Activities at Ashlar House Care Home

Activities are an integral part of life at our care home. We want to ensure that the people we support have as much fun as possible during their time with us, so it’s important that our activities programme is created with the interests of residents in mind. Our skilled Activities Coordinators bring a certain uniqueness to the home that can’t be found anywhere else, and which is reflected in the activities they organise.

Enriching life
Watch our video on life enrichment in our homes.

Rita Green

As the Community Engagement Lead and Lifestyle Coordinator, I will be spending time with each resident and their loved ones to build a detailed picture of each individual, so that each person’s stay with us is as meaningful as possible.  Although I have been working within this field for many years, thanks to the uniqueness of each resident, I am always enjoying new experiences in my role. My goal is to create an activities programme that caters to the capabilities of residents, including, but not limited to, individual and group activity. 


I've spent the past few years forging strong relationships within the community and developing a pool of talented individuals that can support our in-house team to bring out the best in those we care for.


As we never stop growing and changing, it is important that we maintain an up-to-date Getting To Know Me booklet. With your help, the activities scheduled for your loved ones will be as relevant and enjoyable as possible.
I’m very much looking forward to working with all of you.

Activities and Events Partnerships

As part of our bespoke life-enrichment programmes, we host a number of live virtual events in the home on a regular basis through a number of partnerships with places of interest and world class performance companies

Life at Ashlar House Care Home

, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

A Lovely Friday Evening at Ashlar

What a perfect way to ease into the weekend—an evening filled with fine cheese, a glass of wine, and the warmth of great company. Ashlar residents, families, friends, and staff came together to share laughter, stories, and a few joyful dance moves! 

A feel-good playlist set the mood in the background, creating the perfect atmosphere for relaxation and connection. It was truly a lovely night filled with smiles, music, and memories. Thank you to everyone who made it so special!

, , , , , , ,

Ashlar House Carers With heartfelt thanks during Carers Week

To each of you who gives your all, Who lifts us up when we might fall. Your kindness shines, your care runs deep. You soothe our pain, you guard our sleep. You meet each day with strength and grace, a gentle heart, a smiling face. In every task both big and small, you bring such love, you give your all.

At Ashlar House, your light is clear, a steady hand, a voice of cheer.
You go beyond what duty asks, with quiet strength in daily tasks.

Through every shift, through joy and strain, you carry hope, you ease the pain. You are the soul behind the care. A precious gift beyond compare.

, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Trooping the Colour

Ashlar House was alive with colour and cheer as residents, staff, families, and friends came together to mark Trooping the Colour – a beloved tradition honouring the official birthday of the British Monarch. The celebration was a true reflection of community spirit, royal pride, and unforgettable entertainment.

The star of the afternoon was none other than entertainer Paul Lillie, who delivered a showstopping performance that had everyone singing and smiling. Paul took the stage dressed as some of Britain’s most iconic musical knights, including Sir Cliff Richard, Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Elton John, and Sir Rod Stewart, each costume as dazzling as the last, with matching soundtracks that brought the house down.

But the performance didn’t stop there. With a theatrical twist, Paul also appeared as “King Charlie” a tongue-in-cheek tribute to His Majesty King Charles III, complete with regal attire and royal charm. Needless to say, “King Charlie” was a cut above the rest and left quite the impression!

With flags waving, voices singing, and hearts full of joy, the event was a true celebration of tradition, music, and the magic of shared moments. Ashlar House once again proved that when it comes to bringing people together, they do it in style.

, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Pilot of Doccla

Ashlar House is now six weeks into the pilot of Doccla, an innovative remote monitoring tool aimed at reducing unnecessary hospital admissions. The initiative supports the concept of a “virtual hospital at home,” enabling patients to be closely monitored in the comfort and familiarity of their own surroundings, while still under the clinical oversight of healthcare professionals.

As part of the project, patients receive a Doccla box, which includes a set of monitoring devices and a mobile phone or tablet. With this equipment, patients can regularly share updates on how they’re feeling and record vital signs such as blood pressure, oxygen levels, and heart rate. This information is then reviewed by clinicians, including doctors, nurses, and physiotherapists, who track their progress and intervene if needed.

The Ashlar House team has been actively engaged in the rollout and evaluation of the technology, working closely with the Doccla team to integrate it into day-to-day care. Recently, we were pleased to welcome colleagues from Germany, who visited to observe the system in action and learn from our experience.

A special thank you goes to our resident Gertrude, who generously took part in a live demonstration and helped us showcase the potential of remote monitoring to enhance care and promote independence. 

, , , , , , , , ,

Ashlar House Dementia Disco – Celebrating Dementia Action Week 2025!

Ashlar House brought the spirit of Dementia Action Week 2025 to life with a vibrant Dementia Disco! Residents and staff embraced the fun by donning funky glasses and dancing through the decades — from the rocking’ 50s and grooving’ 60s to today’s top hits.

Music is a powerful connector — it gets people moving, and even those with limited mobility light up with smiles, wave their hands, sing along, and often show pure joy in their eyes. 

For our residents, music sparked treasured memories, heartfelt connections, and pure happiness. Best of all, families couldn’t help but join in the fun!

From singing along with Elvis to dancing to today’s beats, it was a heart-warming celebration of life, community, and the enduring magic of music. 

, , , , , , , , , , ,

Epping Forest

Here in Epping Forest, we are proud to be building a dementia-friendly community—where every person living with dementia is respected, supported, and truly valued.

At the heart of this effort is Barchester Ashlar House, a care home that goes far beyond the basics. It’s not just a service—it’s a family.

Rita Green, our dedicated Activist Coordinator, works hand-in-hand with Flavia, our caring and committed Registered Manager. Flavia Sparhat brings warmth and leadership to everything she does, always putting the needs of the residents and their families first.

“Our home is more than a place to live—it’s a place to belong,” says Flavia. "Our home is their home. We are a family here.”

Every resident is treated as an individual, with dignity, compassion, and love. Rita adds, “No textbook can teach what we learn from our residents. Every person is a new story, a new chapter.”

As part of the wider Epping Forest – Dementia Friendly initiative, supported by our new Town Mayor Janet Whitehouse, Ashlar House is proud to lead by example. Together, we are creating an environment where kindness, understanding, and connection come first.