A Howling Success! Sundial Care Home Hosts Community Dog Show

Sundial Care Home near Sidmouth, Devon, recently hosted its first dog show, welcoming family members (residents), team members, relatives and members of the local community through their doors.

Held in the 3 acre gardens at the care home, the team set up gazebos and umbrellas for shade, water bowls for the dogs and refreshments and cakes for everyone to enjoy. Family members were so looking forward to the event that some went out into the garden early to make sure they had a seat secured at the front!

The morning began with a parade, where each dog and handler walked around the garden and introduced themselves before the judging began. Family member Pat, who has experience in dog handling and has previously judged obedience at a variety of dog shows, took on the role for the day and, being in familiar territory, almost immediately settled into judging.

There were a number of categories to enter, including Waggiest Tail, Best at Retrieving, Gentlest Giant, Sweetest Small, Best Trick and Best in Show. Each class brought its own moments of fun, with family members and visitors clapping, laughing and sharing their thoughts as the judging took place.

Children who attended also got involved by helping hold leads and walk the dogs in some of the classes, adding to the family feel of the event.

Alongside the competition, one of the most meaningful parts of the morning was seeing the dogs and their handlers spending time with family members around the garden. Whether stopping for a stroke , saying hello or sitting alongside them, those smaller moments helped make the event feel personal and gave everyone an opportunity to connect.

At the end of the show, every dog received a certificate and a treat bag, and Pat was presented with flowers as a thank you for her judging.

One relative shared “Me & Jeep had an amazing time. Thanks to everyone & we're practicing our tricks for next year.” Another member of the community said “Thank you so much, it was great fun.”

Following the success of the event, several visitors have already asked whether the dog show could become an annual event at Sundial in the future, with some even offering to help out. The Devon care home continues to build strong community relationships while creating a home-from-home for its family members, supporting them to remain connected, involved and engaged within the local community.

 

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

Ilfracombe Nursing Home Shares Reflections from Jillian

For individuals whose mobility have changed over time, moving around can become difficult or painful, meaning receiving care in bed may become the most comfortable and supportive option for them. Whether through need or personal choice, a bedroom can become far more than four walls. It becomes a sanctuary, filled with familiarity, comfort and the small things that make somewhere feel like home.

It’s so important that their space reflects them as a person, surrounding them with the things that really matter to them, both emotionally and physically. What might matter deeply to a person is often shaped over the course of a life, through the people they love, the places they’ve visited and the experiences that have stayed with them.

Spending time with Jillian, a family member (resident) at Edenmore Nursing Home, it was clear to see how the environment around her reflected the person she is and the things that continue to matter to her today.

Early Life on the Farm

Born in 1938, Jillian was just one year old when the war started. Her family lived on a farm in Powys, Wales, and her father was a sheep farmer. Her mother was a homemaker, taking care of the household and raising the children. Jillian had an older brother, and later, she would have two younger sisters. She remembers her parents to be generous and kind people. She doesn’t recall too much of being very young but shares, ‘I’m sure I was sometimes naughty like any child!’

During the war, she remembers prisoners of war coming to work on the farm from a nearby camp. She shares that they were lovely, ‘They just wanted to go back to their families, who they missed very much. My parents were very kind and really took them in. They also helped them send packages of food back to their loved ones.’

School, Friendship and a Love of French

When she was seven or eight years old, the family moved to a farm in Ombersley, Worcestershire. There she attended a private school in Worcester called Sunnyside, where she became friends with some girls who she remains in contact with still today. From her school days she still remembers how afraid they were of the headmistress, ‘I’m sure she was a perfectly nice lady, but she was strict and scared us.’

Jillian became pen pals with a girl in Paris around this time, and the two ended up doing an exchange and visiting each other’s homes and living with their families for a few weeks. She loved it, and her pen pal’s family were very friendly and welcoming and took her around Paris.

As she moved through school, her favourite subject unsurprisingly became French. She also loved athletics, particularly running and high jumping and even competed at national level.

University, Marriage and Family Life

When she had completed school, she went on to study French at Cardiff University. This was where she met her future husband, Bill, who was also studying. He was from Aberdeen and had sadly lost both his parents but had a very lovely uncle and aunt. Jillian and Bill married when she was twenty-three and moved to Maidenhead, in time having their two children, Tim and Bethany.

Jillian went on to teach French at a grammar school. The students were, for the most part very engaged and well behaved. But there was of course the odd one or two difficult pupils who made mean comments to make everyone laugh and played the class clowns. One of the things Jillian loved most about her teaching role was the friendships she grew with the other teaching staff.

Later, they began to move around a lot for Bill’s work, living in Brussels and even Connecticut for a while, before moving back to the UK. During this time, she continued to teach French through tutoring. She describes their marriage simply: “We got on very well, we had a lot of the same interests and friends. Of course, no one is perfect, but I can’t remember any real problems.”

When they moved to England, Jillian worked for several years at a Waterstones in Windsor. She loved to read and so really enjoyed working there, and she was responsible for setting up open readings with authors when they were promoting their new books. Through this role she met several famous authors, including Sir David Attenborough! She still remembers the queues of people waiting outside for their signed copies of books.

Moving into Edenmore

In later life, Jillian was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. As she began to need more support, she moved into Edenmore Nursing Home, close to where her son, Tim, lives. Tim visits often and regularly brings his two dogs with him, who jump up onto Jillian’s bed to say hello. Today, Jillian is cared for in bed, as her needs now mean she is most comfortable there.

More Than Just a Bedroom

In Jillian’s bedroom, an antique bureau from her previous home stands against one wall, its surface covered in photographs of her family, captured moments holding much meaning. She talks through the places they were taken, the names of her siblings, children, children-in-law and grandchildren. One of these is a silver-framed image from her wedding day, showing her and her husband, Bill, standing hand in hand on the church steps.

On the opposite wall, artwork sits alongside a framed record by Edward Elgar, one of her favourite composers. A large mirror has been carefully positioned so that, from her bed, she can see out through the window. It is here that her attention often rests, watching birds move between rooftops and wires. Blue tits and robins are some of her favourites.

By the door, a small set of drawers holds a vase of fresh flowers, sent each week by her daughter, who also calls every day – on this particular day, she is calling from the Bahamas.

What Matters Most

When asked what matters most to her today, her answer is simple: ‘Family.’ There is much love behind the word. She continues, ‘I am very lucky. And they spoil me.’

When asked what else is important to her, she shares, ‘It sounds ridiculous or silly, but one of the most important things to me is being able to look through my mirror to the window. I love to watch the birds flying around outside, and many of them land on the wires and the roofs of the houses.’

One of her favourite memories from the last few years, was when her son, Tim, took her for a day out and they went to a field filled with sheep and lambs. ‘I love to sit and watch them, it’s so lovely to see.’ When asked if these moments are so special to her because of her childhood and growing up on farms she nods and smiles, ‘Oh, definitely.’

Jillian likes to spend time watching wildlife programmes on the television in her room, as well as keeping up with politics and the news of the wider world.

Tim recently got Jillian an iPad on a stand beside her bed and is going to download books onto it, so she is able to read again more easily, by turning the pages with a simple tap of the screen.

Of the people around her each day, she speaks warmly. ‘The carers are so kind, and the girls are very sweet. The boys are cheeky and teasing, which is good for me.’

Through Jillian’s reflections, what stands out most is the importance of connection; to family, to cherished memories, to nature, to books, and to keeping in contact with her friends and loved ones. Now, more than ever, it is the simple things that continue to bring comfort and meaning to her life.

Although there are moments of frustration in no longer having the same physical freedom she once did, there is also a sense of peace in the space around her. Surrounded by familiar belongings, photographs, flowers, and the view from her window, Jillian has created a sanctuary that still reflects the life she has lived and the person she continues to be.

‘This is my little home,’ she says. ‘I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else if I am in bed and unable to move.’

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

Homemade Scones and Favourite Songs Mark VE Day at Sundial Care Home

A residential care home near Sidmouth marked the 81st Anniversary of VE Day with their own afternoon celebration, bringing together relatives, friends and family members (residents) for music, singing and a traditional cream tea.

The care home’s Chef, Jayne, prepared fresh homemade scones served with cream and jam, alongside a Union Jack cheesecake decorated by House Lead, Husna, with strawberries and blueberries. The celebration also included a selection of nibbles and traditional refreshments, including cream soda and dandelion & burdock. Tables were also topped with fresh flowers that Care assistant Rotsen picked fresh from the homes three acre gardens.

Family members, loved ones and the team spent the afternoon singing, waving flags and reminiscing together as karaoke, organised by Care Assistants Jane and Rotsen, filled the home with old favourite songs. Many joined in throughout the celebration, creating a lively atmosphere full of laughter, conversation and shared moments.

“It was a lovely tea party” shared another team member. “Everyone really loved the scones.”

The event was held in recognition of both past and present veterans connected to Sundial Care Home, while giving people the opportunity to reflect, reminisce and enjoy the British traditions associated with VE Day together.

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

School Children Visit North Devon Care Home for VE Day

To mark the 81st anniversary of Victory in Europe Day (VE Day), students from Ilfracombe Junior School visited Edenmore Nursing Home to share their World War II projects with family members (residents) living at the home.

The children spent time with different family members, showing them the workbooks they had created as part of their World War II projects, and offering them to family members who wanted to have a closer look through them themselves. The work included historical photographs from the wartime period alongside written sections exploring different aspects of the war.

There were some very special moments throughout the visit. Ann, a family member, was left laughing and smiling when one student shared that the best part about dressing up as an evacuee was not having to wear a school uniform!

Another child proudly told his teacher, ‘I think I’ve made that lady’s day,’ after spending time with Susan, another family member at the home. As the children were leaving, he made sure to say goodbye to Susan and give her a cuddle, something his teacher described as an especially touching moment, as showing affection and interacting so openly with others does not always come easily for him. 

The home also hosted a special VE Day themed party later in the afternoon, with Union Jack decorations, themed cakes, hats and tableware, while members of the team dressed in utility-style clothing and kerchiefs for the occasion. A reminiscence area was created using wartime books, a rotary phone and a typewriter, giving family members the opportunity to look at, touch and interact with recognisable objects from the past which may evoke a sense of connection or recognition.

Isaac, who is ten years old and the grandson of Home Manager Gayle, also spent time at the home speaking with family members about their experiences of the war. Peter, a family member at the home, enjoyed talking to Isaac about rationing during the war, including sugar, meat, butter and clothing, helping him understand what life was like then.

Isaac has been visiting the home since he was just a few months old and continues to enjoy spending time with family members there!

Intergenerational visits like these can be meaningful for both older and younger generations. For older generations, spending time with children can encourage moments of conversation and connection. Talking about things like wartime memories, may help support reminiscence and reinforce a sense of identity and personal history.

For children, visits to care homes can help build understanding of ageing and living with Dementia in a more personal and compassionate way. And rather than learning about history only through books, they are able to hear from people who lived through significant moments in time, helping bring those experiences to life while also encouraging empathy and confidence connecting with older generations.

Bringing children into the home can also help family members feel part of the wider community and younger generations, while creating opportunities for shared experiences, conversation and connection.

Home Manager Gayle shared about the day, ‘It was just amazing. Seeing everyone’s happy faces. Everybody just loved it.’

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

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/

 

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/

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/

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.

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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

 

 

Finding the Right Rhythm: How Music Brings Connection to a North Devon Nursing Home

At Heanton Nursing Home in Braunton, music isn’t just background noise, it’s a source of comfort and connection.

For family members living with a Dementia, the right song can create a sense of calm, familiarity and belonging, moments that lift the atmosphere and bring people together. Robin Mitchell, who leads regular sing-alongs at the home, has seen first-hand how powerful music can be, and how important it is to get it right.

The music filling the lounge at Heanton might surprise people. Rather than relying on traditional wartime tunes, the playlists are shaped around the eras that today’s older adults grew up with - the 1960s and 70s.

Research into dementia and the brain has shown that the music people listen to in their teens and twenties tends to stay with them throughout life. According to Dementia UK, those years form strong emotional connections in the brain, meaning familiar songs from that period can create a sense of comfort and recognition, even decades later.

For Heanton’s family members, that means the sound of Sweet Caroline (released in 1969), ABBA, or Tom Jones is often what gets toes tapping and faces lighting up. Music from that era isn’t just nostalgic, it’s part of peoples lived experience, connected to the times they were working, raising families or even dancing at the weekend.

“When the right song comes on, you can see the change,” says Robin. “Someone who’s quiet might start tapping their feet, moving with the rhythm or joining in with a few words. It’s like the music gives everyone a lift.” 

Studies by the NHS, Dementia UK and Alzheimer’s Society have long supported this approach, showing that familiar, preferred music can help reduce anxiety, encourage communication and social interaction, and promote a sense of wellbeing. It can also offer peace and comfort at more reflective moments.

Robin adds, “Even a song that brings a tear can be a positive thing, it helps people express how they feel. Everyone connects to music in their own way, and that’s what makes it special.”

Music plays an important role at Heanton. As a complex care home, someone’s feelings is an important part of truly understanding each person they support. Noticing the small things, tuning into emotions, and anticipating needs long before they’re expressed. Robin’s singalongs are a perfect example of this approach, using music to reach family members on an emotional level, helping them create moments of connection and enjoyment that feel familiar, personal and real.

To find out more about the care and support offered at Heanton Nursing Home, visit Dementia, Complex, Respite, and Residential Care in Devon

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