Roberto's Chair Zumba Brings Joy to North Devon Care Home

Edenmore Nursing Home has been enjoying their Chair Zumba sessions from Robert ‘Roberto’ Campbell for a number of years now, with family members (residents) lighting up every time he walks through the door.

Roberto has been leading Zumba sessions for over 20 years, starting out by teaching people living with disabilities and church groups, where he saw first-hand the benefits of movement in combination with music. Believing people living in nursing and care homes could benefit from a similar approach, Roberto began taking his sessions into homes too.

Unlike a traditional Zumba class, where learning and following fixed routines may take centre stage, Roberto’s sessions at Edenmore use gentler movements and are shaped by the mood in the room, allowing him to adapt the pace and approach as he goes. They are more about supporting wellbeing with music and movement, rather than purely physical exercise.

Family members who choose to take part do so in their own way. Some tap their feet from their chairs or sit with their eyes closed, nodding along to the beat, while others sway hand-in-hand with someone beside them or get up on their feet. For many, music has the power to evoke positive and familiar feelings linked to their past, such as favourite songs from a happy time in their life.

Family members Harry, Diana, Carol and Anthony particularly love these afternoons. Although Anthony isn’t always able to dance up on his for feet for too long before getting tired, his feet start tapping and he starts singing as soon as he sees Roberto. Harry and Diana have a lovely dance together, talking and smiling at one another as they sway, holding each other’s hands.

One memorable afternoon, Carol decided to get up to stand at the front of the room and sing the song that was playing to everyone!

Sessions are held in one of the home’s lounges, with family members from Edenmore’s different households encouraged to come together and take part. The household model approach means people with similar care needs live in smaller communities within the wider home, while still having opportunities to spend time with people from other households.

Edenmore is also preparing to open its newest household, The Quays, which will welcome people who are self-funding.

Home Administrator Emma shared about these sessions, ‘Roberto is always so happy and vibrant. He doesn't just come in and put some music on. He is totally involved and talks to everyone, getting as many family members up dancing as he can. Even the team can’t resist joining in!’

Activities like these at Edenmore give family members different ways to spend an afternoon together and socialise, with the music and movement naturally prompting laughter, conversation and interaction.

 

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

Former Flight Engineer’s Life in the Skies Remembered

A former flight engineer whose career took him from aircraft hangars at Gatwick to the skies around the world has had his remarkable story put into writing by the team at Edenmore Nursing Home.

Born in July 1940, Colin was placed for adoption by his mother and spent his early childhood in foster care before moving to More Place War Nursery during the war. It was not a particularly happy period of his childhood, and one he has spoken little about with his loved ones. When Colin was five, however, his life changed for the better when he was adopted.

His adoptive parents lived in Kent and were an older couple who had sadly been unable to have children of their own.

Young Colin was quite mischievous, his daughter Lisa shared, ‘He once accidentally burned down the scout clubhouse!’ It’s not entirely clear how this happened, but it wasn’t deliberate and is a story now told fondly, with plenty of laughter.

Colin went on to become a flight engineer, a career that required considerable mathematical and technical knowledge. As Lisa explained, ‘In those days, I think someone could show an aptitude for something and, with a little luck and determination, progress from there.’ His career reflected both his natural ability and his determination to succeed.

Colin began his aviation career in 1964 with Ace Freighters at Gatwick Airport, working as a ground engineer on Lockheed Constellation aircraft before obtaining his Flight Engineer’s licence.

His career later took his young family to Zambia, where he worked on Hercules C130s, before returning to the UK and joining Laker Airways as a Flight Engineer on the Boeing DC-10.

Flying long-haul routes around the world, Colin combined his engineering knowledge with life as part of the flight crew. If an aircraft needed repair work after landing somewhere such as America or Barbados, he had the expertise to carry it out himself.

His daughter, Lisa, also has vivid memories of growing up around her dad’s career. She and her brothers would visit aircraft hangars, go aboard the planes and watch the ground engineers at work. On some flights, Lisa even travelled in the cockpit jump seat alongside her dad.

After Laker Airways went into administration, Colin later returned to flying with Dan-Air on the Boeing 727 and subsequently worked on Boeing 747s before joining Monarch Airlines as a Flight Engineer on the DC-10.

Today, Colin lives at Edenmore Nursing Home in Ilfracombe, where conversations about aircraft and his flying days remain one of the best ways for those around him to connect with him. Laker Airways, in particular, still holds a special place in his memories.

His aviation career is just one chapter of a much wider life story, which his family and the team at Edenmore have recently brought together – from Colin’s early childhood and family life to his love of gardening, Jaguars and dogs, and his life today at Edenmore.

To read Colin’s full story, visit: From Humble Beginnings to High-flyer: Colin’s Story

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

Pam’s World: Entering Altered Reality. An Insight from Edenmore Nursing Home

Understanding how to support someone living with a Dementia is not always straightforward. As memories disappear, the way a person experiences the world can shift, and what feels real to them may not match the present moment. This means we are sometimes navigating a reality that is different from our own.

This piece shares an insight into how care teams respond in those moments, focusing on something known as therapeutic lying, and why it can sometimes be the kindest approach. Through Pam’s story, we explore what it means to step into someone else’s reality to help them feel safe, understood and at ease, and why insisting on the ‘truth’ can sometimes cause unnecessary distress, rather than comfort.

Therapeutic Lies in Practice

A therapeutic lie is a thoughtful, compassionate response used to reduce anxiety and meet someone in their current reality. If a person asks for their mother, father or loved one, forgetting that they are no longer with us, correcting them may re-open grief or make the loss feel as though it is happening for the first time.

Softly reassuring them that their loved one has popped out to the shops can provide comfort and emotional safety. Alternatively, gentle redirection of the conversation, or asking if they would like to go for a walk, can help them focus on something else and reduce anxiety.

Rather than focusing on factual accuracy, therapeutic lying is about protecting someone’s emotional world. By not correcting or challenging their reality, we can reduce feelings of confusion or distress. Instead, we meet them where they are, offering reassurance and support so they can feel safe and understood.

Pam, 80 years young and living at Edenmore for just over four years, has a learning disability and lives with a Dementia. For her, comfort comes from a place that might surprise others but makes perfect sense within her world.

Reassurance, connection and touch are deeply important to Pam. She is soothed by holding hands and becomes anxious if she does not feel close to someone. When she feels overwhelmed, lying down with her favourite soft toys, especially Tony the squirrel, helps her settle.

When Pam was very young, she won Tony in a lucky dip, a story that she shares often with those around her. He has stayed with her ever since, becoming something she is deeply attached to. To Pam, Tony is not simply a soft toy, but an incredibly real and important relationship in her life.

For someone living with a Dementia, objects, people or routines may take on a strong emotional meaning, and these attachments can bring a sense of reassurance and familiarity.

Tony also plays an important role in supporting Pam’s health. If she does not feel like eating, the team will offer a little food to Tony first, which can often encourage her. If she doesn’t want to drink water, they will try pouring it into her small doll’s tea set and offer it to Tony, which can also gently prompt her to drink. These routines have been created by the team and come from their understanding of Pam’s history and what is most important to her.

When Tony’s stuffing began to come out, and his ears and arms became worn, there was a concern that losing him could cause Pam real upset. Clinical Lead Teresa, who enjoys sewing, took him home and carefully stitched new ears and arms onto him. Tony was returned safely to Pam, restored and whole, preserving not just a soft toy, but a source of comfort and continuity in her day-to-day life.

For people who may not understand how important this relationship is to Pam, it may seem like the right thing to do to tell her Tony is ‘not real’ and try to correct her perspective. But by recognising how important Tony is to Pam, and respecting that her connection to him is a very real relationship in her world, the team help her to feel safe and secure, rather than causing confusion and upsetting the way she understands and experiences things around her.

Is it Right to Lie?

There is not always a simple answer when it comes to whether telling the truth or offering a therapeutic lie is the ‘right’ thing to do. There are moments that ask us to consider what will best support someone’s wellbeing and the focus shifts from being right, to being kind.

Therapeutic lies, when used thoughtfully and responsibly, are acts of care. They allow people like Pam to feel safe, valued and emotionally held in a world that no longer behaves as it once did - recognising that, in moments of confusion, Pam’s version of the truth is the one that matters most.

Edenmore Nursing Home provides 24-hour nursing and residential care, supporting each person to continue living a life that feels meaningful and true to who they are.

 

Pupils Help Decorate New Lounge at North Devon Nursing Home

Schoolchildren from Ilfracombe Junior School recently visited Edenmore Nursing Home to help add some sea-inspired decorations to the home’s newly refurbished lounge.

During the afternoon, family members (residents) and the children painted small wooden fish, which have now been hung in the new lounge as part of the room’s décor.

The space has been refreshed with nautical and seaside-inspired touches, shaped by Edenmore’s coastal setting and sea views. One of the feature walls includes a fishing net and starfish, where the painted fish are now displayed!

Some of the pupils had visited previously for the home’s VE Day celebrations, but this time the whole Year 3 class came along! Visits like these have become a lovely way of keeping the home connected to the local community and bringing different generations together.

Family members Susan and Adrian particularly enjoyed the visit. Susan spent time carefully painting alongside the pupils, while Adrian enjoyed walking around the room, chatting with different students.

Once the fish had been painted, the class was invited upstairs for a sneak peek at the new lounge. They were asked to guess where their decorations would be displayed, with many quickly spotting the fishing net feature where they have now been hung.

Before heading back to school, the children performed a poem for the family members, ending the afternoon on a lovely note.

Team member Emma shared about the day, ‘It was a lovely afternoon for everyone. The children absolutely love spending time with Susan, and they loved seeing the new lounge. They actually gasped when they walked in the room!’

The new lounge has now officially opened and is already being enjoyed by family members. On the day of the opening, family member John particularly enjoyed spending some time with Doug, the home’s project manager, with the pair sharing a conversation about tools. When John learned Doug had been part of the team responsible for the room’s new look, he shook his hand and said, ‘Thank you. I love it, it’s amazing.’

The refurbishment is part of several projects taking place throughout the home, helping to create spaces that feel welcoming, comfortable and engaging for the people who live and work there. 

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

 

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

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/

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

 

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.

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

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/

Watermouth Castle Unleashes Descend Into Darkness

 A Bigger, Darker and More Twisted Experience Than Ever Before.

This Halloween, North Devon’s Watermouth Castle invites fear-seekers and horror fans to Descend into Darkness - an immersive and utterly bone-chilling scare event running on selected nights from 17^th October to 1^st November 2025. Prepare for a night of terrifying thrills and teeth-chattering chills...

With five immersive zones filled with live actors, shocking special effects and pitch-black terror, guests will navigate a nightmare world of gore, suspense and hair-raising encounters. This year, the experience is bigger, darker and more twisted than ever before.

Two New Scare Zones for 2025

Two brand-new scare zones join the line-up this year - Bad Barnyard and The Z Factor.         

• Bad Barnyard - Nightmare-inducing farmyard creatures lurk in the shadows, step carefully as every creak, squeak and squeal is a nightmare waiting to consume you.

• The Z-Factor - An outbreak has brought the undead back to life and they’re hungry for more than just your brains. Can you make it to the other side?

These brand-new horrors join three returning fan favourites:

• Cursed Forest – Deep in the shadowed woods, ancient fears awaken. Tread carefully through the Cursed Forest where whispers echo through the trees as unseen horrors close in around you.

• The Haunted Castle – Foolish mortals, step into a twisted nightmare that only the bravest of souls will escape.

• Carnival of Clowns – Roll up, roll up - a feral fairground freak show of twisted laughter and manic menace has made its blood-curdling return.

When the sun goes down and darkness cloaks the castle, Watermouth Castle transforms into a playground of horror. This event is not for the faint-hearted: children under 12 are not permitted, and those aged 12–16 must be accompanied by an adult. Expect jump scares, gore, total darkness and intense live performances designed to push you to your limits.

Enter if you dare... With trembling terrors lurking around every corner, only the bravest can make it through Watermouth Castle’s blood-chilling scare event, Descend Into Darkness. Whether you’re a spooky season regular or a Halloween newcomer, Watermouth Castle will leave you with haunting memories and spine-tingling tales for years to come.

Don’t miss out on Devon’s ultimate Halloween event. Rally your crew, summon your courage and embrace the darkness at Watermouth Castle’s Descend Into Darkness.

Too Scared for Descend Into Darkness? Try Our Daytime Spooktacular Family Fun

Families can still get into the Halloween spirit at Watermouth Castle this Halloween with their daytime spooky family fun event, running daily from 25^th October to 2^nd November 2025, 10:00am to 4:00pm. Packed with fang-tastic fun for all ages, follow a spooky Halloween Trail, hunt for mischievous gnomes and collect magical crystals in the gardens. With all activities included in admission, it’s the perfect way to enjoy a spell of spooky fun without the blood-curdling screams.

Extend Your Visit with a Short Break

Escape the playground of horror and extend your stay in Watermouth Castle’s on-site accommodation. Book a spooky short break and spend the night inside the castle itself.

Watermouth Castle is open until 1^st November 2025. Tickets start from £30pp when booked in advance online. For more information and to book, visit: www.watermouthcastle.com/events/descend-into-

 Watermouth Castle Unleashes Descend Into Darkness - Its Most Terrifying Halloween Yet Featuring Brand-New Frights

 

About Watermouth Castle.