Month Full of Memories and Smiles
Updated: Sep 11
June 2026 has been another lovely month at Ashley Gardens, filled with sunshine, laughter, celebrations and plenty of special moments shared together.
Toss ‘n’ Talk Reminiscing Ball
Our residents enjoyed taking part in our Toss ’n’ Talk reminiscing game, which encouraged everyone to share memories and stories from their younger years.
Jean was asked: “How is the world different today from when you were a child?” She reflected on how much life has changed over the years, saying that “everything is faster nowadays and we need to be more alert” to keep up with the pace of modern life. She spoke about how each generation experiences new changes and developments, commenting: “You’re going from generation to generation now, aren’t you?”
It was lovely to hear different experiences and learn more about the lives our residents have lived. These conversations help us understand the people we care for and the memories that are important to them.
Birthday Celebrations 🎂
June was also a month for celebrating!
We enjoyed celebrating Ian’s 80th birthday with his family, friends and members of the Ashley Gardens team.
We also celebrated Joyce’s birthday too! Joyce loved her chocolate cake so much that she had to have a taste before we sang ‘Happy Birthday!’ There were lots of smiles, laughter and, of course, plenty of cake!
Joyces family came to visit in the morning and then had an afternoon of cake, tea
and presents! It really was a lovely day for Joyce – we all hope your day was as special as you!
A Little Friendly Competition 🏇
This month we celebrated horse racing and decided to take our residents to ‘The Royal Ash-cot!’
Beautifully commentated by Mark, he narrated our way through the activity with names of our horses which included ‘Golden Comet’ and ‘Black Beauty’. These horses were then ridden by our very own horse racers – Jean, Ethel, Roy, Sheila R and Ann! Their competitive sides really came out and they were in it to win it!
The competitive spirit certainly came out, with Jean and Roy taking first place and Ann, Ethel and Sheila finishing as runners-up.
It was a brilliant afternoon enjoyed by residents and staff alike!
Celebrating National Cheese Day 🧀
We enjoyed a sociable afternoon celebrating National Cheese Day.
Residents chose their favourite cheeses and crackers and enjoyed trying some new flavours. There was plenty of chatting and laughter as everyone relaxed and enjoyed the afternoon together.
Staff of the Month 🌟
This month, we were honoured to present Nissymol with the Staff Of The Month award! This was given because Nissy is always so smiley, when given a task it is completed and she is always eager to learn! Well done Nissymol.
Nissymol - “Thank you everyone for your help and support each day, it means a lot to me!”
Cooking, Learning and Teamwork 👩🍳
Our kitchen team also enjoyed a morning of learning with chef Orlando, who shared new recipes and cooking ideas with the team
It was a great opportunity to learn new skills while enjoying some valuable teamwork.
A Special Thank You from a Family ❤️
We were also very touched to receive some lovely feedback from a resident’s daughter, who shared how welcomed and reassured her family felt when they first came to Ashley Gardens.
She spoke warmly about the kindness, compassion and person-centred care shown by our team, and how much it means to know her father is cared for by people who genuinely care about him.
"As soon as we looked around Ashley Gardens, we knew it was the right home for my father. The manager Madel was so warm and welcoming that she immediately put us at ease. It was clear from the way she spoke how committed she is to ensuring the home provides truly person-centred, dignified, dementia-informed care of the highest standard. Looking around at the photographs of residents and staff together, it was obvious that Ashley Gardens is one big family.
What really stood out was how attentive everyone was from the very beginning. The assistant manager, Mark, carefully gathered all of my dad's medical information and made it clear that we could ask for help with anything. The activities coordinator immediately took the time to get to know my dad as a person, showing a genuine interest in his history and what mattered to him. There always seems to be something going on whenever I visit, and it's lovely to see residents encouraged to join in as much or as little as they wish.
The team also arranged the appropriate appointments straight away. While this may seem like a basic expectation, sadly it isn't the standard everywhere. As a family member, it was such a relief to know my dad's needs were being taken seriously from day one, and it made the whole process much less stressful.
The kindness and compassion of the whole team are evident every time we visit. We are always greeted with a smile, everyone is warm, friendly and genuinely caring, and nothing ever seems to be too much trouble. Recently, I phoned because my dad was upset and, rather than dismissing my concerns, the kind lady I spoke to immediately offered not only to check on him but to sit with him for a while. That simple act of kindness meant so much to me and perfectly reflects the level of care and compassion shown by all the staff at Ashley Gardens.
I am incredibly grateful that Ashley Gardens was recommended to us. Knowing my Dad is cared for by such a dedicated team gives our family real peace of mind, thank you everyone!"
Feedback like this means so much to all of us.
We look forward to another month of laughter, friendship and making more wonderful memories together. ❤️
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