Sidmouth Care Home Keeps Active with Fitness Sessions

Sundial Care Home, which sits near the town of Sidmouth, has been enjoying regular exercise sessions with G-Fitness, helping family members (residents) keep moving and stay active.

Instructor Shannon, uses a selection of gentle exercises and games that encourage family members to keep moving and stay engaged. These include activities with red bouncy balls, which family members raise above their heads, throw and catch them, and pass them between one another. Shannon has a natural way of motivating anyone who joins in and often inspires the team to continue encouraging movement with family members even when she is not there.

The sessions are designed to support movement and mobility while also creating an enjoyable atmosphere. Exercise and keeping mobile can help people maintain strength, coordination and confidence, and the sessions offer a simple way for family members to remain active in a way that feels social and uplifting.

One family member who spent many years working as a PE teacher particularly enjoys the sessions, as they reconnect her with something that was once a big part of her life.

The residential care home in East Devon offers a range of regular activities to keep family members engaged in everyday life, including their gardening club, art sessions and community outings, as well as yearly community events held in the home’s three-acre grounds.

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

 

North Devon Nursing Home Dresses Up for World Book Day

Edenmore Nursing Home in North Devon recently marked World Book Day by dressing up as well-known characters from books and sharing Harry Potter-themed cakes.

Team members wore costumes inspired by Where’s Wally, Little Red Riding Hood and Alice in Wonderland, and there was also a special visit from ‘Dino’ the dinosaur, a purple inflatable dinosaur worn by one of the team!

Those in costume visited all family members (residents) throughout the home, making sure that those who prefer to stay in bed, or are unable to move from bed, were included in the fun. Home Manager Gayle’s grandson, Flynn – whose mum Stacey is also a part of the team – joined in by dressing up and spending time saying hello to everyone. Some family members also chose to take part in dressing up by wearing themed hats.

A table in one of the lounges was set out with a selection of books, including classics such as The Lion King, Peter Pan and Harry Potter. For those living with a Dementia, books from earlier years can sometimes evoke familiar and comforting feelings around reading these books themselves or reading to their children.

Many family members at the home enjoy reading and appreciate simple moments such as a cup of tea and a good book while relaxing in their armchairs by a window in the lounge or conservatory, where they can catch views of the sea.

There were also Harry Potter-themed cakes made especially by the home’s kitchen team which everyone enjoyed.

Home Manager Gayle shared: ‘Everyone loved dressing up as characters, and Dino the dinosaur was a big hit. It was an afternoon of a lot of chatting and laughter!’

Dino the Dinosaur visiting family members

Family Members & Team Members in Lounge & Harry Potter Themed Treats

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

Heanton Nursing Home: A Career in North Devon That Became a Place of Belonging

Sometimes the most important part of care is not what you say, but how well you can see the world through another person’s eyes. At Heanton Nursing Home in North Devon, that understanding shapes everyday life. For Pamela “Pam” Manning, working in dementia and complex care has taught her that distress often comes from fear, loss or confusion that feels completely real to the person experiencing it. Responding to that emotional reality, rather than correcting it, can be the gentlest form of care.

Pam did not begin her working life in social care. After many years working as a funeral arranger, she and her husband moved to North Devon, a place they had long loved from holidays in Croyde. “Retirement was meant to be the dream, but after a while we both realised, we needed a reason to get up, get out and meet people again,” she says.

Hearing about a nearby dementia care home, she applied for a part-time role despite having no previous experience. “I remember thinking, I’ve never done care before, how hard could it be?” she said with a smile. “I soon learned that care is one of the most skilled and meaningful roles you can do.”

Her motivation was deeply personal. Having seen how dementia had affected someone close to her, she carried with her determination. “My lovely uncle Bill had been in a Dementia Home the very year we moved and had sadly passed away, my cousin sent me photos of him, and he didn't look like Uncle, he was unshaven and unkempt with a blank expression. It broke my heart. He had been a proud smart man. After his funeral I vowed that somehow, I was going to make a difference and learn about Dementia in memory of my uncle. Hello Heanton.”

Pam remembers her first day as though it were yesterday. Among the first people she spent time with was Lillian, a resident whose anxiety and restlessness often led her to walk the hallways for long periods during the day. “We must have walked those hallways 15 or 20 times,” she recalls. “I remember thinking she must be as bored as I was, but there was something about Lily that kept me curious. That’s what made me come back.”

Then one moment changed everything. Lillian suddenly stopped and pointed towards the floor, admiring something Pam could not see. “Flowers,” she said, “beautiful blue flowers.” Instead of correcting her, Pam bent down, pretended to pick them up, and suggested they take them home to place in a vase before baking a cake for the children returning from school.

“The smile on her face and the warm twinkle in her sea-blue eyes melted my heart quicker than ice cream on a hot beach,” Pam recalls. “Then Lily reached out, grabbed my hand and said softly, ‘Come on, let’s go home.’ That was the moment I understood the word connection.”

That experience shaped the way Pam approaches dementia care. “I realised it was because I didn’t say, ‘There’s nothing there, Lily.’ I stepped into her reality. I lived those hours in her world, in her time, on her terms,” she explains. “That’s when everything changed between us. She trusted me. Over time, she became more relaxed, more confident and happier in herself. I would go home thinking about it, being in her reality was helping her feel calmer.””

It was through experiences like this that Pam began to understand what is often described in dementia care as the careful use of therapeutic lies.

The phrase can sound stark. But in practice, it is not about deception. It is about responding to the emotional reality someone is living in. Validation means acknowledging the feeling without correcting the belief, for example, allowing someone to talk about their mum without challenging whether she is still alive. A therapeutic lie goes further. It offers reassurance that may not be factually accurate, but prevents immediate distress, such as gently saying, “She’s safe, you don’t need to worry,” when someone is panicked or grieving.

The distinction matters. In dementia and complex care, repeatedly correcting someone who cannot retain new information can cause them to experience shock or loss again and again. In those moments, strict truth-telling can unintentionally cause harm. For Pam, therapeutic reassurance is never automatic. It is considered, proportionate and rooted in knowing the person. The question is always the same: what response will reduce distress and protect dignity right now?

Now, five years on from her first day at Heanton, Pam believes the most important lesson remains simple: meaningful care is built on connection. “This is not just a job,” she says. “Heanton to me is home. They don’t need me; I simply need them.”  

To read the full story : Heanton Nursing Home: A Career in North Devon That Became a Place of Belonging - Heanton Nursing Home

 

Supporting Peter – A Valued Member of Ilfracombe Nursing Home’s Community

Long-term family member (resident) Peter is a deeply valued part of life at Edenmore Nursing Home. Known for his sharp wit and dry sense of humour, he is quick to share a laugh or smile, bringing warmth and character to the care home. At Edenmore, Peter’s care journey is centred on helping him continue to feel like himself, with a strong focus on maintaining his identity and staying connected to the things that matter most to him.

Peter’s Journey

Before settling in Ilfracombe, Peter lived a full and adventurous life. After a short stint in the army, he trained as a civil engineer, a career that took him across the world. He worked in Nigeria, where his daughters Sarah and Louise spent their childhood, and also in Australia, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, China, Mongolia and Kathmandu!

Throughout those years, Peter was known as a fun, generous father and very much the life and soul of the party. His late wife Ann, who he called Annapeg, was one of five children. Her large family meant lively and loud get-togethers, filled with conversation and Peter’s unmistakable, booming laughter.

Later in life, Peter and Ann chose to settle in North Devon, close to her birthplace of Braunton and the coast they both loved.

Around eight years ago, Peter was diagnosed with vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. While he continued to live with support for some time, the grief of losing Ann in January 2023, who had been his primary carer, had a deep effect on him. Following a short stay in supported living, it became clear that full-time support would be a better fit for Peter.

Since moving to Edenmore, he has become a valued part of the home’s community. For a time, he took immense pride in his role as an honorary member of the maintenance team! When a position was advertised, Peter was keen to be interviewed and gave a fantastic interview. He regularly helped with small but meaningful tasks, such as sorting paperwork, supporting basic maintenance jobs and taking part in painting projects, including helping to paint a wall in Lundy House, one of the home’s households.

Peter also enjoyed accompanying team members on errands, such as pharmacy visits or supply runs. On one occasion, he joined a team member on a trip to Bristol to collect supplies in the work vehicle and was notably helpful throughout the day. Today, he continues to offer to help in the office with paperwork and administrative tasks!

Known for his famous cheekiness, Peter is quick to make others smile. A familiar exchange with the team involves him asking a question, listening carefully to the answer, and then responding with a cheeky, ‘No one likes a smarty pants.’ On another occasion, he surprised everyone in the lounge by speaking in a Yorkshire accent and greeting people with, ‘Ay up me duck.’ When asked if he had ever been to Yorkshire, he happily admitted that he hadn’t.

Being in Devon has remained grounding for Peter, offering familiar surroundings and a strong sense of place and belonging. The team have found that visits to the seaside offer a calming effect for Peter. Whether walking along the promenade, sitting quietly by the water or watching the waves roll in, time by the sea brings him a sense of contentment and focus. Team members have seen that he returns more relaxed and settled following these outings.

Peter also particularly loves when the home has visitors. Just this Christmas, children from the local school came into the home to sing carols and hand out handmade cards. Peter gave each of them a wrapped gift and sweets and thanked them personally for coming. For Peter, children have always brought joy into his life. He is now the proud grandfather to seven grandchildren!

Home Manager Gayle shared: ‘Seeing Peter feel settled, valued and purposeful – whether he’s helping with tasks around the home or enjoying time by the sea – is incredibly rewarding. He’s a real character, and we’re very proud to have him as part of our Edenmore family.’ 

Edenmore Nursing Home provides 24-hour nursing and residential care in Ilfracombe, North Devon. 

To read more stories about the people living and working at Edenmore Nursing Home, please visit https://www.edenmorenursinghome.com/latest-news/

Hedgehog Tales at Hatherleigh Nursing Home

Hatherleigh Nursing Home, near Okehampton in Devon, recently welcomed Greatfield Hedgehog Rescue into their home for an engaging presentation all about hedgehogs.

Although the hedgehogs themselves were unable to attend, the session offered plenty to spark interest. The talk covered fascinating facts about hedgehogs, including the different types of hogs and how our native species, the European hedgehog, lives and hibernates here in the UK.

The home's Belvedere Lounge was set up so family members (residents) could sit comfortably and watch the presentation on the projector, creating a calm and relaxed atmosphere. Many of the family members are animal lovers, and the session offered a relaxed opportunity to take part if they wished, and learn a few interesting facts along the way.

With Devon ranked among the top five counties in the UK for hedgehog sightings, the presentation prompted conversations about seeing hedgehogs in gardens and on local walks, with many sharing their own memories of the countryside.

Sessions like this bring familiar topics into the home, encouraging natural conversation and reflection. At Hatherleigh Nursing Home, these simple, thoughtful activities help family members stay connected to their experiences and the community around them — all within the comfort of home.

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

Sundial Care Home Visits Sidmouth Donkey Sanctuary

Sundial Care Home, based in Tipton St John, Devon recently enjoyed a day out in the community with a visit to Sidmouth Donkey Sanctuary.

Family members (residents) travelled together to the next town over in the home’s eight-seater car, supported by team members and volunteers. The sanctuary, which provides lifelong care and rehabilitation for hundreds of rescued donkeys, is a familiar and much-loved destination for the care home, with them having arranged regular visits throughout the years.

Family members spent time walking around the paddocks, meeting the donkeys and learning about their individual stories. Being around animals can have a calming and therapeutic effect, which supports wellbeing by encouraging conversation, and creating relaxed opportunities for social interaction. No outing would be complete without time to enjoy a hot drink and sweet treat in the café, which looks out over the donkey paddocks and rolling Devon landscape.

At Sundial Care Home, supporting family members to remain active and engaged beyond the home is an important part of everyday life. Alongside outings to neighbouring towns such as Sidmouth and Ottery St Mary - which offer opportunities for family members to visit familiar places and enjoy local surroundings, the home also hosts annual events, welcoming the community into the heart of the home.

These opportunities are available for those who wish to take part and are a way to support wellbeing through social interaction, and shared experiences.

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

Edenmore Nursing Home Celebrates Valentine’s with its Vintage Sweet Cart

Edenmore Nursing Home in North Devon marked Valentine’s Day with its much-loved vintage sweet shop cart. The traditional cart, a familiar feature within the home, was redressed for the occasion with red love hearts, striped paper bags, and jars filled with classic pick-and-mix favourites.

From jelly sweets to gums and chocolate treats, the selection was chosen with familiarity in mind, flavours and textures many of the family members (residents) would recognise from traditional sweet shops.

Throughout the day, family members were encouraged to visit the cart, fill their own paper bags and enjoy a little something sweet. The sweet cart created opportunities for movement, conversation and reminiscing about childhood trips to the sweet shop, which could evoke positive feelings or emotions.

In the afternoon, music filled the lounge with well-known tunes from the past. For those who wanted to, there was dancing together and holding hands, either up on their feet or from the comfort of their chairs.

Home Manager Gayle shared: ‘It’s lovely to see everyone choosing their favourites and chatting about the sweets they used to enjoy. A few even asked if they needed to pay, which made us smile – it felt just like a proper old sweet shop. Valentine’s Day for us isn’t about grand gestures, it’s about creating moments of comfort, familiarity and connection.’

Family members also enjoyed Valentine’s cookies and cupcakes decorated with pink icing and sprinkles for their tea which was prepared by the kitchen team!

Edenmore offers 24-hour nursing and residential care. To learn more about life at Edenmore, visit www.edenmorenursinghome.com

 

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

North Devon Nursing Home Throws Birthday Dance Party

Edenmore Nursing Home in Ilfracombe, North Devon, recently held a birthday celebration for one of its newest family members (the home’s fond term for residents), bringing people together for an afternoon filled with nostalgic music, dancing, and homemade cake.

Helen, described by her daughter as ‘a really fun lady with a wonderful sense of humour’, has been living at the North Devon Nursing home since December 2025, having moved into the home following a hospital stay for a period of respite. To mark her 73^rd birthday, the team arranged a celebration in the lounge. Helen wore a sparkly birthday badge, and everyone sang Happy Birthday as the team presented her with a homemade cake!

Music from across the decades set the tone for the afternoon. Songs such as Country Roads and Let’s Twist Again prompted smiles, singing and movement, with some family members choosing to dance together in the lounge while others joined in from their chairs, clapping or singing along.

The celebration reflected Edenmore’s approach to everyday life in the home, where people are supported to choose to take part in the ways which feel right for them, whether that’s being at the centre of the action or enjoying the atmosphere from a quieter area of the room.

Helen, who has a real fondness for singing, shared about the day, ‘It was one of the best days I have had in a long time!’

Home Manager Gayle shared, ‘For us, it doesn’t matter if you’re living in our home for a few weeks as you get back on your feet or moving in longer-term. For the time you are with us, we want you to feel at home, and we will make a fuss about special occasions like birthdays because that’s what makes each person feel loved and cared for.’

 

Edenmore Nursing Home offers 24-hour nursing care in Ilfracombe, North Devon, visit www.edenmorenursinghome.com for more information. 

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/

Christmas Mingle at Sundial Care Home Brings Music, Pony Cuddles and Father Christmas

Sundial Care Home, located in the heart of Tipton St John near Sidmouth, Devon, recently welcomed loved ones, friends, and both familiar and new faces for their Christmas Mingle. The afternoon featured a delicious festive spread prepared by the home’s Kitchen Team, alongside homemade goods brought in by team members, some of who came in specially on their days off to enjoy the event.

Zara King, gave a wonderful performance in the home’s lounge’s, whilst family members (residents) enjoyed an optional glass of bubbly and sang along with loved ones and the team. Gus, a Shetland Pony from Tiny Hooves Therapy Ponies Devon, made a special visit, spending time with family members individually and even going in the lift to visit those who preferred to remain in the comfort of their rooms. Mikyla, the home’s Administrator, shared, “Everyone loved it— family member Pauline, was in tears of joy!”.  

The home also welcomed Father Christmas to the party, (Maintenance Man, Matthew) who took time to visit each family member, chatting and handing out gifts. It was said a lot of the ladies liked the texture of his beard and family member Joan, even asked to try it on! With everybody n the home beautifully set for Christmas, the event created a warm and festive experience for family members and visitors.

Sundial Care Home, near Sidmouth, Devon, continues to nurture connections within its care community. By welcoming relatives of both current and former family members to events, the home offers a sense of familiarity and comfort, particularly during the festive season. Events such as the Christmas Mingle reflect Sundial’s caring, community-focused approach, ensuring everyone feels welcome and supported.

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

Ilfracombe’s Only Nursing Home Maintains Their ‘Good’ Rating in Latest CQC Report

Edenmore Nursing Home in North Devon, providing 24-hour nursing care, is thrilled to maintain their ‘Good’ rating in all five key areas following its latest inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The CQC found that Edenmore continues to provide care that is safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led, with inspectors noting that the team worked together well to provide safe care that met people’s individual needs and that relatives describe the care home’s team as ‘exemplary’ in the way they support their family members.

One of the inspection’s key findings was that Edenmore carefully assessed people’s individual health needs before they moved into the home. The home ensured that each person’s care, support and treatment could meet their needs and preferences, while also maximising independence and personal choice wherever possible.

Inspectors also found that the team members at Edenmore receive a thorough induction and ongoing training delivered both within the home and through the home’s care academy, Evolve Care Academy, based in Bristol.

One relative shared, ‘Staff are amazingly kind. Much more than I expected. They treat him so well. I see how they work with him and other residents. So much patience. He feels safe there.’

While there are residential homes in the town, Edenmore is the only home able to provide 24/7 registered nursing support.

Home Manager, Gayle Cooper, shared: ‘Receiving the news that we had kept our ‘Good’ rating was such a moment of pride and delight, reflecting the hard work and commitment from all the team. The team were very happy to hear the news, they all felt really respected, appreciated and valued.’

To see Edenmore Nursing Home’s full report, this can be found on the CQC website.

🎄🎅🤶

For more information about Edenmore Nursing Home, visit www.edenmorenursinghome.com

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

 

 

Lighting Up the Sky and the Community at a North Devon Nursing Home

By the time the first firework burst above the trees at Heanton Nursing Home, the grounds were filled with families, children in bright coats and people arriving with umbrellas. There was laughter, conversation and that unmistakable sense of community.

Residents (who they fondly refer to as family members) were wrapped in blankets and supported outside so they could be part of it all. Seeing them among the crowd, smiling as the fireworks lit up the sky, was one of the highlights of the evening. Many visitors commented on how special it was to see everyone, young and old, sharing the night side by side.

The BBQ ran non-stop, with people queueing for hot food made on-site using locally sourced meats from Reeds Butchers in Braunton, the same butcher that provides the meals enjoyed by family members every day. “You can taste when something’s local,” one visitor said.

Several people mentioned they hadn’t planned to do anything for Bonfire Night this year but decided to come along after seeing Heanton’s invitation. What might have been an ordinary evening at home instead became a night filled with laughter and conversation. Local councillor Graham Bell attended with his family and spoke with team members and visitors throughout the evening, sharing that sense of community that filled the grounds.

By the end of the night, £226 had been raised, which will go directly towards making Christmas special for the family members who call Heanton home. As people began to leave, almost everyone said the same thing, that they hoped this would happen again next year.

Although Heanton is known in the community as a complex nursing home, evenings like this show there’s so much more to it than that. It is a home full of life, laughter and connection, a place where family members are supported to take part, and where the community is always welcome to join in.

It’s a reminder that complex care doesn’t mean life has to be lived apart.

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

Remembrance Day Creative Tribute at North Devon Nursing Home

Edenmore Nursing Home in Ilfracombe, North Devon honoured Remembrance Day with a week of meaningful activities designed to encourage reflection, creativity, and connection.

Family members – the home’s affectionate term for residents – took part in poppy-themed arts and crafts, painting and decorating handmade tributes which are now displayed throughout the home. On Remembrance Sunday, the home gathered together to watch the televised national service, offering a shared moment for those wishing to pay their respects.

Home Manager Gayle Cooper shared:

‘Remembrance Day holds deep significance for many of our family members – whether through personal memories, relatives who served, or simply the wish to pay tribute to those who gave so much. It is an emotional day for many, and we make sure to honour it in every way we can.’

Edenmore Nursing Home is the only nursing home in Ilfracombe, offering the reassurance of 24-hour nursing care so that help is always available when needed, without delays or waiting for support to arrive. 

To find out more, visit https://www.edenmorenursinghome.com/

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