Activities at Hafan-Y-Coed Care Home

To start the summer months off with a bang, we hosted an afternoon in the garden while listening to a wonderful Local wind band. It was a lovely opportunity for residents to spend time together, along with their invited family and friends, enjoying an afternoon in the sunshine.

Activities like this benefit our residents by providing a sense of connection with their families and helping them maintain their identity as a parent, grandparent, or other family member. They also encourage social interaction and strengthen relationships within the home.

The music brought joy to the residents and encouraged reminiscence, allowing them to reflect on happy memories and share stories with others. Overall, it was a fantastic afternoon enjoyed by everyone who attended. Val said “It was a lovely sunny day made even better with a summery glass of Pimms”.            

This month we hosted our Dementia Café and were delighted to welcome some new faces. Our Dementia Lead Nurse delivered an engaging and informative talk, helping everyone gain a better understanding of the signs and symptoms of dementia. It was a supportive and open session where guests could ask questions, share experiences, and connect with others.

One family member shared that it was “great to meet a variety of families with loved ones facing dementia. It was both informative and comforting to know we had a place to turn to for support.”

Thank you to everyone who joined us. We look forward to welcoming both familiar and new faces to our next Dementia Café held in July.     

Staff went above and beyond to make one resident’s dream come true when they helped beloved resident Diane attend her son’s wedding in Manchester creating a day she says she will never forget.
Diane, who lives with advanced Parkinson’s, had been worried she would not be able to attend the special family occasion due to the challenges involved in travelling such a long distance.   

However, determined to make it possible, three dedicated members of staff Sarah Morgan, General Manager, Vicky Muntean, Senior Nurse, and Marie Spires, Lead Activities Coordinator, volunteered to accompany Diane on the journey to ensure she could be there for her son’s big day. The team set off at 6am to make sure Diane arrived at the church on time. During the journey, they also made a very special stop, so Diane could visit her dearly loved father, who lives in a care home near the church and whom she had not seen for some time.

Diane became overwhelmed with emotion when she arrived at the church and was greeted by her family, including her three sons, who were waiting outside the minibus with hugs, smiles and tears of happiness.
Staff said Diane was treated “like royalty” throughout the day, and it was clear just how much the occasion meant to her and her family. Speaking about the experience, Diane said: “It was a day I will never forget. I was overwhelmed seeing my family together and being able to attend the wedding meant everything to me. I’m so grateful to everyone who made it happen.”

After travelling nearly 500 miles in one day, the team and Diane returned home safely following what staff described as an unforgettable and emotional day for everyone involved. Sarah Morgan, General Manager at Hafan Y Coed, said “We believe every moment is worth cherishing, and it was incredibly important to us that Diane could be there to share such a special family milestone. Living with advanced Parkinson’s can make travelling extremely difficult, but our team was determined to make her wish a reality.

“It was such a privilege to be part of this wonderful day and to see the joy on Diane’s face. Moments like this are what caring is truly all about.”

We have started a new Wednesday Walks walking club, weather permitting, because let’s face it, we live in Wales! Our new walking club aims to take residents out and about in the local community, giving them the chance to enjoy the local area and, hopefully, some sunshine too.

This week’s walk was lucky enough to have beautiful sunny weather, allowing residents to get out and about. It’s so important for overall wellbeing to enjoy fresh air, social interaction, and some gentle exercise. Marie said ‘I really enjoyed going out and about, meeting pets and people on our way.'

Residents had a fantastic time celebrating St. Patrick’s Day this month by enjoying an Irish-themed baking session, getting hands on making traditional soda bread rolls and, of course, sampling their delicious creations afterwards with plenty of butter.

The home was filled with the sound of Irish music, with plenty of fun Irish jigs bringing smiles all around. Our mischievous leprechaun also made special one-to-one visits to residents in their rooms, spreading a little extra cheer. To top it all off, everyone had great fun watching our staff take part in an Irish coffee-making competition with plenty of laughter as they tried to impress and got the residents to decide upon the winner in a taste test.   

This month we started our Eurovision themed song contest day with none other than an ABBA show. Not only were we entertained by Kelly, but, of course, Marie jumped on the mic too! 

The staff fully embraced the theme, dressing up in fabulous 70s gear while the room was decorated to match the disco vibes perfectly. We were all singing “Mamma Mia” and, by the end of it, singing “SOS”. 

Indeg commented saying that Abba is her favourite band and how much their songs have helped her through difficult times, being so upbeat and fun.

As we couldn’t all fit on the bus to go to the races, we decided to bring the races to our home instead.

Our virtual race-themed event saw residents, friends, and family come together for an evening full of fun and excitement. Everyone enjoyed placing their bets using our betting cards and cheering on their chosen horse as it raced towards the finish line.

Our ladies were dressed in beautiful hats, while the gents embraced the occasion by becoming jockeys for the evening. The Prosecco was flowing, prizes were won, and there were smiles all around. Dorothy said “I was absolutely thrilled with my flowers for coming first. They are in my bedroom brightening up my day.       

In celebration of Train Day, we enjoyed a truly memorable visit to Didcot Railway Museum. Our sincere thanks to the entire team for their exceptional hospitality and the wonderfully engaging tour. A special mention goes to Roger, whose knowledge and enthusiasm made the experience even more meaningful.

For many of our residents, this was a rare and special opportunity to step aboard the trains again after many years—an experience filled with nostalgia, joy, and connection.  

We also took time to relax and enjoy a lovely cuppa, with tea and coffee shared together, adding to the warmth of the day. A remarkable day and a privilege to be part of such a fantastic experience.

What a wonderful day our gentlemen enjoyed. We set off on a lovely bus trip to Carmarthen Bird Sanctuary, where everyone had the fantastic opportunity to hold Fredo the owl. A truly memorable experience for all involved. The day continued with some relaxing time in the sunshine, as residents enjoyed watching an incredible bird display featuring a variety of beautiful and fascinating species. 

There were plenty of smiles, laughter, and conversation throughout the afternoon. After the show, everyone cooled down with refreshing drinks and enjoyed a delicious slice of homemade Victoria sponge cake or lemon cake, the perfect treat to round off such a wonderful outing.       

Staff and residents from Hafan Y Coed have braved the shave to raise money for Blood Cancer Wales.

Six staff members, Charlotte, Emma, Isabella, Katie, Sophie and Vicky, along with one resident from the care home, Marie, bravely took to the chair whilst having their hair shaved. The evening was combined with a curry night, creating a lovely atmosphere where everyone came together to show their support as they began the fundraising challenge.

Funds are still coming in, but so far, the event has raised close to £2500 by completing the challenge, which will be donated to Blood Cancer UK. One of our brave residents, who also took part in the challenge, said: “I was happy to volunteer to raise money for such a good cause. It was a really fun night and everyone enjoyed it. Marie from our Activities team said: “raising money for Blood Cancer UK will help fund vital research to help families affected by cancer. It also raises awareness and provides crucial information, helping people recognise the signs and symptoms easily, so treatment can begin early and save lives.”

This month our residents enjoyed a lovely minibus trip to a local splash park, where we sat in the sunshine enjoying delicious ice creams and watching the children play. Before long, some of our residents decided to join in the fun themselves, bringing lots of smiles and laughter to the day. Ann laughed when one of the water fountains came on and soaked one of the Activties team. 

The day sparked conversation about their own park day experiences as a child and with their own families.  

This month we celebrated Culture and Diversity Week by coming together for a wonderful party recognising the many cultures within our home.

Staff worked together to create an incredible display of food from around the world, representing Wales, the Philippines, Mexico, Greece, India, Nepal, Scotland, China, the UK and Italy. Everyone made a truly remarkable effort. Marie, our activities lead, said: “It was a wonderful event and lovely to see the different traditional attires worn by the staff. I can’t wait till next year’s event already”.

The evening was filled with delicious food, and a real sense of togetherness. Everyone went to bed with full bellies and full hearts after such a diverse and team-focused event.

One resident said: “The variety of food was exceptional. I love trying new foods and my favourite was the Philippian foods, which were really tasty”.        

Our weekly cookery class sessions are always a huge hit with the residents. We aim to make traditional recipes that they once enjoyed or made as homemakers, which sparks conversation, reminiscing, and supports overall wellbeing. We love to keep traditional recipes alive, making favourites such as cheese, pies, pasties, and puddings. 

Everyone has the opportunity to join in, and if they choose not to take part hands on, they can still enjoy participating by observation and, of course, everyone certainly enjoys the taste testing at the end. Nancy, one of our residents in our Memory Lane community, shared that she used to be a cook in a school and how much she loved being able to continue doing a job she held for many years.  

Residents have enjoyed a fun-filled Easter, with a variety of activities taking place across the home. Our “Paint and Prosecco” afternoon was a huge hit, with residents decorating their very own Easter eggs while sipping Prosecco and enjoying delicious treats. Pauline shared, “What a wonderful afternoon I had painting with my friends, it was excellent fun.”

There was also a special surprise visit from the Easter Bunny, who made his way across all three communities and to residents in their rooms, bringing lots of smiles.

Easter Sunday featured a wonderful traditional breakfast of hot cross buns, followed by Sunday lunch and then  a concert for everyone to enjoy a sing-along and dance. 

To ensure as many residents as possible get out into the local community, we organise weekly trips for everyone to enjoy. This week’s outing was a special gentlemen’s afternoon tea. Five of our gents hopped on the bus and headed to Amelia’s Café, located at Pembrey Airport, where they enjoyed beautiful countryside views while watching planes take off and land. 

The men chatted happily while enjoying toasted sandwiches of their choice, followed by a knickerbocker glory to finish. Of course, no afternoon tea would be complete without a hot chocolate topped with plenty of cream! It was a lovely afternoon, thoroughly enjoyed by all involved.