Visiting his late wife, Inez, at Renaissance Care’s Persley Castle Home, James Wood was struck by the dedication and compassion of staff.

Pictured: James with Inez

He decided that if the time came, the converted period house near Aberdeen would become his permanent home and in October, James followed in his wife’s footsteps and took up residence at Persley Castle.

“What brings me great comfort is that my late wife lived here,” says James. “I remember the very personal care she received and she loved the staff. They always had time for her, she was very well looked after.

“When I visited Inez, the staff were really good in communicating with us, letting us know how Inez was doing, the communication was great. Inez was always happy, never sad, and always looked forward to the day.”

James, 89, fondly remembers Inez’s love of nature and the time she spent in the grounds of Persley Castle, with stunning views of the River Don and surrounding woodlands.

Inez passed away in September 2023 at the age of 93 and James recalls being touched by the support of staff.

“A Thursday when I was called in, Inez was very close to leaving us, a couple of the staff members including Abby sat with me, they held my hand, they let me cry. One of the staff members put a cross on Inez’s chest which really meant a lot to me and would’ve meant a lot to her.”

James has settled into his new home and speaks of “the sense of community” provided by staff and residents.

He said a highlight was a recent visit by therapet dogs, which brought back memories of Inez.

James has a picture of his wife holding Pepper, one of the animals.

“It meant so much to me seeing the dogs, remembering all about Inez holding them. I asked Abby if she could take a photo of me and Pepper so we can recreate the photo we have of Inez and Pepper. She was more than happy to do that and it means a lot to me, knowing I have that.”

James looks forward to many years at Persley Castle and said families who are considering the home for a loved one should “do it”.

He added: “I’ve been here a month now and I feel like it’s the same care, the same interest from staff. There are familiar faces which makes it so much better – and they always make sure they take time to chat to me.

“Both my and my wife’s experience has been very personalised. The staff sit and try to find out as much as they can about you, the management is fantastic, there is great communication in the home, and seeing all the friendly smiles, happy faces day in day out, just makes you so much happier.”

Rachael Hope, Home Manager, said: “It’s been an absolute pleasure to welcome James back to Persley Castle. His fond memories and great personality are a delight within the home.”

Pictured: Persley Castle Care Home

It was an absolute pumpkin time on 26^th October as Abercorn residents, families and staff teamed up for some pumpkin-carving madness!From spooky faces to “what exactly is that?” creations, everyone brought their best carving game (and a whole lot of laughter).

Mary and her family joined in the fun, spreading smiles, helping with designs and probably sneaking a few pumpkin seeds along the way! Meanwhile, our amazing staff rolled up their sleeves to help other residents carve their masterpieces proving that teamwork really does make the dream pumpkin work!

The room was filled with laughter, creativity and the sweet smell of autumn spirit. Whether the pumpkins ended up scary, silly or somewhere in between, every one of them had something special just like the people who made them!

Abercorn House Care Home residents had a fantastic day out at Valley View, enjoying some pumpkin picking, autumn treats and even feeding the ponies! There were smiles all around as everyone chose their perfect pumpkin to bring home for decorating.

It was an extra special day for Margaret, who experienced her first-ever pumpkin picking trip, and she said it was “a day I’ll never forget”.

Days like these remind us how wonderful it is to make memories together, full of laughter, friendship and the simple joys of the season.

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 – 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.