View all of Pine Martin Grange news & blog posts below
Music and movement
March 2025 | Pine Martin Grange | NewsStudies have shown that music and movement can have a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of people living in care homes, so this is why it plays an important part in the activity programme at Pine Martin Grange. In a recent session, our ladies and gentlemen sang and moved along to music by ...
Read moreThe body and mind
March 2025 | Pine Martin Grange | NewsOur ladies and gentlemen at Pine Martin Grange really enjoying playing games because they know they are great for the body and mind. In a typical day, you can find them playing indoor bowls, darts, and golf, as well as doing puzzles and spending time on our interactive magic table. Lots of stimulati...
Read moreFlower of Scotland
February 2025 | Pine Martin Grange | NewsOh Flower of Scotland! We had a fantastic afternoon celebrating Burns Night in our beautiful Heritage Hall. We were very lucky to have the wonderful Hamish come and play his bagpipes and recite some poems for us. There was also lots of traditional Scottish food and everyone had a lovely time. ...
Read moreCommunity coffee morning
February 2025 | Pine Martin Grange | NewsWe had a community coffee morning in aid of Pets as Therapy which was well supported and we raised a fantastic £150 for this wonderful charity. We have therapy dogs who visit our ladies and gentlemen so we know what a difference they make. Pine Martin is fast becoming a community destination and it...
Read moreTai Chi
February 2025 | Pine Martin Grange | NewsWe have introduced Tai Chi as a regular activity at Pine Martin Grange and as you will see from the photographs it has been thoroughly embraced by our ladies and gentlemen. This gentle form of exercise helps to maintain strength, flexibility and balance and it’s generally great for overall hea...
Read moreKeeping active
January 2025 | Pine Martin Grange | NewsIt’s important to stay active regardless of your age, but it’s certainly even more vital when you get older and our activity programme at Pine Martin Grange certainly reflects this. Whether it’s trips out, games which require some physical involvement or things which exercise the m...
Read moreParty games
January 2025 | Pine Martin Grange | NewsThe ‘PMG Arms’ pub was open as we invited family and friends to join our ladies and gentlemen in enjoying an afternoon of party games and a Christmas quiz. There were also lots of presents and plenty of lovely food and drink and everyone had lots of fun. It was a real festive family occasion. ...
Read moreChristmas wonderland
December 2024 | Pine Martin Grange | NewsWe took our ladies and gentlemen to a Christmas wonderland at Poundbury Garden centre courtesy of Sarah from our tour operator Myley. We went on a magical journey through all the different displays and lights. It was absolutely amazing and put us all well and truly in the Christmas spirit! Festive! ...
Read moreA fantastic time
December 2024 | Pine Martin Grange | NewsWe had a fantastic time at the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) College in Poole courtesy of Sarah from our tour operator Myley. The lifeboat crew were training and it was so interesting watching them. We all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. A real trip to remember for our ladies and gents. ...
Read moreIntergenerational care activities
December 2024 | Pine Martin Grange | NewsWe have had some fantastic intergenerational care activities at Pine Martin Grange. Firstly we welcomed Sandford Brownies who put on their lovely nativity show for us, and then it was the turn of children from Sandford Primary School to visit. They sang festive songs and then exchanged Christmas car...
Read moreLifetime achievement award
December 2024 | Bramshott Grange | Bramshott Grange LinksMike Parsons, the Chair of Dormy Care Communities, has received a lifetime achievement award. Mike received the honour at the 2024 National Care Awards held in London on 29th November. The award is in recognition of his service in the care industry, which began in 1992 when he founded Barchester He...
Read moreA real kick
November 2024 | Pine Martin Grange | NewsOur ladies and gentlemen got a real kick from the arrival of two special visitors – two donkeys called Albert and Snoop. Decked out in their finest festive outfits, Albert and Snoop were incredibly well behaved and they caused a lot of excitement around the home. Our ladies and gents loved see...
Read moreA song and dance
November 2024 | Pine Martin Grange | NewsOur ladies and gentlemen always like to make a song and dance, but only in the nicest way! They say a picture paints a thousand words so we will let you decide how much they enjoyed it when Louisa came into the home recently. There are few things better than music therapy and when you add dancing to...
Read moreLove to bake
November 2024 | Pine Martin Grange | NewsOur ladies and gentlemen love to bake as you can see from the look of concentration on their faces. Baking can be an incredibly beneficial activity for older people for a number of reasons, including being calming activity which can encourage relaxation and reduce stress, stimulating appetite and ev...
Read moreTherapy dogs
November 2024 | Pine Martin Grange | NewsOur therapy dogs Hebe and Puzzle bring so much love and joy to everyone, as you can see from these wonderful photographs taken at one of their recent visits. Animal therapy has proven health and wellbeing benefits and for many of our ladies and gentlemen, having owned dogs or other pets during their...
Read moreCelebrate the success
November 2024 | Bramshott Grange | Bramshott Grange LinksWe were delighted to once again come together to celebrate the success of our team members who make a difference and go above and beyond in supporting the ladies and gentlemen who live in our four homes. Staff from Dormy Care Communities came together in Bath in October for the annual Dormy Care Awa...
Read moreA trip down memory lane
November 2024 | Pine Martin Grange | NewsSome of our gentlemen went on a wonderful trip down memory lane on our latest outing. That’s because we took them on the Swanage Steam train. We had a fantastic time reliving wonderful memories. We then took at stroll through Swanage town and of course a cup of coffee on the seafront! A fantas...
Read moreAnimal therapy
October 2024 | Pine Martin Grange | NewsAnimal therapy has numerous proven benefits and as you can see from the pictures, there were lots of smiles and cuddles when our lovely PAT dogs Hebe and Puzzle came to visit our ladies and gentlemen. The dogs are so gentle and patient and our ladies and gents lapped it up, quite literally. It’...
Read moreOur latest trip
October 2024 | Pine Martin Grange | NewsWe didn’t let the weather spoil our latest trip with our travel partner Myley to Poole RNLI Museum and that’s because we spent most of the time indoors. The trips with Myley are proving very popular with our ladies and gentlemen who enjoy getting out and about and having new adventures o...
Read moreMovement play
October 2024 | Pine Martin Grange | NewsWe recently Jabadao as one of our activities at Pine Martin Grange and as you can see from the pictures, there were lots of laughs and engagement among our ladies and gentlemen when they were doing it. Jabadao is movement play that is good for health, happiness and general wellbeing. In our activity...
Read moreAn enjoyable afternoon
October 2024 | Pine Martin Grange | NewsBaking is one of our favourite activities and some of our ladies recently spent an enjoyable afternoon making cookies together. As you can see from the concentration on centenarian Alice’s face in one of the pictures, they took the making of the cookies very seriously indeed but after there wa...
Read moreLive Music
September 2024 | Pine Martin Grange | NewsWe all enjoyed listening and dancing to some live music by Tyler James. Our ladies and gentlemen really look forward to entertainers coming to the home and as you can see from the photographers, everyone gets involved, whether it’s getting up to dance, singing or just tapping their feet. ...
Read moreA trip down memory lane
September 2024 | Pine Martin Grange | NewsIt’s always nice to take a trip down memory lane as part of our reminiscence sessions and this time we looked at pictures of famous female movie stars. Everyone loved talking about the films they had seen them in. A real therapeutic but fun activity. #gallery-23 { margin: auto; } ...
Read moreA wonderful trip
September 2024 | Pine Martin Grange | NewsWe had a wonderful trip courtesy of our travel partner Myley to Boscombe Pier recently. Sunshine, laughter, coffees and drawing in the sand! Pure sunshine therapy. We could have been in the Mediterranean, although if this week’s weather is anything to go by, it will be more like the Antarctic ...
Read moreRecipe book
September 2024 | Bramshott Grange | Bramshott Grange LinksDormy Care Communities has ensured the memories of the ladies and gentlemen in our homes will live forever through the publication of a new recipe book. From the Heart of Home is the name of the book, which is a compilation of classic recipes handed down through generations and recalled by the ladie...
Read moreMemory lane
September 2024 | Pine Martin Grange | NewsStepping down memory lane always brings lots of stories and laughter with our ladies and gentlemen in our reminiscence sessions. Another great brain training exercise. Studies have shown that older people who reminisce have lower blood pressure and heart rates, along with a host of other benefits. ...
Read morePets as Therapy
September 2024 | Pine Martin Grange | NewsThere are always lots of smiles and cuddles when our beautiful Pets As Therapy (PAT) dogs come. They provide lovely memories of pets our ladies and gents used to have. Animal therapy, especially dogs, like this touches people psychologically, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. ...
Read moreMindful relaxation
September 2024 | Pine Martin Grange | NewsWe are some mindful relaxation with Tai Chi and then a bit more energy with indoor basketball on the Forget Me Not Floor. The basketball was a very different activity but our ladies and gentlemen really enjoyed channeling their inner Lebron James. #gallery-27 { margin: auto; } #gall...
Read moreArts and crafts
September 2024 | Pine Martin Grange | NewsWe had a busy day of arts and crafts across the home. Lots of concentration and attention to detail. Superb work from our ladies and gentlemen. We have very creative minds in our home and everyone looks forward to these sessions as these are great social occasions too. #gallery-28 { margi...
Read moreSummer fair
August 2024 | Pine Martin Grange | NewsWell, what a wonderful Summer Fair we had! The sun shone, we had a BBQ, Louisa sang all afternoon, we had lots of games, stalls and a raffle. We were also visited by Top Hat bikers and their absolutely amazing motorbikes. Our ladies and gents thoroughly enjoyed themselves and it was great to see so ...
Read moreA fantastic trip
August 2024 | Pine Martin Grange | NewsWe had a fantastic trip to Upton Country Park courtesy of our travel partner Myley and our lovely driver Sarah. It was great to get out in the fresh air and be amongst nature. Excellent for our mental wellbeing and why activities like these are important to our ladies and gentlemen. #gallery-...
Read moreThe sound of music
August 2024 | Pine Martin Grange | NewsWe love listening to the sound of music at Pine Martin Grange and were recently treated to lovely outdoor performance from a bagpipe player. It was a beautiful day listening to some lovely music and our ladies and gentlemen thoroughly enjoyed the performance. Music plays an important part of the act...
Read moreGolden moments
August 2024 | Pine Martin Grange | NewsThere were lots of golden moments to enjoy at the Paris Olympics and even more golden moments when did our own version of the games at Pine Martin Grange. Activities included making doughnuts in the colours of the Olympic colours, making Olympic torches and lots of games that kept everyone moving. W...
Read moreA wonderful trip
August 2024 | Pine Martin Grange | NewsWe had our first trip out as part of a new and exciting partnership with our tour operator Myley. Our lovely driver Sarah took us in a minibus on a wonderful trip to Moreton Church, Tearooms and Gardens. We all had a fantastic time and are already looking forward to our next trip. Myley tours provid...
Read moreTaking flight
July 2024 | Pine Martin Grange | NewsWe enjoyed taking flight as part of our Flight Week activity programme. It took us to far flung places such as Japan, Canada and India. Activities included learning and listening to Japanese Haiku poetry, enjoying some Indian head massages and designing our Greek pots using a selection of materials....
Read moreThe age of air travel
June 2024 | Bramshott Grange | Bramshott Grange LinksWith our around the world flight taking place across all of our homes this week we take a look at the history of air travel and how it has enabled us to visit destinations people could only used to dream about. It took only 12 seconds and covered a distance of just 40 yards but in North Carolina jus...
Read moreD-Day landings
June 2024 | Bramshott Grange | Bramshott Grange LinksDoreen Binks was aged 14 and living with her parents in a village near Nottingham when the D-Day landings took place on 6th June 1944. She recalls the big headlines in the newspapers in the following days which confirmed the invasion of western Europe was underway and the sense of optimism that gave...
Read moreAllied invasion
June 2024 | Bramshott Grange | Bramshott Grange LinksMost people who were alive at the time will remember where they were on D-Day and how they first heard the news that the Allied invasion of Europe was underway. June 6 1944 saw 160,000 Allied troops land on the beaches of Normandy. Nearly a million more would follow that summer and gradually sweep n...
Read moreA dog’s life
June 2024 | Pine Martin Grange | NewsIt’s a dog’s life at Pine Martin Grange, but that’s a good thing as it means our dog show Scrufts was a major success, just one of many interesting and exciting activities which took place in the home during May. It was great to welcome so many amazing dogs and people into the home...
Read moreDementia Action Week
May 2024 | Bramshott Grange | Bramshott Grange LinksMay is the month when the UK gets into full bloom – and it’s not just in the garden or countryside you’ll be seeing flowers emerging. The Forget Me Not appeal is an annual initiative that encourages people to wear a blue flower badge for the month of May to raise awareness and vital funds for ...
Read moreInternational Nurses Day
May 2024 | Bramshott Grange | Bramshott Grange LinksInternational Nurses Day is a day to celebrate and recognise the vital role that nurses play in all forms of health and social care in the UK and further afield. The value of nurses is well recognised at Dormy Care. We have qualified nurses working in all our homes and our founder and CEO, Helen Dav...
Read moreNational Scrabble Day
April 2024 | Bramshott Grange | Bramshott Grange LinksWhat links tribal chiefs from the West indies with Amazonian tropical birds and a competition held in North-West England in the eighties? Give up? Well, the word Caziques is used to describe both the birds and the chiefs – a fact demonstrated to great effect by Dr Karl Khoshnaw when he used it at ...
Read moreLyndsey is living proof
January 2024 | Pine Martin Grange | NewsLyndsey Tyndall is living proof that, in life, if you want something badly enough and you’re prepared to work hard, eventually you can get there. Lyndsey, 33, works at Pine Martin Grange, and with the help and support of the home’s owners, Dormy Care Communities, has just qualified as a Nurse As...
Read moreUsing his skills
January 2024 | Bramshott Grange | NewsHaving spent the bulk of his career working in some of the most highly rated restaurants in the world, Alex Thomas is now using his skills in a different way by enhancing the experience of residents, staff, and visitors at our four homes. Alex works in Regional Business Support for Dormy Care Commun...
Read moreThe finer things in life
January 2024 | Bramshott Grange | Bramshott Grange LinksDormy Care Communities has teamed up with the UK’s largest specialist wine retailer to ensure the ladies and gentlemen in our homes can enjoy even more of the finer things in life. The new partnership with Majestic Wine ensures that the wines on offer in our homes are on a par with many top re...
Read moreA bit of magic
January 2024 | Pine Martin Grange | NewsWe have been able to bring a little bit of magic to our ladies and gentlemen at Pine Martin Grange after introducing a new interactive light projector which enables them to play stimulating games. Provided in partnership with Social-Ability and designed and manufactured in the UK, the Happiness Prog...
Read moreNational Trivia Day
January 2024 | Bramshott Grange | Bramshott Grange LinksToday is National Trivia Day, a day when we can celebrate our knowledge and a chance to get our ‘thinking caps’ on. Playing brain games and staying mentally active can significantly help to reduce and slow down the potential negative mental effects brought on by growing older, and can potential...
Read moreNational Safeguarding Week
November 2023 | Bramshott Grange | Bramshott Grange LinksIt’s National Safeguarding Week, an opportunity to highlight this hugely important subject and one we take incredibly seriously at Dormy. Across our Dormy Care Communities, safeguarding and protecting the ladies and gentlemen who live with us is our absolute priority every day of the year. Their w...
Read moreThe real love of his life
September 2023 | Bramshott Grange | NewsA year spent in a laboratory experimenting with rapeseed was enough to convince James Thomas that a career in biochemical engineering was not for him. Instead, he decided to pursue the real love of his life, hospitality and catering, and this eventually led him to his current role as Executive Chef ...
Read moreA chance conversation
September 2023 | Pine Martin Grange | NewsA chance conversation in a hotel brought Louise Clarkson to Pine Martin Grange and it certainly worked out well for her and our ladies and gentlemen who benefit from the wide range of activities that exercise their mind, body, and soul! Until she became our Activities Coordinator, Louise had worked ...
Read moreWithout one you don’t have the other
September 2023 | Pine Martin Grange | News“I see my role as championing our staff and ladies and gentlemen who live in our home because without one you don’t have the other.” That’s the approach Helen Lacey takes in her role as Home Director at Pine Martin Grange and it’s as an ethos which has served her well during her career. Al...
Read moreFalls prevention technology
September 2023 | Bramshott Grange | NewsDormy Care Communities has become the first in the UK to roll-out a ‘revolutionary’ Scandinavian state-of-the-art falls prevention technology in a project which is already seeing impressive results. We have partnered with Norway-based Sensio, to install RoomMate, a revolutionary safety sensor. T...
Read moreDaredevil Liv
September 2023 | Pine Martin Grange | NewsLike her father before her, daredevil Liv Button recently took the plunge to raise money for a charity very close to her heart. The 22-year-old dived out a plane from 10,000 feet as part of a fundraiser for the Alzheimer’s Society. Liv chose that particular charity because she works in the housek...
Read moreThe importance of Nutrition and Hydration
March 2023 | Bramshott Grange | NewsGood nutrition and hydration are vital to everybody’s health and well-being, but as we continue to age, this is not always as easy to maintain. It is believed that 25% of elderly people experience mild chronic dehydration and 10% are malnourished or at risk of malnutrition. Older people are more l...
Read moreActivities for people who walk with purpose
March 2023 | Bramshott Grange | NewsMany of the ladies and gentlemen who live in our homes will have had pets at sometime during their lives, whether that’s a cat, dog, or even a goldfish. There’s a reason we call dogs man’s best friend and why studies have shown that cats can lower stress and anxiety. Our furry friends have a p...
Read moreThe Puuurfect Companions in our Homes
March 2023 | Bramshott Grange | NewsMany of the ladies and gentlemen who live in our homes will have had pets at sometime during their lives, whether that’s a cat, dog, or even a goldfish. There’s a reason we call dogs man’s best friend and why studies have shown that cats can lower stress and anxiety. Our furry friends have a p...
Read morePine Martin Grange host ‘cooking for dysphagia’ morning
February 2020 | Pine Martin Grange | NewsWe are always looking at new and innovative ways to support our ladies and gentlemen and to develop the skills our teams have here at Pine Martin Grange! Recently, we hosted an informative dysphagia event in conjunction with one of our local food suppliers, Country Fayre. A condition that causes ind...
Read moreCare home magazine interviews Dormy CEO on next generation of care homes
January 2020 | Bramshott Grange | NewsDormy Care’s very own CEO, Helen Davies-Parsons, was recently interviewed by Care Home Professional magazine about her vision for the next generation of luxury care homes. Discussing everything from where Dormy started to how it has grown and all of the well thought-through design, interior and ca...
Read moreDormy Care’s Commitment to being Environmentally Friendly
December 2019 | Bramshott Grange | NewsDormy Care is passionate about caring for the environment in everything we do. We are always looking for ways to minimise our carbon footprint across our portfolio of homes and believe that it is equally as important to look out for younger generations as it is to care for our older ones. Her...
Read moreLucy, our singing carer, has been shortlisted for Care Awards 2018
November 2018 | Pine Martin Grange | NewsThis is Lucy Frost, Lucy has been shortlisted for Care Home Worker of the Year in the Bournemouth Daily Echo Proud to Care Awards 2018! Lucy is our very own ‘singing carer’! Lucy is so proactive with activities, particularly anything musical. It might be arranging a sing-a-long in the lounge o...
Read moreLocal Care Home Wins prestigious Industry Award!
September 2018 | Pine Martin Grange | NewsPine Martin Grange Care Home in Wareham, Dorset part of Mayflower Care Communities has been confirmed as the winner of the prestigious Pinders Healthcare Design Award 2018 in the ‘Best New Elderly Care Home Category’. The Pinders Healthcare Design Awards are an important part of the care industr...
Read morePine Martin Grange helps resident set sail for the first time in 6 years
August 2018 | Pine Martin Grange | NewsAfter a life on the sea, Pine Martin Grange resident John Newbury has been unable to set sail for the past six years. Living with Parkinson’s Disease means that John – a retired Captain and Master Mariner – has been unable to pursue his passion for sailing. Pine Martin Grange desperately w...
Read moreAward-winning Wareham care home achieves ‘good’ CQC rating
July 2018 | Pine Martin Grange | NewsPine Martin Grange in Wareham has been awarded a rating of good by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Mayflower Care Communities’ luxury residential and dementia home was recently inspected by the independent regulator of health and social care in England, having opened in August 2017. Helen Maiel...
Read moreSome Oomph at Pine Martin Grange
June 2018 | Pine Martin Grange | NewsWe are delighted with our latest partnership with Oomph-Wellness, with a focus on creating and delivering a fabulous range of activities for our residents! Taking a whole-home approach to activities, staff at Pine Martin Grange have been trained in Oomph!’s Wellbeing Leadership programme. This wil...
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