Digi Bites – AI for Care Providers

Digi Bites is a series of online lunchtime learning sessions for Scottish Care members, part of our Year of Active Membership.

AI for Care Providers
How to start making AI work for your care business – safely, simply, and effectively

Tuesday 11th November, 12.30 – 1.30pm (previously scheduled for the 12th)
With Dave Mance, Frank Care Marketing

You probably know that AI could make a big difference to your care business – but where do you start?

This practical, no-jargon session will give you an introduction to using AI in social care, including:

  • How to stay safe and compliant
  • How to supercharge your marketing
  • How to create a board of AI experts for finance, ops and marketing advice
  • How to save hours every week by using AI tools in daily operations

This webinar is for:

  • Care leaders who know AI matters but aren’t sure where to begin
  • Marketers drowning in content creation
  • Operations staff who want to simplify training, policies, and compliance

In this action-focused session, you’ll see:

  • 5 real-world AI use cases that save teams hours every week
  • Quick wins for recruitment, training, and operations that you can try this week
  • A live demo where we create standout marketing content together in 3 minutes (vs 30 minutes manually)

Everyone will get a free AI prompt library and safety checklist to take away. And up to five people can book a free one-on-one follow-up session.

No techie knowledge needed. We’ll keep it practical, relevant, and rooted in the real-world challenges of care.

Details in the Members Area.

Manifesto 2025 Session 7: Taking Reform from Ambition to Action

Session 7: Taking Reform from Ambition to Action

Thursday 23 October 2025, 1:00 pm

This seventh and final session concludes our impactful seven-part series exploring the Scottish Care Members’ Manifesto: The True Cost of Care – A Call to Action.

Together, we’ve built momentum toward placing social care at the forefront of the 2026 Scottish parliamentary elections. Now, we turn ambition into action.

In this closing session, we’ll revisit the key themes from previous discussions and collaboratively shape the Manifesto’s core demands. Our focus will be on:

  • Transforming ideas into actionable strategies
  • Defining clear, measurable outcomes
  • Ensuring the voice of social care drives meaningful change

This is your opportunity to help finalise a bold, united vision for the future of care in Scotland.

Open to all Scottish Care members, please register via the Members Area of this website.

Manifesto 2025 Session 6: Care That Cares For the Planet Too

Session 6: Care That Cares For the Planet Too

Tuesday 21 October 2025, 1:00 pm

This sixth session in our seven-part series continues the momentum of the Scottish Care Members Manifesto: The True Cost of Care – A Call to Action.

In this session, we’ll focus on Sustainability and green practices in care settings, co-designing two key asks from Scotland’s social care sector. Our discussion will advocate for:

  • A resilient social care system that is environmentally sustainable
  • Practices that actively reduce ecological impact while delivering equitable, efficient, and climate-conscious care for all

This is an opportunity to shape the future of care by championing sustainability, innovation, and justice in how social care is delivered across Scotland.

Open to all Scottish Care members, please register via the Members Area of this website.

Oomph! App brings Laughter & Connection at Abercorn House

BRINGING LAUGHTER AND CONNECTION THROUGH THE OOMPH! APP AT ABERCORN HOUSE CARE HOME

Abercorn House Care Home are always looking for new ways to bring smiles and meaningful engagement to our residents. Recently, they introduced the Oomph! Activity App, an exciting initiative from Sanctuary Care designed to enrich lives through fun, interactive and stimulating activities.

The app gives residents access to thousands of activities right on the television or tablet, from gentle exercise classes and quizzes to music sessions, reminiscence games, and even virtual tours around the world. One of the most popular has been “The Price is Right”, where residents guess the cost of everyday household items. The room fills with laughter, friendly competition, and nostalgic conversations about “how things used to be.”

“It makes me feel like I’m on TV!” one residents said with a smile, while another added, “It brings back such good memories, and it’s such a laugh trying to guess the prices!”

Staff have noticed how much the app encourage interaction and builds confidence, especially among residents who might not always take part in group sessions. It also helps staff tailor activities to each resident’s mood, interest, and ability, making every session personal and meaningful.

By embracing digital innovation like the Oomph! App, Abercorn continues to live out Sanctuary Care’s mission to enrich lives every day, creating joy, laughter and connection for our residents.

Abercorn Care Racing Team

Abercorn Care Racing Team – A Virtual Driving Adventure

On 14th September, five residents from Abercorn House Care Home joined the Abercorn Care Racing Team for a thrilling virtual driving experience! With a gaming console and steering wheel set up, residents had the chance to get behind the wheel once again, and the smiles and laughter said it all.

For some, it was a nostalgic return to the joy of driving; for others, an exciting new challenge. The room was filled with cheers, conversation, and shared excitement as technology brought a fresh sense of fun and connection.

This activity is a wonderful example of how digital experiences can support engagement, wellbeing, and joy in care settings, keeping residents connected to the things they’ve always loved.

Abercorn House Pottery Fun

Pottery Fun with SOC – Creativity, Connection & Clay

On 1st October, residents from Abercorn House Care Home enjoyed a wonderfully creative day out at the Supporting Our Community (SOC) office, where they took part in a hands-on pottery session led by the talented Anna and Lorna. With clay in hand and smiles all around, residents crafted vases ranging from elegant masterpieces to delightfully quirky “mystery art projects.”

The session was filled with laughter, snacks, and a real sense of achievement. It sparked joyful memories, encouraged new conversations, and gave residents a chance to express themselves in a relaxed, welcoming space. The impact on confidence and wellbeing was clear—and because it was such a hit,  residents will be returning in two weeks to paint their very own creations.

We can’t wait to see the finished pieces and share more moments of creativity and connection!

A Family Adventure at the Falkirk Wheel – Abercorn House Day Out

Residents from Abercorn House Care Home enjoyed a joyful day out with their families at the iconic Falkirk Wheel, please read below from Abercorn House Home Manager, Rowena Alferos.


A FAMILY ADVENTURE AT THE FALKIRK WHEEL-22nd SEPTEMBER 2025

On 22nd September, our residents has a wonderful day out with their families! Supported by our Activities Team, they visited the Falkirk Wheel and enjoyed a scenic barge trip together.

Rojane and Marion brought along their sons, Hugh was joined by his daughter, and Mary came with our team, and her loyal stuffed dog, who never left her side! The sun was shining, picnic lunches were enjoyed by all, and laughter filled the air.

It was a truly special day, seeing our residents connect with their loved ones, make happy memories and simply enjoy each other’s company. Moments like these remind us why creating meaningful experiences for our residents is at the heart of everything we do.

Go4Gold 2025 Awards Ceremony

We’re delighted to share the official video of the Go4Gold 2025 Awards Ceremony, launched on 1 October to mark the International Day of Older People. This year’s Go4Gold challenge was inspired by the Highland Games, with care homes and day centres across Perth & Kinross taking part in a range of fun, inclusive physical and wellbeing activities. From creative caber tosses to themed celebrations, the event was full of energy, laughter, and connection.

Go4Gold is a joint initiative from Perth & Kinross Health and Social Care Partnership and Scottish Care, first launched in 2012 to promote physical activity, wellbeing, and community spirit among older people. After a long pause since 2019, this year’s ceremony proudly features our first live events, with over 70 people participating in person and more than 400 individuals involved overall.

The video is now available to watch on YouTube, feel free to enjoy it anytime and share it with anyone who’d love to see the joy and creativity of our care communities in action.

MasterChef joins Blanefield House Care Home

Lisa Addison , Former MasterChef Contestant, joins Blanefield House Care Home as Head Chef, bringing restaurant level training and nutrition expertise to enhance meals for the elderly 

A former MasterChef contestant has taken a pivotal role in elder care cuisine, joining Blanefield House Care Home as Head Chef. Lisa Addison, a familiar name to viewers of the BBC’s culinary competition, is now applying her expertise to improve the dining experiences for residents in Blanefield.

A familiar face to many locals, Lisa brings a wealth of experience in nutrition, caregiving, and community-minded leadership with a passion for healthy, flavourful, and nutritious meals. She previously worked as a carer, giving her firsthand insight into the unique dietary needs of older adults. At Blanefield House, she leads the kitchen team in designing menus that meet medical requirements while presenting restaurant quality meals in a care setting with thoughtful plating, colour balance, and appetising presentation while maintaining practicality and accessibility.

When asked about her appointment at Blanefield, Lisa said,

“I was running a successful private dining business as well as a domestic cleaning business, however when approached by Bobby, the care home manager, I was immediately interested in the job because of the passion she showed for the home and the residents, a further meeting with the managing director Puja, and it was an easy decision to close my two businesses and take the Head Chef job, Puja is so passionate about the kitchen being the heart of the home and that was when the decision was easy. Everything is cooked fresh every day, we have deliveries from the finest local suppliers regularly, it’s a dream job for any chef. Puja, Bobby and every single member of staff have been so welcoming, and I’m in a job where appreciation is shown regularly, and Puja is such a hands-on owner. I cannot wait to see what the future holds for the Residents of Blanefield House and the kitchen.”

Puja Poddar, Managing Director, says:

‘Lisa’s appointment aligns with a growing emphasis on nutrition-led and comfortable dining experience for our service users. Lisa provides nutrition first menus with texture modified options when needed, tailored to individual health needs. With her input and dedication to her role, our residents and families are able to enjoy themed dining experiences and storytelling to enrich the dining environment. Lisa’s blend of culinary excellence and care experience could set a benchmark for similar services in Scotland. Her leadership is expected to influence not only menu development but also staff training and family communications around dietary plans.’ 

Beyond the kitchen, Lisa is a proud mother of five and a dog lover with three dogs, attributes that underscore her community-oriented approach. When not in the kitchen, Lisa enjoys cooking, football, and giving back to the community.

Finalists Revealed for the 2025 Care Home Awards!

We’re delighted to reveal the finalists for this year’s Care Home Awards!

A huge thank you to everyone who took the time to submit a nomination – and a massive congratulations to all our incredible shortlisted finalists!

Join us as we celebrate their achievements at the Awards Ceremony, hosted by Michelle McManus and Dr Donald Macaskill, on the evening of Friday 14 November 2025 at the Hilton Hotel, Glasgow, following the Care Home Conference.