Friston House Care Home - Barchester Healthcare

12/09/2025

We'll meet again.

What an incredible experience to visit The Kent Battle of Britain Museum yesterday with these ladies.

We can't wait to be there again.

There is so much to see there we just couldn't read all the interpretation in this glorious museum. In the short time we had.

As many of you who have been will know, the museum in Hawkinge plays host to an inspirational collection of objects and artifacts that are so well presented and curated by the team there, who went above and beyond to ensure our residents (and other visitors there) enjoyed their visit. Their knowledge and time was much appreciated.

Unable (and with good reason) to take photography equipment onto the site, we were permitted to take this lovely shot to show you all before heading home.

11/09/2025

It’s a small world.

Around the home yesterday, our residents had the chance to take an extremely close look at some everyday objects.

We took control of a digital microscope to view simple things at incredible magnification.

The look of wonder across our faces as we explored leaves, petals, hair, feathers, wool and even a small circuit board.

We imagined all that the old 2p coin had been through in its lifetime, the microscope revealing dents and marks not visible to the naked eye.

We captured some images and thought you’d enjoy seeing them too.

Hope you’re having a great week.

10/09/2025

Our interactive quiz this week was all about play.

The games we played, the toys our children hoped Santa would bring and a look at which games and toys from our childhoods are still popular today.

Our residents loved reminiscing and chatting about their playground antics, their beloved teddys and laughed lots at the differences between then and now, attitudes towards play and the health conscious attitudes towards some activities in the last few decades…..Conkers anyone?

During the quiz over 100 images were shown on the big screen, with questions on each……..the recollection of our residents was incredible.

Here’s just a few……remember these?

Also, how many kids are on that witches hat!? And how many grazed knees walked home?

08/09/2025

Our Tell Barchester Annual Survey is LIVE!

For the 5th consecutive year, our annual customer satisfaction survey Tell Barchester is OPEN!

The survey gives our residents, patients, their friends and family the opportunity to tell us how they feel about their experience, helping us learn, improve and celebrate what people love about life at Barchester.

Residents and patients are able to complete the survey with our teams, invitations to take part are emailed to all friends & family members we have contact details for – have you received yours? It’s also possible to take part in our homes and hospitals using the QR posters on display.

Tell Barchester is quick and simple to complete, your time is much appreciated and this feedback shapes the care and service received across Barchester.

In the meantime, if you have feedback you would like to share you can talk to us at any point, our door is always open.

07/09/2025

🌸 Enhancing everyday life at Friston House 🌸

At Friston House, we believe that a fulfilling life is made up of meaningful moments and the freedom to stay active in ways that bring joy. Our lovely Margaret was busy giving the windowsills a dust and keeping her surroundings sparkling clean! ✨

For Margaret, staying involved in everyday tasks isn’t just about tidying up-it’s about maintaining independence, purpose, and a sense of achievement. Activities like these not only keep our residents engaged, but also help them feel truly at home. 🏡💙

We’re proud to support our residents in living life their way, whether that means joining in with group activities, enjoying the garden, or simply lending a hand around the home.

Well done, Margaret -the windows have never looked so bright! 🌞🌿

06/09/2025

🌟 Meet our Resident Ambassadors-Shirley & George! 🌟

At Friston House, we are proud to have wonderful Resident Ambassadors who play a special role in welcoming new residents, supporting their peers, and helping us make our home a truly friendly and inclusive community.

Shirley and George are always ready with a smile, a listening ear, and plenty of wisdom to share. They take the time to chat with new residents, making sure everyone feels comfortable, valued, and part of our Friston House family from day one.

👏 Their kindness, warmth, and dedication shine through in everything they do, and we are so grateful for the positive difference they bring to daily life here.

Please join us in celebrating Shirley and George for their incredible contribution as Resident Ambassadors-you truly make Friston House a home full of friendship, compassion, and joy! 🌸✨

04/09/2025

⭐ LaingBuisson 2025 Award Finalist ⭐

We’re delighted to announce that we’ve been shortlisted for the ‘Care Home Group of the Year’ category at the prestigious LaingBuisson Awards.

Now in their 20th year, the awards recognise and celebrate outstanding achievements in the UK health and social care industry.

With more than 400 entries submitted across each category, being named a finalist is a real honour.

This recognition is a true reflection of the dedication, hard work and compassion of all our teams and colleagues across Barchester – a big thank you for everything they do each day! 👏

The winners will be announced on the 20th November 2025 at Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, London.

LaingBuisson LaingBuisson News

04/09/2025

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03/09/2025

✨🎭 Bringing the Fringe to Strachan House ✨🎵

Residents, families and visitors at Strachan House Care Home in enjoyed an afternoon of fantastic performances as part of the Edinburgh Fringe Care Fest.

Now in its third year, the Fringe Care Fest brings the magic of the Fringe directly to care home residents who can no longer visit the festival venues.

Talented singer and pianist Jacqui Randa warmed up the crowd with her excellent keyboard skills and cheeky anecdotes. After a short break for more prosecco in the sun, everyone relaxed to the wonderful voice of Duane Forrest.

It was an amazing experience, complete with a special party menu from the home’s kitchen team, plenty of drinks – and of course, lots of dancing.

A big thank you to all involved in making this event such a success. 👏

03/09/2025

☕️ We are hosting a Macmillan Coffee Morning here at Friston House Care Home - Barchester Healthcare on 26th September 2025

⏰ 14.00- 16.00 ⏰
🚶‍♀️🚶Come along for 🧁🍰 Cakes, 🍪 Biscuits &☕️🧃🫖 Refreshments.

02/09/2025

⭐ A Perfect 10! ⭐

We’re thrilled to share that Iverley View Care Home in has received a 10 out of 10 score on the independent care home reviews site, carehome.co.uk, after a series of glowing reviews.

This fantastic achievement places Iverley View 7th out of 7,238 care homes across England and 1st in their county.

A big thank you to the team who work incredibly hard to provide the highest standard of care and support to residents and their families. Truly well deserved. 👏

.co.uk

29/08/2025

🐾 Residents Welcome Furry Friends 🐾

Our care homes and hospitals recently marked National Dog Day in style by hosting a range of activities for all to enjoy, including dog shows, pet therapy sessions and community events.

From four-legged companions to wagging tails and friendly competitions, it was a wonderful day that brought joy and smiles to everyone.

Take a look at some of our favourite moments. ✨

28/08/2025

Detective Week at Friston House

Day 4 - Illuminate

A huge development in our hunt for the mysterious X today, as our detectives quickly deduced that yesterday’s code # 5F4B8B was a hex colour code for Ultra Violet (thanks google) and was also hidden in a crossword handed to them (and our staff) at breakfast this morning.

Take a look at the other crossword answers… behind, jigsaw, chair…..we investigated, moved the chair, and with the power of Ultra Violet light, look what we discovered.

Now we have 3 of the 4 numbers for the combination box…..we are getting so close.

2 8 0 _

Come to think of it…Hamilton? Where have we seen that name before?

Another clue?

27/08/2025

⭐ Champions of Care: The Care Quality Leaders Network ⭐

We’re delighted to share that Sue Sheath, our Director of Regulation and Quality Improvement, has been featured in this month’s Caring Times magazine for her work founding the Care Quality Leaders Network.

In June, the network held its first face-to-face conference entitled ‘Innovating Care Quality: Leadership in Action’ in London, bringing together colleagues from across the adult social care sector.

What began as a small group of providers meeting informally before the pandemic has grown under Sue’s leadership into a thriving network of over 90 organisations – from large operators to mid-sized and smaller providers nationwide – all united by a shared commitment to champion high-quality care.

Sue commented: “I am so proud of how this group has grown over the last five years into an incredible supportive network with real influence. I was keen to create an opportunity for the group to meet face to face to hear from some of the biggest names in the sector about the challenges and opportunities we face and share ideas and best practice. I would like to thank all our generous partners such as Radar Healthcare, Care Launch and Nourish Care, who made this event possible.”

We’re so proud of Sue for her hard work in creating this fantastic network and for running such a successful event that brought together so many excellent minds! 👏

27/08/2025

Day 3 of our Detective week and further on into our investigation.

Yesterday’s Cipher Wheels decoded the secret message given to us and it has led to the interrogation of one of X’s employees.

Our residents were able to make him laugh during the interview and he revealed the second digit of the combination which was 8

We now know that the box code is 2 8 _ _

Only two more numbers to reveal and we are closer to uncovering who X truly is.

Note: when questioned about how long the subject had worked for X, he remarked. “Since they gave me this tattoo”

He then revealed the tattoo on his arm that read

# 5F4A8B

This could be a major clue.

26/08/2025

📸 World Photography Day 🌟

Recently, residents and patients up and down the country celebrated World Photography Day with flair and creativity.

Throughout the day, everyone enjoyed a range of themed activities and art sessions, from crafting photo books and collages to participating in professional photoshoots and capturing images of their favourite objects and subjects.

It was also a wonderful opportunity for all to reflect on past experiences by looking at treasured photographs and sharing happy memories.

Take a look at some of our favourite moments.

26/08/2025

Day 2 of our Detectives Week at Friston House.

Thank to those of you who have been playing along at home and with our residents here.

The story so far….

Our residents are on the hunt for the mysterious X, who may provide the combination to a locked box within our home.

First we had to discover the identity of Secret Agent ‘The Sparrow’

We were able to work out the anagram contained within the instructions from HQ. The answer as many of you spotted was 81.

Later in the day, hidden in a box in the corridor, was a copy of a Catherine Cookson book that contained….On page 81, a piece of red plastic.

This morning a mysterious image appeared on the screen in our reception area…..but what did it all mean?

When viewed through the red plastic…a hidden message was revealed to our residents.

This afternoon our super sleuths will do their best to decipher more hidden messages…..time is ticking….lets not let X get away!

25/08/2025

So, here we are.

Day 1 of our exciting Detectives Week here at Friston House.

A week full of puzzles and sleuthing for our residents and team.

Their mission, to uncover the identity of the mysterious X and work together to gain access to a locked combination box.

And YOU can help too!

Our residents were handed one of these notes from ‘Agent HQ’ this morning over breakfast and are now attempting to discover the first digit of the combination.

Help them out, by leaving a comment below.

Good Luck

22/08/2025

✨🏍️ Speedway Wish Granted 🏍️✨

This week, the team at Hickathrift House Care Home in was delighted to grant another special wish through their ‘Post a Wish’ initiative – a visit to the King's Lynn Speedway - the Home of the Stars.

It was a fantastic experience, with riders kindly taking time to chat and reminisce with a resident about past races and bikes. The Speedway team ensured the evening was special, welcoming everyone on arrival and making the visit unforgettable.

Residents truly enjoyed sitting in the front row, cheering on the riders and sharing stories of speedway events gone by.

A big thank you to all involved in making this trip possible. 👏

King's Lynn Stars

21/08/2025

🤩 Adventure Day Out for Mortain Place Residents 🤩

Residents at Mortain Place Care Home in enjoyed an unforgettable day at Knockhatch Adventure Park.

From speeding around the go-kart track and meeting extraordinary animals to splashing down the water slides, it was a day full of fun.

To make the trip even more special, residents and colleagues were joined by Malcolm from ITV News Meridian, who captured the excitement on camera and spoke to the residents about their experiences.

The team at Mortain Place believe days like this are an important way to enrich the lives of residents, creating lasting memories for all involved.

Take a look at the fantastic broadcast coverage below! 👇

Watch the latest from ITV News - Barchester Mortain Place in Eastbourne takes its residents on day trips to an adventure park with activities such as go-karting and water slides

19/08/2025

🦆📚 A Quacking Good Story from Atfield House 📚🦆

We’re excited to share that Atfield House Care Home in , London has launched their very own children’s storybook, inspired by a much-loved tradition and their nature-loving residents.

Each year, a duck named Hope visits the home’s garden to lay her eggs – a heart-warming event that has been taking place for many years. The experience sparks engagement, evokes memories and offers meaningful comfort to residents, supporting emotional and cognitive wellbeing with every quiet waddle.

After speaking with residents, families and colleagues, the team decided to capture the tale in a beautifully illustrated book.
The home looks forward to sharing the storybook with visitors and children from local schools – a great opportunity to spread the joy of this charming tradition.

You can explore their delightful storybook here 👇https://online.flippingbook.com/view/503801204/

18/08/2025

🏃‍♂️🏅 Great North Run - Marathon Effort for Charity 🏃‍♀️🏅

On Sunday, 7th September, five brave Barchester colleagues will take on the gruelling Great North Run to raise money for Barchester’s Charitable Foundation.

The Foundation supports older people and adults living with a disability by helping them connect or re-connect with others in their local communities.

Our amazing runners are:
• Becky Dearing, Health and Safety Coordinator
• Kirsty Taylor, Activities Lead at Chalfont Lodge Care Centre - Barchester Healthcare
• Zsuszanna Bodog, Care Assistant from Red Oaks Care Home - Barchester Healthcare
• Tom Hodges, Dementia Nurse Specialist for the North West and Midlands
• Yvonne Hand, General Manager at Glenroyd Care Home - Barchester Healthcare

They will lace-up their trainers and use grit and determination to complete the 13-mile half marathon course that starts in Newcastle upon Tyne and takes thousands of runners over the iconic Tyne Bridge in order to raise funds for Barchester's Charitable Foundation.

Wishing the very best of luck to the runners! 👏

13/08/2025

🎤🎵 Come Sing! To Feel Good 🎤🎵

Residents and patients across the country had a fantastic time joining Dan Cooper, Vocal Coach from Biiah, for a lively summer virtual sing-along.

With the uplifting ‘Que Sera Sera’ by Doris Day and ‘Wouldn’t It Be Nice’ by The Beach Boys, there was plenty of singing and dancing all around.

The session was a great success, bringing benefits for the mind, body and soul, and leaving everyone with a dose of summer cheer.

A big thank you to Dan Cooper for the wonderful experience. 👏

Take a look at some of our favourite moments in the photos below.

🔗 www.barchester.com

11/08/2025

✨A Roaring 1920s Summer Fête at Ashlar House ✨

Ashlar House Care Home in turned back the clock for a spectacular Summer Fete inspired by the glamour of the 1920s.

Residents, families, colleagues and guests dressed to impress, bringing the glamour and spirit of the Jazz Age to life.

From Charleston dancing and live entertainment to delicious food, sweet treats and a much-loved raffle. There was something for everyone to enjoy.

It was a fantastic experience for all involved. 👏