Hand Crafting a Legacy, The Story of Stan Herbert

Every life carries a story worth sharing. At Sundial Care Home we tell the story of Stanley Herbert (Stan), a true naturalist and beloved family member (resident) living here, whose journey has taken him from military service in Libya, across the oceans to New Zealand, through decades of farming, and into a lifelong passion for craftsmanship and nature. Stan’s story offers a glimpse into a life shaped by fearlessness, skilled hands, and the love for his family and the great outdoors.

A Wartime Childhood

Stan Herbert was born on 27 October 1937 in Beckenham, Greater London, and spent his childhood in Penge, Southeast London, with his parents and his sister, Grace. His earliest memories are set against the backdrop of wartime Britain and Stan recalls one day while walking with his mother, a buzz bomb tore through the sky, passing over the rooftops before exploding nearby.

School Years and a Sandwich Shared

At school, Stan showed a natural ability in the water, earning his lifesaving certificate. It was around this time that he grew closer to his sweetheart, Maureen. Their schools were divided, between boys and girls, so the pair would sit and share sandwiches through the railings.

A Young Hero

When leaving his education, Stan had hoped to pursue a career in carpentry, but his grandfather who was a joiner advised against this. For now, his first job was working with a photographer on New Oxford Street in London.

Whilst working one day, he smelled smoke coming from the building next door, it was on fire. Realising there were workers inside, he climbed through the skylight and ran across the rooftops to get them to safety. This act of bravery earned Stan, the “Young Hero”, a mention in the evening press. “There are plenty of things we could say about Dad, but one thing that always struck us was that he was fearless,” they shared.

Despite this thrilling experience, Stan realised the photography trade wasn’t for him, so he left the city behind, taking a farming job in Hayes, West London.

The Military and a Dog Named Sly

Stan was later called up for National Service and posted just outside Benghazi, Libya. He served as a military dog trainer, working with his trusted dog, Sly. Stan recalled if an anti-sniper dog suddenly sat down, he would instantly “hit the deck”, between the dogs ears would be the direction of a sniper. Stan enjoyed his time in the military, so he decided to stay an extra year after completing his two years of service.

Maureen and the One-Way Ticket

Whilst visiting home on leave, the spark between sweethearts, Stan and Maureen was reignited. When returning a spanner he had borrowed from her father, she was impressed by his motorbike and he offered to take her for a spin. The pair were inseparable ever since.

The couple married in June, 1961, and made the decision to emigrate to New Zealand where farm workers were needed. However after around six months, Maureen began to miss home but they would need time to save money, as he’d only bought a one-way ticket! In that time they welcomed their sons Michael in 1963, Peter in 1964 and David in 1966.

Life on the Move, Farming Across England

When the couple returned to England with their sons, Stan was drawn back to farming and built a reputation as a skilled herdsman and stockman. Around this time they welcomed their daughter Lindsay in 1969, before making the decision to settle down in Devon. Finally, their youngest Jessica was born in 1977.

A Craftsman at Heart

When health issues unfortunately forced Stan to step back from farming, he worked part-time in a joiner’s workshop in Colaton Raleigh. Stan had always been into woodwork and settled into a more “common-sense aesthetic”.

“One of my dad’s super powers was common sense,” his son Michael recalled. “He made a dining table out of scraps. It was supremely practical.”

Life in Devon allowed Stan to share his love for woodwork and the great outdoors with his children. “If someone suggested that a fallen tree needed to be removed, we would all go out to help get it,” they all remembered. “We would all have our roles and the tree would be taken back home to chop up for firewood.”

Overall, Stan has dedicated many years to woodworking, also founding a carving group with a friend over 25 years ago that is still active today.

Life at Sundial Care Home

Now in his retirement at Sundial Care Home near Sidmouth, Devon, Stan is supported to continue enjoying the things he loves most. Sundial has also planted his willow fox, which now stands as a feature in the garden, and several of his woodcarvings are displayed in the home. His family remain closely involved in life at Sundial.

Stan’s legacy lives on through his displayed crafts, the life he is supported to lead today, and through his children. Fearless, practical, and family-focused, Stan has crafted a legacy with his own two hands.

His children summed it up best, “Dad is a true naturalist, with a huge gift for understanding animals and the land. He’s a top human being — and we all agree.”

If you would like to learn more about Sundial Care Home, please visit https://www.sundialcare.com/activities-in-care/

Scottish Traditions Shared at Hatherleigh Nursing Home’s Burns Night Celebration,

Hatherleigh Nursing Home near Okehampton, Devon, recently turned their Belvedere Household lounge into a Scottish castle-inspired setting for a Burns Night celebration.

The team thoughtfully selected decorations to create an engaging experience for the home’s family members (residents). Tables were draped with tartan table runners and cloths, with each place setting finished with a matching napkin folded into a fan. Candlesticks sat at the centre of the tables and hung from the ceiling, creating soft mood lighting throughout the lounge. Faux furs were draped around the room, alongside decorative antlers and wooden logs kindly lent by a relative of the home. Table centrepieces of ferns and foliage, finished with tartan ribbons, added the final touches.

As with all cultural events at Hatherleigh, the Kitchen Team prepared a menu of traditional Scottish cuisine which included haggis, neeps and tatties, cock-a-leekie soup, a basket of bread rolls, Glamorgan cheese and leek sausages, followed by cranachan and shortbread. Relatives were also invited to join their loved ones and share the meal together. The North Devon Nursing Home focuses on providing warm, nourishing meals that support good nutrition, using locally sourced meats and fresh ingredients as part of their everyday menu.

Hatherleigh Nursing Home regularly plans culturally inclusive events that reflect individual interests and life experiences. These cultural celebrations encourage social interaction, positive mealtime experience and wellbeing, while supporting individuals maintain a strong sense of identity. Using familiar tastes, smells, sounds and textures allows family members to take part in ways that suit their needs, including those with complexities and those who may be on a cognitive journey.

 

If you would like to learn more about Hatherleigh Nursing Home, please visit https://www.hatherleighnursinghome.com/live-with-us/activities-in-care/

North Devon Care Home unite to send birthday cards after BBC story sparks heartfelt response

A story shared by the BBC this week struck a chord with the team at Heanton Nursing Home, a home in North Devon that supports people with complex needs, prompting an immediate and heartfelt response from everyone in the home.

The article told the story of a little girl called Amelia, who has spent much of her young life in and out of hospital, facing more challenges than any child should have to. The family shared with the BBC how receiving birthday cards would mean a great deal to Amelia, giving her hope and reminding her of the support around her, after she set herself the ambitious goal of receiving 8,000 cards for her 8th birthday in an attempt to break the UK record.

When the team at Heanton read the piece, they knew straight away they wanted to be involved.

One team member in particular, Noufal, helped spark the idea to get involved. He spoke with the home’s administrator, Sabrina, who quickly took it forward. Within hours, Sabrina was out at the shops, buying one of every birthday card on the shelf so that everyone could take part. As more people joined in, she even went back out again to buy additional cards, making sure no one was left out.

From there, the whole home got behind the idea. Every team member joined in, alongside the people who live at Heanton, fondly referred to as family members by the home.

For many family members, writing birthday cards was just as meaningful as it was enjoyable. For people living with a Dementia, activities like this feel deeply familiar. They draw on life experiences many people have carried with them for years, marking birthdays, choosing kind words and doing something thoughtful for someone else. These are routines many people have carried out throughout their lives, and returning to them can bring a sense of comfort and purpose.

Holding a card, writing a message and signing their name gave family members the chance to connect with a familiar role, that of being a friend, a neighbour, or someone who cares, it allowed them to take part as people with a lifetime of experiences to share, rather than being defined by a diagnosis. The atmosphere was calm, purposeful and full of conversation, with plenty of smiles along the way.

The cards are now all written, sealed and carefully packed, ready to arrive in time for Amelia’s birthday.

Home manager Abigail Denford said: “It was one of those moments where everyone just came together naturally. Our family members loved being involved, and the team didn’t hesitate for a second. It reminded us how powerful small, familiar acts of kindness can be, not just for the person receiving them, but for everyone taking part too.”

Moments like this reflect how important it is to Heanton to stay connected to the community. Whether that’s heading out for a coffee, welcoming neighbours into the home for a BBQ, or even coming together to help make a little girl’s birthday wish come true. These connections matter, because they remind everyone that life at Heanton is lived alongside the world around them, held close rather than set apart.

To read more about the events and people at Heanton –  News & Blogs – Heanton Nursing Home – Devon Nursing Home

Sundial Care Home Crafts Christmas Cards for Local School

Sundial Care Home, near Sidmouth Devon, have enjoyed crafting handmade Christmas cards for the children at Tipton St John Primary School as part of their ongoing connection with the local community.

Residents, who the home fondly refers to as “family members”, took time to craft, stencil and write messages in the cards, wishing each key stage a Merry Christmas from everyone at the home. For many, writing and sending Christmas cards has been a routine part of the festive season, and this activity has encouraged family members to continue that tradition.

Family member Marion and team member Liz Hunt took a walk to Tipton St John Primary School to hand-deliver the cards. Children from the school have visited Sundial Care Home in previous years at Christmas time to sing carols, and have also made Christmas and birthday cards, helping to build a familiar and lasting connection between the two generations. The school is already planning its next visit, with pupils looking forward to coming into the home to read to the family members.

These intergenerational activities support family members in remaining a part of their community and sharing traditions with local children supports a sense of purpose, belonging and continued participation in community life.

If you would like to learn more about Sundial Care Home, please visit https://www.sundialcare.com/activities-in-care/

National Grief Awareness Week. The Grief That Starts Before Goodbye

Grief is not a single moment. It isn’t just the final breath, the last phone call, or the quiet closing of a door.  Grief can begin long before goodbye, long before we even have the words to name it.

For many, grief arrives as a slow unravelling, not a sudden strike, but a quiet, physical breaking that aches through the body long before the heart understands why. It comes in waves that feel confusing and lonely, the shock that something is changing, the denial that whispers maybe it’s not as bad as it seems, the anger that flares at the unfairness of it all, the bargaining with life, doctors, hope itself. Then come the heavy days of depression, the weary acceptance, and eventually, gently the integration, when grief becomes something we fold into our lives instead of fight against. These seven stages don’t follow rules or order. They loop, repeat, collide. Grief is messy because love is messy.

And nowhere is this more true than in dementia.

The grief of losing someone who is still here

When someone we love is living with a Dementia, we lose them in pieces.

The person we once knew, their stories, their jokes, the way they said our name, slowly fades away. You find yourself grieving a laugh that no longer comes, a conversation that now circles endlessly, the spark in their eyes that used to recognise you in an instant.

It is a grief that feels almost invisible, because the world often expects grief to follow death. But here, death has not come, only the quiet, painful vanishing of the person you remember. And that raises a question many carry in their hearts - is this grief any different from the grief that follows death?

In truth, it isn’t.

The pain is real. The loss is real. The longing is real.

It is grief in slow motion, stretched across months or years, demanding a different kind of strength, the strength to keep loving with your whole heart, even as the person you love fades before your eyes.

As National Grief Awareness Week approaches, it encourages us to recognise this quieter grief for what it is. The theme “Growing with Grief” reminds us that grief doesn’t fade just because someone is still here. Instead, we grow around the ache. We adjust our hearts, reshape our routines, and learn to love the person in front of us while mourning the person they used to be.

In the everyday moments, grief lies quietly

In social care, grief isn’t rare or loud, it lives quietly in the day-to-day. It appears in the trembling smile of a son who repeats himself again and again, trying to hold back the grief of knowing his Dad no longer remembers the world they once shared.  In the soft sigh of a wife watching the person she married drift further into a world she cannot enter.  In the long pause before a carer answers the same question again, and again, and again - with kindness, because they know it isn’t really the question that matters, but the reassurance behind it.

These moments rarely make headlines, but they shape the days of those who love, and those who care.

Within this grief, something else grows too.  A tenderness that wasn’t there before. A fierce patience. A love that holds on, even through the cracks and the hurt.

Families learn to hold on to the moments that are still left - a warm hand held tightly, a flicker of recognition, a shared song that somehow still reaches the heart. They are small moments, but they become everything.

You don’t have to carry grief alone

National Grief Awareness Week is a reminder that grief isn’t something we should carry alone. When we talk about it, it becomes a little lighter. Stories connect us. Sharing brings comfort.

The Good Grief Trust continues to shine a light for anyone walking through loss, whether that loss is sudden, expected, complicated, or stretched across years of dementia.  No one should feel isolated in their grief, especially when their heart feels fragile.

This week is a chance to reach out, to talk, to really listen, and to give your grief some room, not to fix it or make it disappear, but to let a little hope grow alongside it.

National Grief Awareness Week runs from 2nd–8th December 2025

 

 For more information about Evolve Care Group: www.evolvecaregroup.com/contact-us

 

 

A Remembrance Day Tribute: Corporal Pete Shepherd’s Legacy Lives On

On Remembrance Day, we pause to honour former Corporal Pete Shepherd, because for him, service didn’t end when the uniform was folded away. It became part of who he is.

Pete joined the Royal Corps of Transport in 1965 at age 20. Over 12 years, he served five tours in Northern Ireland, including high-risk bomb disposal work during The Troubles. His courage in the face of danger helped lay the foundations for modern bomb disposal techniques. Pete also served in Germany and Bahrain.

Decades later, Pete was diagnosed with PTSD, a reminder of the long-term impact of military service. His story highlights the importance of charities like the Felix Fund, which support the mental health of bomb disposal personnel.

Despite hardships, Pete fondly recalls light-hearted moments, from babysitting a rabbit to mischievous regimental pranks. For his service, he received the General Service Medal with Northern Ireland clasp.

In 1971, Pete met and married Sally just two months after meeting – a love story that has lasted 53 years. After leaving the Army, he worked for 30 years at a Spam board factory, showing the same dedication he brought to military life.

Now living with a Dementia, Pete has also faced cancer and major heart surgery. His daughter Claire describes the heartbreak of placing him in care, saying, “Watching his dementia progress feels like constant grief.”

Life at Heanton

Since moving into Heanton Nursing Home in April 2025, Pete has been supported with care that honours his identity. His room is filled with military memorabilia, and he’s still proudly referred to as “Sergeant Shepherd.” His salutes and discipline reflect the deep imprint of his service, offering a sense of continuity even as his memory fades.

Dementia and Complex Care, Shaped by Identity

Heanton Nursing Home, based in North Devon, specialises in supporting adults living on complex journeys, including Dementia, mental health conditions and other long-term needs requiring compassionate and consistent care. Focusing on truly understanding each person, their history, identity and what matters to them – enabling the right support without restraint or sedation.

At Heanton, we believe no one is "challenging" when their needs are met with compassion, understanding and their independence is encouraged. At Heanton Nursing Home, life continues with dignity, choice and purpose.

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To read the full story please visit Honouring Identity in Dementia: A Devon Veteran’s Story - HeantonNursing Home

Nursing Home Celebrates Diwali, The Festival of Lights

Hatherleigh Nursing Home in Okehampton, Devon, celebrated Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, with a day dedicated to culture, cuisine, and community.

The home, which supports individuals on a cognitive journey, marked the occasion with traditional food, music, dancing, and colourful decorations. Team members from the Hindu community shared their culture with family members (residents) and colleagues, creating an inclusive and engaging experience for everyone.

Members of the kitchen team, Gurjeet and Jisho, prepared a delicious menu of traditional Indian dishes, including sweet and sour cauliflower, beef curry with vegetable rice, chickpea curry, and vermicelli pudding — all of which were enjoyed by everyone.

The team transformed the dining room and lounge with colourful decorations and lights, creating a welcoming and immersive space where family members, team members, and visitors could come together. Everyone enjoyed watching a traditional Hindu dance performance by a team member, while others came in on their day off and brought their children along, adding an intergenerational element to the celebration.

The Devon Nursing Home said “We’re proud to have such a diverse team and to share in the spirit of Diwali - a time of light, renewal and community. Wishing happiness and peace to all who mark the occasion.”

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

Sundial Care Home Hosts Coffee Morning in Support of Hospice Care

Sundial Care Home located near Sidmouth, Devon recently held a coffee morning in support of Hospice Care. The coffee morning created a warm, relaxed atmosphere in the home, filled with conversation over cake and community!

Hospice Care previously supported the care home by attending their Summer Fair with a popular tombola stall, and this coffee morning offered a wonderful opportunity to return and show support for each other, strengthening connections within the care community.

Sundial’s kitchen team baked a rich coffee and walnut cake, and a classic Victoria sponge with whipped cream and fresh raspberries picked straight from the care home’s gardens, where the gardening club has been busy growing a variety of fruit and vegetables.

Team members and volunteers at the home supported family members (residents) to join in conversations in the homes dining area, where a table was laid with a variety of cakes and snacks to choose from along with tea and coffee.

Sundial Care Home continues to strengthen their relationships within their local, and care community. The care home organises an array of events annually, welcoming relatives, members of the community and other local organisations. The homes model of care highlights the importance of human connection, continuing independence and sustaining a strong community presence that creates a true home-from-home environment. The coffee morning with Hospice Care was an example of this ethos, bringing people together to enjoy good company, homemade goods, and meaningful conversation, all while supporting an important local cause.

If you would like to learn more about Sundial Care Home, please visit https://www.sundialcare.com/lifes-journey-continued/

North Devon Care Home Welcomes Families for a Summer BBQ

Heanton Nursing Home brought a feel-good summer event for its residents (fondly referred to as family members) and their relatives with a summer BBQ. The event, hosted in the home’s beautiful garden, was a great success, with many relatives taking time off work to be there.

The BBQ served up some seriously tasty, locally sourced meats thanks to Reeds Butchers in Braunton, fresh, flavourful, and a real hit! This wasn’t just a one-off either, locally sourced meats have been added to the main menu! It’s a recent change the home is very excited about! The kitchen team love working with such great quality ingredients, and it’s already making a difference at mealtimes. There was also a great selection of 0% alcohol drinks on offer, which went down really well with everyone there. Alongside plenty of lawn games for everyone to enjoy.

The home recognises the importance of meaningful time with loved ones, and providing opportunities for families to enjoy the outdoors together is always met with warmth. It’s a simple but meaningful way to support people’s wellbeing and help maintain strong family connections.

The Home Manager Abigail Denford said “It was such a lovely afternoon. Seeing families enjoying time together, sharing food, and having a few laughs in the garden. It reminded me just how important the simple, everyday things are, like having a BBQ on a sunny day. If you were in your own home and the sun was shining, you’d probably do exactly that. So why shouldn’t we do it here, too? This is our home, our family."

The Heanton team put so much care and heart into bringing the event to life, it’s clear this place means more to them than just a job.

 

Sun, Sea and Surfboards – Ilfracombe Nursing Home’s Summer Garden Party

Edenmore Nursing Home recently celebrated the warm weather with a summer garden party, complete with inflatable instruments, a colourful array of decorations and a hula skirt or 2! The North Devon nursing home, close to the seaside, involved the residents (known as family members) and their families, as well as inviting the community to join the festivities

The Ilfracombe Nursing Home hosted the beachboys themed garden party in the outdoor space in front of the home, with team members spending the morning decorating it with flags, balloons, wetsuits and surfboards (before adorning their best Hawaii outfits) for family members to be surprised when the party started in the afternoon! As well as being treated to mocktails under parasols, there was inflatable limbo that some family members chose to join in with, all while enjoying the music from DJ Ricky.

Home Manager Gayle shared ‘we had an absolutely amazing afternoon, the weather, BBQ, DJ Ricky were fab, thank you to everyone who helped set up and celebrate with us!’

Edenmore offers a variety of activities for family members to join in with at their own pace, including painting, flower arranging, and light exercise classes, the summer garden party is just one example of these activities!

To find out more, please read about Edenmore’s Activities in Care HERE

Rain or Shine, Nursing Home’s Annual BBQ Welcomes Loved Ones

Hatherleigh Nursing Home in Okehampton, Devon, held its annual family BBQ for its relatives, friends and family members (residents). This event is usually held in the nursing homes modern outdoor living space, however despite the unpredictable Devon weather, the BBQ still went ahead in full force – this time indoors. Home Manager Ashley commented, “It takes more than a storm to dampen spirits at Hatherleigh!”.

The purpose built nursing home welcomed around 40 relatives into their indoor living spaces. Chef, Faye, cooked up a delicious indoor BBQ grill with burgers, sausages, and an array of salads for everyone to enjoy. “I’ve never seen it so packed here, the atmosphere was brilliant, everyone tucked into the BBQ and ice cream whilst it was chucking it down outside, everyone was laughing about it,” said Administrator, Tamsin.

Cold N Rolled was also welcomed back after last year’s success, a unique, family-run business offering a fun and interactive ice cream experience. Their setup in the doorway of the home’s cinema room allowed those to watch their desserts being freshly crafted with an array of different flavours and toppings to choose from.

Hatherleigh Nursing Homes annual family BBQ continues to be a success, rain or shine each year, bringing loved ones together and using that time to strengthen bonds within their care community. The event reflects the home’s commitment to delivering well-led, meaningful experiences as part of a responsive approach to family members needs and preferences.

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

A Day in the Life - From Domestic to Care Assistant at Devon Care Home

At Edenmore Nursing Home in Ilfracombe, care is more than a job – it’s a community, a purpose, and a chance to be part of something bigger than yourself. Every act of kindness, every shared smile, and every moment of support adds up to something truly meaningful. Our team is united by the desire to make a real difference in people’s lives. Every member brings their own story, their own spark, and their own strengths, working together to create a place of dignity, compassion, and belonging. Being a care assistant at Edenmore means knowing that what you do each day matters – not just to those you care for, but to the whole community.

Daisy is one such person - this is the story of someone who began by keeping things clean and tidy in the background, playing a vital role in creating a safe, welcoming environment. Over time, she found her purpose on the frontline of care, growing into a different role where she continues to support others and make a meaningful impact. Her journey shows that at Edenmore, every role matters – and everyone has the opportunity to grow and find meaning in the work they do.

When someone starts at Edenmore, regardless of their position whether in care, domestic, maintenance or any other role, everyone takes part in the same training. This shared foundation means that everyone understands the core values of compassion, dignity, and person-centred care. It also opens up the possibility for growth and change. If someone, like Daisy, discovers a different passion or calling after joining, they already have the knowledge and support to explore that new path.

Daisy’s Journey in to Care

Having moved from Birmingham to North Devon in 2023, Daisy joined the Edenmore team at just 18 as a Domestic Assistant, keeping the home clean, safe and homely. As a Domestic Assistant, you naturally begin forming relationships with the people living in the home but without being directly involved in their personal care. Over time, Daisy felt drawn to becoming more involved; to support the family members she’d built connections with in a more meaningful and personal way. It was this connection that led her to explore a new career path in care.

Foundations of Care

Daisy first spoke with Gayle, Edenmore’s Home Manager, and shared that she felt she would find greater fulfilment working in a care role. Gayle encouraged her to explore this further, and she was soon put forward for shadow shifts, where she joined a new team - learning the role while working together towards the shared goal of maintaining dignity, encouraging independence and a continuation of life for family members.

A Typical Day at Edenmore

Mornings

‘A day to day at Edenmore begins at 7:30am when we take handover from the nurse in charge and find out everything that happened on their evening shift. I do enjoy working both night and day shifts so sometimes I'm hearing from the night or the day team. Handover is both a lovely way to check in with the team before the shift over a coffee or tea. This could include a new family member joining, an upcoming event that day, or that the needs have changed for a family member.

If I am on a day shift, we support all the family members with getting up when they are ready (there are no set times, we’re not an institute we’re a home). For some family members I provide personal care in the form of supporting to take a shower, a bath or a flannel wash. My goal around personal care is to make that family member feel as safe, dignified and comfortable as possible, as I can only imagine how daunting and embarrassing it must be. It is important to me that family members have the option to choose their own clothes to wear, whilst anticipating their needs and wants to the best of my ability. I will then assist that person getting dressed and to look and feel their best, which could involve a shave for the gents, or a new hairstyle for the ladies. Doing the ladies and gents hair is one of my favourite parts of personal care, I love being able to encourage family members to have a pamper, the ladies particularly like having their makeup and nails done.

For some of our family members, communication can be in different forms, so the importance of building trust is really important. Some of our family members are non-verbal, or have minimal communication abilities, which makes building this trust sometimes a bit delicate as everyone is different. A lot of supporting our non-verbal family members is about active listening and creating a safe, comfortable and supportive environment using mindful communication techniques such as paying close attention to body language, using eye contact to show I am engaged with them, and being aware of my posture as to not come across as imposing.

During breakfast we often sit all together and enjoy music and chats with meals, which is not only a great way to encourage family members to eat, but I’ve also had some of my most memorable laughs that way too! A lot of our family members require support with their food and drinks, this can vary from supporting them with eating their meal, to spoon-loading or nurturing. I have found that supporting someone with their meal is a great way to connect and start building trust too. Whilst some family members sit close together, hold hands and chat the whole way through, some of our more introverted family members prefer more space and time to connect. A particularly rewarding part of my role is when you can actually see that with every word over a meal, it becomes easier for family members to open up and form their own connections.

Another really important responsibility of mine is using Caredocs, a system to record daily notes to document the morning for each family member I support, if it wasn’t documented, it didn’t happen. I do this throughout the day, normally after breakfast, mid-afternoon and just before my shift ends - it takes about 2-3 hours out of my 12-hour shifts to complete. Not only is this part of our compliance, but it allows us to share what the family members get up to, as well as feeding back to the clinical team about any changes/concerns/thoughts that we noticed throughout the day.

Afternoon

Lunch is different every day, with alternatives served for those who may not like, or cannot eat the main options. For our family members on soft or pureed diets, we always have wonderfully decorated desserts and main meals. We serve snacks and drinks of family members' choice throughout the day, and we love helping them to eat a well-balanced diet and keep hydrated.

After lunch, some family members choose to rest, while others enjoy a quiet moment with the TV, a good book in the Edenmore library, or a creative activity – always with a cup of tea close by. The afternoons offer plenty of ways to stay engaged in ways that feel familiar and meaningful. Some of our gentlemen enjoy painting, building, or helping out with maintenance tasks – one even recently "interviewed" for a spot on the maintenance team and helped paint the hallways. Many of our ladies find comfort and purpose in folding laundry, tidying tables, or doing the dishes – continuing the everyday routines that feel like home. There are also themed music sessions, special visits (including some unforgettable ones from the local zoo), and even the occasional singalong led by Manager Gayle herself - depending on your taste in music, of course!

For family members with more complex needs or limited communication, we focus on sensory experiences which include music, lights, textures, or spending time in the garden. When the weather’s nice, we love going out into the Ilfracombe community using our car, and even in colder months, a trip to the park in a big coat can be a lovely change of scenery.

Evening

When it comes to a night shift it's all about making sure our family members feel safe and comfortable in their home, and helping them to get relaxed and unwind before bed. This looks different for every family member and sometimes midnight dancing and singing is what they want to do!

Night shifts involve supporting everyone to reposition in bed, help everyone use the toilet and stay hydrated overnight. This can also involve comforting some of our family members as the switch between day and night can be a little unsettling at times, so we keep things gentle and soothing.

Either way, night or day, there is always something to keep you busy, and always something to be done, at least at Edenmore we can have a laugh and a cuppa whilst doing it!

The Heart of Care

It's been a whale of a journey so far for me at Edenmore, understandably with lots of ups and downs which is something to be expected working in such a fast-paced environment with lots going on! The most challenging part of my role is the emotional demand, as seeing family members health decline as they move on in their journey is really hard. Being so involved in people’s lives, it is very easy to grow attached to them and their wonderful relatives who visit often, and it can be really upsetting to come in to work one day and hear they won’t be back. We’re often invited to funerals, and we receive the most thoughtful thank you cards which means the world to us because it reminds us just how important our job really is.

Although I think it is such an honour, and so beautiful to guide and support people on their final journeys, it really does take a toll sometimes. It is a blessing to feel things so deeply, and I have learnt it is never just me, there is always someone to wipe my tears when it gets too much and remind the team that we all have each other.

Care isn't for everyone, and it is definitely something you have to love doing, day in and day out. I admire each and every one of my team members who work so hard to support the home (and keep up with my drama of course!). My team's love for the family members and each other is uplifting and I couldn't think of a better group of people to work with. We have made friends for life and can be a challenging but rewarding job, it's so important that you work together and get on.

But honestly? Our family members are the ones who make every day that little bit brighter. We’re so lucky to spend time with such incredible people. To learn about their lives, their careers, their travels, their quirks. No two days are ever the same because no two people are. And that’s what makes this job so special.’

To find out more  about Edenmore see here: https://www.edenmorenursinghome.com/