we live, and the spring flowers are popping up even though it seems to never stop raining. There are daffodils all over the countryside, so we decided to go on a Daffodil Safari to see what we could find. Google will tell you that ‘Many of these wild-blooming plants are remnants of the 19th-century commercial flower industry, where old bulbs were discarded and naturalised along roadsides and in countryside banks’. 

We set off to find them, and they are just about everywhere. We had a lovely trip out, and we were able to sit in the warmth of the bus and be comfortable.