Activities at Canmore Lodge Care Home

We had a lovely morning at Dunfermline Abbey Flower Festival. Residents looked round all the beautiful flower displays within the Abbey and even had the opportunity to create their own flower arrangements.

It was great to be out and about in the beautiful weather, enjoying the colourful displays and linking up with the local community. 
Everyone had a wonderful time – sharing stories, creativity, and plenty of ideas throughout the day!        

For the fifth year running, staff from Barchester Healthcare’s care homes and hospitals took on a gruelling cycling challenge, this time from Thurso to Edinburgh.  Their aim was to raise money for Barchester’s Charitable Foundation which supports older people and other adults living with a disability or mental health conditions by helping them to connect or re-connect with others in their local communities. Set up in 2000, this year marks the Foundation’s 26^th year supporting individuals, community groups and small charities all across the country.

Over four days, from May 19^th to 22^nd, a team of Barchester staff cycled over 200 miles from Thurso, through Inverness, Aberdeen, Dundee to Edinburgh and finally Glasgow, stopping at 16 care homes across Barchester’s Scotland & North East division to meet well-wishers, have a well-earned break and refuel before continuing on their way. 

Residents at Canmore Lodge marked International Gardening Day with a cheerful planting session that brought a touch of spring indoors. 

Together, they planted flowers and greenery, enjoying the feel of the soil, the colours, and the shared experience of nurturing something new. 

The activity sparked conversation, memories of past gardens, and plenty of laughter, creating a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. 
Residents took pride in their work, with the plants brightening shared spaces. The session supported gentle movement, sensory engagement, and a strong sense of togetherness, leaving everyone feeling uplifted and connected.     

Staff and residents at Barchester’s Canmore Lodge care home, in Dunfermline, are looking forward to celebrating spring with a fantastic Spring Fayre taking place on Friday 3rd April 2026.

The home will be hosting a variety of seasonal activities for residents, families and the local community to enjoy, including a raffle, spring crafts, Easter egg hunt, stalls, refreshments and live music. The Spring Fayre promises to be a wonderful opportunity to welcome visitors into the home and celebrate the arrival of spring together.

Residents at Canmore Lodge are excited to take part in the preparations and festivities, with activities ranging from creating handmade decorations to baking treats for the big day. Guests attending the fayre will also be able to enjoy a selection of delicious food and drinks prepared by the home’s head chef, Davis Mathai.

General Manager, Kimberley Laird, said: “We’re really looking forward to welcoming everyone to our Spring Fayre. It’s a lovely way to bring the community together, celebrate the new season and showcase all the wonderful things happening in our home. We hope it will be a fantastic day for everyone who joins us.”

Canmore Lodge is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering high-quality care across its care homes and hospitals. Canmore Lodge provides nursing care and residential care.

For Mother's Day this year, we organised an afternoon tea for residents and their loved ones to enjoy. We served scones, cakes (including cupcakes made by our baking club), sandwiches, prosecco and hot drinks.

We had such a lovely afternoon celebrating together, filled with smiles, laughter, and meaningful moments. It was wonderful to see everyone come together, and we hope it created some truly cherished memories.  

To celebrate International Nurses Day, our residents spent time creating thoughtful handmade cards for all the brilliant nurses here at Canmore Lodge. 

It was a lovely afternoon filled with creativity, laughter, and appreciation as residents shared kind messages and their thanks and appreciation for the care, compassion, and support our nurses provide every single day.        

Residents and staff at Canmore Lodge Care Home enjoyed a unique and uplifting experience as they took part in a special movement workshop led by Scottish Ballet.

Inspired by International Dance Day—celebrated each year on April 29th to mark the birthday of Jean-Georges Noverre—the workshop brought the joy of dance directly into the home.

The session focused on gentle movement and creative expression, giving residents the opportunity to engage with ballet-inspired techniques in a fun and accessible way. Led by experienced dancers and musicians from the Scottish Ballet, the workshop encouraged participants to explore rhythm, coordination and storytelling through movement, all set to beautiful music.

Residents embraced the chance to try something new, with many enjoying the opportunity to connect with dance in a relaxed and supportive environment. The workshop also sparked fond memories, as music and movement transported residents back to earlier years.

Canmore Lodge Care Home is part of Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, committed to delivering high-quality care across its homes and hospitals. The home provides nursing care, residential care and respite care in Dunfermline.

Residents at Canmore Lodge came together for two warm and nostalgic Football Memories sessions, centred around a shared love of the game and clubs such as Dunfermline Athletic F.C.

Using treasured items like old photographs, scarves, and newspapers, alongside football books, residents reminisced about matches and moments from years gone by, including the club’s memorable Scottish Cup victories.

Many discovered shared experiences, sparking lively conversation, laughter, and connection. 

The sessions created a strong sense of belonging, bringing people together through familiar stories, friendships, and a shared passion, while supporting social wellbeing and reducing feelings of isolation.             

Residents at Barchester Healthcare’s Canmore Lodge care home, in Dunfermline, celebrated Mother’s Day with visits and video calls from family members near and far. The home was beautifully decorated with fresh flowers and bunting for the occasion.

Staff at Canmore Lodge arranged an afternoon tea for residents and their loved ones, beautifully presented with flowers and prosecco. Head chef Davis Mathai prepared a special menu of sandwiches, freshly baked scones, and delicate pastries to mark the occasion, alongside a selection of cakes lovingly made by the residents’ weekly baking club, creating a warm and celebratory atmosphere for everyone in attendance.

General Manager, Kimberley Laird, said: “We’ve all had a really lovely day.  It has been so good to see family members who were able to visit in person and to have video calls with those who are further away. Our residents and families enjoyed a fantastic afternoon tea prepared by our brilliant chefs. Days like these are so precious.”

Canmore Lodge is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering high-quality care across its care homes and hospitals. Canmore Lodge provides nursing care and residential care.  

On Wednesday 25th March, we had a virtual movement class with The Scottish Ballet. The workshop included gentle, seated exercises set to music. 

We were guided through our exercise via zoom with members of the Scottish ballet team. At the end, we had the opportunity to look at costumes from their production of ‘The Snow Queen’. 

We had a great morning and the residents commented on how great it was to be able to dance again.   

We celebrated World Cocktail Day on Wednesday by creating our own vibrant selection of mocktails.

Residents followed along with a special menu of different alcohol-free recipes, mixing, shaking, and tasting everything from mojitos to piña coladas. The afternoon was filled with laughter, chatter, and the joy of trying something new together. It was a wonderful way to connect, get creative, and toast to friendship — a truly lovely afternoon enjoyed by all!     

Residents at Canmore Lodge Care Home were treated to a heart-warming and memorable surprise this week, as the much-loved Happy Hoofbeats miniature therapy ponies paid a special visit to the home.

The unexpected guests quickly became the centre of attention, strolling through the home and bringing smiles to faces wherever they went. Their calm, gentle temperament allowed residents to interact with them up close—stroking their soft coats, sharing quiet moments of connection, and reminiscing about experiences with animals. For many, the visit sparked fond memories and meaningful conversations, creating a truly uplifting atmosphere throughout the day.

Residents and their families were full of praise for the experience. One resident, alongside their daughter, described the visit as a standout moment:
“It’s been such a brilliant day. The ponies were absolutely lovely—so gentle and affectionate. It really lifted everyone’s spirits and gave us something special to share together.”

Experiences like this form an important part of life at Canmore Lodge, which is operated by Barchester Healthcare. The home provides tailored nursing care for up to 68 residents, offering both short-term respite and long-term support in a welcoming and supportive environment.

The team at Canmore Lodge remains dedicated to enriching the lives of residents through person centred and meaningful experiences.

This special visit will no doubt be remembered fondly by all who took part, leaving a lasting impression and plenty of smiles in its wake.  

Residents at Canmore Lodge enjoyed two uplifting workshops with Scottish Ballet, one virtual and one in-person, bringing gentle movement, music, and creativity into their day. 

From the comfort of their chairs, residents explored simple ballet-inspired movements, rhythm, and musicality, supported by live and recorded music. The sessions encouraged mobility, coordination, and focus, while remaining inclusive for all abilities. 

There was a real sense of joy throughout, with laughter, conversation, and shared moments bringing everyone together. Residents described the experience as something truly special, supporting both wellbeing and meaningful social connection.         

In celebration of National Plant a Flower Day, our residents enjoyed a wonderful hands-on gardening activity, planting a variety of flowers and herbs around the home. The session provided a great opportunity for everyone to get involved, spend time outdoors, and connect with nature.

Residents took pride in choosing what to plant and caring for their creations, making the experience both meaningful and rewarding.
Activities like this not only brighten our outdoor spaces but also support wellbeing, encourage gentle physical activity, and create a sense of achievement.

It was a joyful day filled with conversation, teamwork, and plenty of smiles, and we look forward to watching everything grow in the weeks ahead.   

We used the final arrangements on the tables for our residents in the dining room and also as a decoration for Valentine's afternoon tea. We had a great morning doing some flower arranging in preparation for Valentine’s Day. Here are some of the final designs — a lovely way to start the day! 

We used the finished arrangements on the tables for our residents in the dining room, and they also made beautiful decorations for our Valentine’s afternoon tea. It was wonderful to see everyone enjoying the colours and creativity, and the flowers really helped create a warm, cheerful atmosphere throughout the home.

A big thank you to everyone who joined in and helped make the morning so special!