Activities at Bushey House Beaumont Care Home

Residents at Bushey House Beaumont Care Home enjoyed a relaxing and refreshing wellbeing day last week, kindly organised by the team from Bushey Grove Leisure Centre.

The day included mini massages, an energetic armchair Zumba session, a healthy light lunch, guided meditation and relaxation, as well as homemade smoothies and healthy snacks.

Residents thoroughly enjoyed the range of activities and treatments, with many saying they felt pampered, refreshed and uplifted by the experience. It was wonderful to see everyone relaxing together and enjoying such a special day focused on wellbeing and self-care.

At Bushey House Beaumont, we were so pleased to help Sheila attend a very special celebration for her friend Veronica, who was marking her 90th birthday with an Easter-themed party in Rayners Lane.

Sheila had not thought she would be able to go, so it was a wonderful surprise when Senior Carer Gail kindly gave up her own time to take her by taxi to the party. It meant a great deal to Sheila to be there and share in such an important occasion with her friend.

Sheila had a lovely time and came back full of smiles, happy memories and gratitude. She was especially keen to thank Gail for making it possible for her to be part of Veronica’s special day.

Moments like these mean so much, and we are always glad to support our residents to stay connected to the people and occasions that matter to them.

Residents at Bushey House recently welcomed the start of spring with a lovely afternoon in the garden and a very special visit from some adorable chicks.

The fluffy visitors were kindly brought along by our friends at Performing Pets, giving residents the opportunity to hold and gently pet them. The visit brought plenty of smiles, laughter and conversation as everyone enjoyed spending time with the tiny springtime guests.

Animal visits are always a favourite at Bushey House and provide wonderful sensory experiences that can lift spirits, spark memories and encourage social interaction.

It was a delightful way to celebrate the arrival of spring and enjoy the beautiful weather together.

At our care home, we believe it’s the little moments — and sometimes the extraordinary ones — that make life truly special. One recent festive trip reminded us just how powerful kindness, teamwork, and shared experiences can be.

We were honoured to help make a Christmas wish come true for Alex by taking him and his wife, Haddie, on a special trip to London to see the Christmas lights. Wrapped in festive cheer and surrounded by familiar faces, Alex was supported throughout the journey by his devoted carer, Varsha, who was by his side every step of the way.

This memorable outing was made possible thanks to Georgia, Activities Coordinator at Wilsmere House Care Home, who went above and beyond by driving the minibus to Bushey House to collect everyone before heading into the heart of London. Fellow resident Haldene also joined the trip, adding to the sense of companionship and shared joy that made the evening so special.

As the city sparkled with lights and festive spirit, the smiles and laughter said it all. Seeing the joy on Alex’s face — a smile that never faded — was a powerful reminder of why experiences like these matter so much. They create connection, spark happiness, and leave memories that will be cherished long after the lights come down.

Moments like this capture the heart of life in our care home: compassion, dedication, and a commitment to ensuring every resident feels valued, supported, and able to enjoy meaningful experiences — especially at Christmas.

There was a real sense of celebration at Bushey House Beaumont Care Home as residents, staff and family came together to celebrate Kathleen Bayliss’ incredible 101st birthday.

The home was full of smiles and birthday wishes as Kathleen enjoyed spending time with those around her and sharing a delicious homemade cake created especially for her by our talented Head Chef, Roman.

Kathleen remains as spritely as ever and still enjoys heading out for walks whenever she can, something that continues to inspire both residents and staff alike. Reaching 101 years young is a truly remarkable milestone and it was wonderful to see everyone come together to make the day so special for her.

From all of us at Bushey House, we wish Kathleen a very happy birthday and many congratulations on her 101st year.

Bushey House Beaumont is proud to celebrate Kamila Jander, our Receptionist and Admin Assistant, who has received a 20 Year Service Award in recognition of her dedication to Barchester Healthcare.

Since joining Barchester in March 2006, Kamila has become a much-loved member of the team. For 20 years, she has helped support residents, relatives and colleagues with kindness, professionalism and genuine care.

Mary Jane Bague, General Manager at Bushey House Beaumont, said: “We’re delighted to be celebrating 20 years of loyal service with Kamila. She has demonstrated her dedication and loyalty to this home and its residents year after year.”

We are so grateful to Kamila for everything she has done over the years and are delighted to congratulate her on this very special milestone

At Bushey House, we love creating meaningful opportunities for our residents to connect with the local community — and our recent Community Afternoon Tea was a wonderful example of just that.

We were delighted to welcome members of our local community to join us for a delicious afternoon filled with homemade treats, live entertainment and plenty of laughter. Our Head Chef Roman and his dedicated catering team prepared a fantastic spread, complete with freshly made sandwiches, sweet delights and a special selection of Cornish pasties to celebrate National Cornish Pasty Week.

The atmosphere was made even more special by live music from talented vocalist Steve Forward. Residents and guests enjoyed singing along to familiar favourites, with many even taking to the floor for a dance.

Our monthly Community Afternoon Tea events are a highlight in our calendar and play an important role in strengthening our links with the local area while enriching life within our home.

Yesterday, our residents and team came together to celebrate a truly special occasion—the 101st birthday of our lovely resident, Jane.

Jane was thrilled to mark this incredible milestone, surrounded by friends, smiles, and plenty of celebration. Our Resident Ambassador, Elizabeth, along with members of our dedicated team, presented Jane with beautiful flowers, a glass of Prosecco, and a delicious birthday cake, which she generously shared with fellow residents.

It was a joyful day filled with laughter, togetherness, friends and good wishes. We are honoured to celebrate such a remarkable moment and to be part of Jane’s very special day.

Happy 101st Birthday, Jane! 

Our residents kicked off the countdown to Christmas with a truly special treat on Monday — a festive pet visit! This time, we were delighted to welcome Ringo the baby meerkat, brought in by our wonderful friends at @performing-pets.

Ringo has been hand-reared after being rejected by his mother, and he will soon be joining other meerkats in a specially designed environment where he can grow and thrive. For many of our residents, this was the very first time they had ever seen a meerkat in real life — let alone had the chance to gently stroke one! The smiles and excitement in the room said it all.

We host monthly pet visits here at the home, featuring a variety of friendly animals, and these sessions continue to be one of our most loved activities. They offer comfort, joy, companionship, and plenty of heart-warming moments that every resident can enjoy.

What a magical way to start the festive season!

Last Friday was a very special and emotional day for Alex at Bushey House Beaumont Care Home, as he fulfilled a long-held wish to attend Friday prayers at the Bushey Mosque.

Alex dressed smartly for the occasion and was overjoyed to be welcomed into the mosque community. He had the opportunity to meet many members of the congregation, as well as the Imam, who made him feel incredibly welcome. The mosque has very kindly invited us back regularly, allowing Alex to attend prayers two or three times each month, with Tina, our activities lead accompanying him and sitting alongside him during prayers.

As Friday prayers take place for around half an hour at lunchtime, this means Alex can enjoy being part of his faith community without disrupting activities back at the home.

Seeing the happiness on Alex’s face was something truly special.

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.

This afternoon, our home was filled with the rich, mellow sounds of live music as we welcomed the incredibly talented Nick Zala for a special guitar concert.

Nick is a gifted musician who plays a variety of string instruments, including the guitar, but he is particularly known for his expertise on the pedal steel guitar — an instrument he impressively taught himself to play. His remarkable skill and fast finger work, combined with the smooth, expressive tones of the instrument, created a truly captivating performance.

The music perfectly complemented the sunny afternoon, transporting residents and team members alike to dreamy scenes of relaxed summer jazz bars and seaside holidays. It was a wonderful opportunity to sit back, unwind, and simply enjoy the moment.

It was wonderful seeing so many residents and family members singing long to the tunes of their youth.

Residents at Bushey House enjoyed a wonderfully colourful start to the New Year with a special visit from an array of beautiful birds. The visit brought plenty of smiles and excitement as residents had the opportunity to see and learn about a selection of budgies and a friendly cockatiel.

The birds’ vibrant colours and gentle personalities helped to create a relaxed and cheerful atmosphere, brightening everyone’s day and sparking lots of conversation and happy memories among residents and staff alike.

The visit was kindly provided by our friends at Performing Pets, who visit Bushey House each month with a different animal experience. These regular visits are always eagerly anticipated and play an important role in bringing joy, engagement, and variety to our activities programme.

Our residents kicked off the festive season in style on Sunday with a joyful Christmas arts and crafts afternoon! The room was filled with chatter, laughter, and plenty of holiday spirit as everyone came together to create some beautiful decorations for our dining room.

The highlight of the day was the super-sized paper chain they made as a team — a colourful, cheerful creation now proudly displayed across our dining room window. It has completely transformed the space and added a wonderful touch of Christmas magic. 

Arts and crafts sessions like this are always such a delight. They give our residents the chance to express their creativity, work together on something fun, and enjoy a relaxing activity that also helps support fine motor skills and confidence. Most importantly, it brings everyone together to share smiles and make lovely memories.

What a fantastic way to start our Christmas celebrations — and there’s plenty more festive fun to come!