Forefaulds Care Home in East Kilbride recently hosted a heart-warming intergenerational activity that brought joy to residents and local families alike.

The home welcomed Jo Jingles, a popular music and movement class, for a lively session with residents and children ranging from babies to age five. The room was filled with laughter, singing and smiles as residents, babies and parents enjoyed the energy and warmth of the young visitors.

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.

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!

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-22^nd SEPTEMBER 2025

On 22^nd 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.

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.

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.