Activities at Tyspane Care Home

VE Day or Victory in Europe Day commemorates the allied victory in Europe during World War II. Celebrated on 8th May, it was on this day in 1945 that Nazi Germany officially surrendered to the Allied forces. VE Day 80 is a testimony to resilience, remembrance, and the shared dedication to a non-violent destiny.

At Tyspane Care Home, to mark this very special celebration, residents, families, friends, staff, professionals and community members gathered to raise the official VE-Day 80 flag in honour of all those who made the ultimate sacrifice.  

David Prior (Resident Ambassador) stated, 
“Families lost many loved ones during the war and today is filled with mixed emotions, as on the 8th May 1945, relief, joy and an overwhelming sense of hope for the future. It has been an honour to watch the flag being raised this morning. Thank you.”

Celebrations continued throughout the day with a live performance from miniconcerts, “The D-Day Dolly Extravaganza,” followed by a traditional, good old-fashioned street party.  It is said that a good old-fashioned street party is full of good food, good company and good fun, and from the look on the faces of the residents, this was true this afternoon.

Peter Brown (Resident) replied, 
“I had a lovely day, and the Pimms was lovely too.”

Thank you to everyone at Tyspane Care Home and the local community for helping everyone commemorate this significant anniversary today.

Making wishes gives us hope, it gives us a reason to look forward and keeps our spirits high. Various cultures have rituals involving wishes, from blowing out birthday candles to making a wish on a shooting star. These rituals create unity and continuity in life. When we make a wish, we are actually often setting a goal. This can spark motivation needed to act on our dreams and turn them into reality. Wishing can also offer a brief escape from daily challenges, providing a mental break and a moment to indulge in our dreams and fantasies. Making wishes can also strengthen social connections. Whether shared at a celebration or a quiet moment with friends and loved ones, it can foster a sense of togetherness and mutual hope.

At Tyspane Care Home we understand and believe in making wishes and dreams come true, and only this week resident Sarah Jane had her wish granted to visit Saunton Sands Beach in Braunton. Sarah was joined on the seafront by her husband Paul, daughter Grace, family and friends.

Paul, Sarah Jane’s husband, observed,
“The day was magical; everyone was so happy and memories were made for everyone present. It really has been a wish and dream come true. Thank you.”

Sarah Jane, from South Molton, is one of the bravest and selfless spirits. She is a lady of unshakeable beliefs. She regularly puts others before herself and is willing to sacrifice her own needs for the sake of others. Her steadfastness in the face of adversity showcases her real courage and bravery.

Sarah Jane, before moving to Tyspane Care Home, was cared for by North Devon Hospice and was the face of their campaign to raise money for cuddle beds. A cuddle bed is a specialist clinical bed which has state-of-the-art features to help keep patients comfortable. Crucially, unlike any other clinical bed, a cuddle bed can extend to double in width, which allows one to share the bed and retain closeness with loved ones.

Sarah Jane stated: “When my daughter saw this bed for the first time, her face lit up because she knew exactly what it meant – a proper hug with Mum,” said Sarah. "With normal beds, you just don’t have the room to be close to someone without feeling squashed. So, when the nurses set the cuddle bed up for us, it was just amazing! Grace jumped up instantly, and we had the biggest cuddle – having the chance to hug my daughter like this meant the absolute world.” Her passion and drive to help others continued after moving to Tyspane Care Home, where she arranged for an enormous cuddle bear to be donated to support and bring a smile to residents faces at Tyspane Care Home, it is certainly a talking point in the residents’ lounge. It is Sarah Jane’s aim for the cuddle bear to be named and then auctioned to the highest bidder to raise funds for a new MOTOmed at Tyspane Care Home. A MOTOmed is a specialist piece of equipment that Tyspane Care Home physiotherapists use to support residents with movement restrictions.

Since moving to Tyspane Care Home, Sarah Jane has been a regular visitor to the physiotherapist suite to support her emotional, social and mental wellbeing; mind, body and soul. Sarah Jane and her family, especially her daughter Grace, have made Tyspane Care Home “Home.” Grace is a wonderful free spirit, just like her mother, Sarah Jane. She lightens up a room with her endless amounts of energy, her smile is like a sudden beam of sunlight, and she never stops asking to help. The Activities Team at Tyspane Care Home have embraced her help, especially at Monday afternoon Karaoke and within the Community Garden.

Aime Bown (General Manager) at Tyspane Care Home stated, 
“Sarah Jane is a positive, compassionate, intelligent and thoughtful lady who has had a positive impact on those around her. Staff love spending time with Sarah Jane and her family. It is a pleasure to listen and learn from Sarah Jane’s life experiences. I am so pleased we were able to support Sarah Jane and her family to experience such a wonderful wish. “

A massive thank you to everyone at Tyspane Care Home who made Sarah Jane’s wish come true. It was truly a spectacular day, one to remember. 

A big fear for many residents when moving into a Tyspane Care Home is that they will lose their independence. Maintaining autonomy over their own lives is essential for residents’ wellbeing. Tyspane Care Home recognises this, and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) even checks that residents are being supported to maintain their independence when they carry out inspections.

Only this morning, it was wonderful to see Lee getting ready to leave Tyspane Care Home to go shopping in Braunton on his motorised scooter. His scooter is not only stunning to look at (shocking metallic red) but also life-changing.  Having his scooter allowed Lee to retain his independence, enhanced his mobility, improved his health and mental wellbeing.

Lee (Resident) said, “It’s a cool piece of kit.”

Caroline (Visitor) replied, “Absolutely love my dear friend Lee. I am so pleased and proud of how well he is doing . I can't thank the staff enough for all they do for him and continue to do so.”  

As Lee is a heavy metal music fan, the sight of him leaving Tyspane Care Home grounds reminded me of the song “Motorcycle Man,” released by Saxon in 1980, which pays tribute to the thrill and power of motorcycle riding. 

Community visits to residents can take many forms, aiming to combat isolation and promote well-being. Tyspane Care Home understands the importance of residents joining groups, attending day centres, or volunteering in various settings. It is these regular contacts and social interactions that combat loneliness and feelings of isolation. They can boost mental well-being, reduce stress, and increase happiness.  Feeling connected to the community and having a role to play can provide a sense of purpose and satisfaction.

So, today it was wonderful to see our residents being welcomed by Braunton Caen Rotary, Memory Café at the Vivian Moon Centre for a presentation about the Braunton Community Garden, followed by tea, chat, biscuits and raffle. The atmosphere was friendly, welcoming and one which fostered a positive culture for everyone.

Doug (a resident's husband) said, “It is wonderful to spend time with my wife in the community. We always attended Braunton Caen Rotary, Vivian Moon Centre.”

Claire (Resident) said, “I was a lovely experience for me, I really enjoyed myself.”

At Tyspane Care Home we celebrate life through everything we do. Life at Tyspane is about more than just the care needed, so our teams are trained and committed to enriching the lives of all our residents, through stimulating the mind, the body and the soul.

Every resident is unique. From spending time and learning about each one, we can support positive well-being through a wide range and choice of events, outings, connections in the community and tailored activities. We’re interested in residents’ history, their life stories, the things they love and the things they don’t. We encourage social connections through engagement with residents, whether in their personal space, or in the heart of the home with others, using technology and expertise as appropriate, to ensure everyone receives the support that adds enrichment to their life.

This week alone, we have organised a guest artist to paint landscapes with residents of the beautiful Saunton Sands coastline, been entertained by a local singer/songwriter, guitarist Roger Colome, and for the green-fingered residents, extended the beds in the Community Garden with the help of David, John and Kelvin. Pamper, relaxation and physiotherapy sessions have also been held throughout the week for the mind, body and soul.

Patricia (Resident) said, “I love to listen to Roger, he plays the music I love. Everyone was singing and smiling. Fantastic Sunday afternoon.”

Michelle (Visitor) said, “The landscape techniques used made it a wonderful experience, so simple and beautiful.”

Claire (Resident) stated, “The garden is starting to flourish, simply stunning.”

So, remember, life is better when it is shared with good friends.

Easter, a time of new beginnings, the Easter bunny, and, of course, the occasional chocolate Easter egg. But Easter symbolises much more than Easter egg hunts and family gatherings. It’s one of the most important religious events in the Christian calendar, with the earliest recorded observance dating back to the 2nd Century, around 2000 years ago.

Easter is the celebration of Jesus Christ’s resurrection on the third day following his crucifixion. According to the Bible, Jesus was crucified and died on the cross but came back to life three days later. This act of resurrection is considered central to Christianity as it demonstrates to its followers that there is life after death. It also serves as a testament to God’s omnipotence, thereby strengthening the belief in God and Christianity as a broader belief system.

At Tyspane Care Home understand that for many Easter is a time of reflection, faith, and spending time with loved ones. For many, special occasions are when families get together. This is why taking time out for your older loved ones is so important. It will give you a chance to make memories that you will cherish for life.

To celebrate Easter and bring everyone together Reverend David Baker of St Brannocks Church, Braunton joined residents, families, friends and staff at Tyspane Care Home this day to deliver Easter Holy Communion.  His service was one that created an atmosphere of joy and celebration, incorporating hymns that broke through and opened hearts and reinforcement of the message to support others when needed. It was also wonderful to see at his service residents of other faiths; Quakers and Jewish religions.

Margie (Resident), “It was wonderful to stop and chat with Reverend David Baker after the service about my life in Barnstaple.”

Patricia (Resident), “I am not religious, but I enjoy spending time with Reverend David Baker, I could listen to him all day.”

Keith (Resident), “I was so pleased Reverend David Baker visited me in my room for a chat, it was good to talk.”

Thank you, David, for a wonderful, spiritual morning.