From Cuddly Encounters to Creepy Crawlies at Ilfracombe Nursing Home

An unusual collection of visitors recently arrived at Edenmore Nursing Home, based in North Devon, as family members (residents) welcomed some furry, feathered and scaly friends from Exmoor Zoo.

Those interested in taking part came together in one of the home's lounges, where they eagerly awaited the arrival of Exmoor Zoo's Stephen Eddy and Caitlin Hannam, who had brought along several animals for everyone to meet, with the opportunity to hold or stroke them if they wished.

Among the visitors were a barn owl, a meerkat, a snake and a few creepy crawlies, including a stick insect and a cockroach. The latter wasn't quite as popular with Home Manager Gayle Cooper, who wasn’t keen to get too close!

As each animal was introduced, Stephen shared interesting facts about its habits and characteristics, with family members Jillian, Colin, Peter and Don particularly keen to ask questions and learn more. The afternoon was as informative as it was interactive, with plenty of opportunities to get a closer look at animals they might not ordinarily encounter.

Another talking point was a giant shed snakeskin, which was passed around for everyone to hold and feel. Its size prompted plenty of interest, although it was the meerkat and barn owl that proved to be the stars of the day, with family members taking turns to gently stroke them.

Jillian, who has a particular love of animals, had been especially looking forward to the visit and was all smiles when it was her turn to stroke the barn owl and took a keen interest in learning about the different animals. After the experience, Jillian decided she’d quite like to stay downstairs a little longer to look out at the sea from the home’s conservatory.

The afternoon also welcomed a younger and more regular visitor, Home Manager Gayle's grandson Flynn, who was eager to take part in the animal encounters. Flynn and his older brothers have grown up regularly visiting Edenmore and spending time with family members, becoming familiar faces around the home.

Flynn was particularly taken with the meerkat, enjoying the chance to stroke him, before sharing a cuddle with family member Carol, who is especially fond of children.

For those with a lifelong love of animals, like Jillian, the visit was a chance to continue enjoying an interest that has always been part of their lives, while others appreciated the opportunity to discover something new and experience a slightly different afternoon!

Edenmore Nursing Home offers 24-hour nursing and residential care on the North Devon coast. To learn more about life at Edenmore, visit www.edenmorenursinghome.com

Hatherleigh Nursing Home Celebrates Harvest with Soup and Song

A harvest blessing, singing and homemade soup brought people together as Hatherleigh Nursing Home welcomed the local community for its Harvest Festival celebration.

The dementia care home, based in Hatherleigh, Okehampton, hosted family members (residents), relatives and visitors in its Belvedere Lounge. The afternoon began with the blessing before the choir took over, with family members following their hymn sheets and joining in with the singing.

With farming such a part of life in Hatherleigh and the surrounding villages, harvest has a place in the town’s agricultural traditions. The celebration brought that connection into the home, recognising the work that goes into growing and producing the food we eat.

The kitchen team served homemade butternut squash soup with crusty bread, followed by jam tarts and plenty of cups of tea.

The home, which offers 24-hour dementia nursing care, residential care, respite care and complex care, continues to support the people who live there through connection with the local community and its traditions, all while striving to create a home-from-home environment.

 If you would like to learn more about Hatherleigh Nursing Home, please visit: https://www.hatherleighnursinghome.com/lifes-journey-continued-2/

Heanton Nursing Home Gets into the 80s Groove

Leg warmers, neon tutus, oversized hair and inflatable guitars took over Heanton Nursing Home as residents (who the home fondly refers to as family members) and team members turned back the clock for a day inspired by the 1980s.

But the transformation had actually begun the night before.

While family members slept, Heanton’s night team got to work transforming the home, so that by morning everyone woke up to colourful decorations, cassette tapes, disco-inspired displays, balloons and a ‘Back to the 80s’ photo booth ready for the day ahead.

Team members threw themselves into the theme too, arriving in everything from neon beads and fingerless gloves to shell suits, wigs, leg warmers and tutus.

The day included an 80s-themed Zumba session, music, dressing up and plenty of opportunities for everyone to get involved. Inflatable guitars, microphones, saxophones and boom boxes quickly became part of the outfits, while the photo booth captured some of the more elaborate looks.

One of the day’s best throwbacks, however, came from one of Heanton’s Maintenance team, Ian. He arrived sporting a long blonde wig for the occasion before producing a photograph of himself from the 1980s, revealing that his real hair back then looked remarkably similar.

Home manager Abigail Denford said: “It was incredible to see the whole home come together. Our night team put so much thought into transforming everything while family members were asleep, so they genuinely woke up in the 80s. Seeing their reactions that morning, and then watching family members and team members dancing, dressing up and enjoying the music together, was really special. These are the days that make Heanton feel like a family.”

For Heanton, days like this are less about putting on an activity and more about creating a home where the people living and working alongside one another can share experiences, be themselves and have some fun together. With music playing, family members reaching for the inflatable guitars and team members embracing some questionable 80s fashion choices, Heanton spent the day firmly back in the decade of big hair, bright colours and even bigger accessories.

Heanton Nursing Home, based in Heanton Punchardon near Barnstaple, supports people living with a Dementia and other complex needs, with an approach centred around understanding the person beyond a diagnosis and creating a place that feels like home. 

 

For more information, please visit  Dementia, Complex, Respite, and Residential Care in Devon