November Newsletter

1st of November 

🎉 Bingo Fun This Afternoon! 🎉
We had a fantastic game of bingo today — lots of friendly competition, and some lucky winners! 🏆👏
Our winners had some lovely prizes of shower gels and deodorants 💐🧴
Well done to everyone who joined in and made it such a fun afternoon! 💛

#BingoFun #CareHomeActivities #WellDoneEveryone

3rd of November 

🎲 Monopoly… Dunoon Style! 🏴

This afternoon, residents enjoyed a fantastic game of our very own homemade Monopoly, featuring Dunoon and the surrounding areas. Using old photographs of local landmarks, we bought and sold our way around town, sparking plenty of laughter and lovely reminiscing along the way.

The playing pieces were truly unique — including the CalMac, Highland Mary, Western Ferries, and even a piper major leading a pipe band! 🎶 To make it even more special, we used our own currency — Ardnahein Shillings. 💷

🎃 Raffle Winner 🎃

Congratulations to Donna, who was delighted to win first prize in our Halloween raffle — well done!

🌿 Warm, Welcoming & Home-From-Home 🌿

We’re also delighted to share that the new Ardnahein Care website is now live. It showcases our family-style atmosphere, person-centred care, joyful activities, and strong community links.

👉 www.ardnaheincare.co.uk

Come and take a look — your virtual visit starts here! 🏡✨

4th of November

☕️❄️ A Cosy Morning in Benmore Gardens ❄️☕️

Our day began in the most relaxing way, as Kath, Margaret, Jessie, and Audrey enjoyed creamy lattes and delicious mince pies in our Benmore Gardens area upstairs. 🌿✨ The ladies were captivated by beautiful scenes of Scotland’s stunning landscapes on the television — from misty lochs to rolling hills — enjoying a little armchair travel while staying warm and cosy.

💬 Residents’ Meeting 💛

This afternoon, residents gathered in the main lounge for our regular residents’ meeting. It was a wonderful opportunity for everyone to share ideas, discuss upcoming events, and have their voices heard about life here at Ardnahein. These conversations are so important to us and help shape our home and activities.

🎃💰 Halloween Scratch Card Winner 💰🎃

A big congratulations to Mr Connell, who popped in this afternoon to collect his £25 winnings from our Halloween Item Scratch Card — well done and enjoy your prize!

🏅🎉 Highland Games Success at Ardnahein 🎉🏅

Following the residents’ meeting, we were delighted to hold a special prize-giving ceremony to celebrate our achievements in the Highlands and Argyll & Bute Care Home Highland Games, which took place during August and September.

We were incredibly proud to receive:

🏆 Participation Award

🏆 Best Dressed Care Home

🏆 Activity 3 Winner

🏆 Best Family Involvement — awarded to Alice Clark 👏💖

Alongside these fantastic trophies, we also received £300 for our Residents’ Fund, which will go towards future activities and treats. 💷🙌

Bringing out the Jimmy hats and Scottish bonnets again sparked plenty of laughter and Highland pride — a brilliant way to celebrate teamwork and community spirit.

💪🎶 Go Team Ardnahein! 🎶💪

5th of November 

🎲 Games, Conversations & Heartfelt Wishes 🌳

This afternoon was filled with laughter and friendly competition as Jimmy and Hugh enjoyed some games with Jessica. Jimmy took on Connect Four, while Hugh opted for a game of dominoes, which ended in a well-matched 2–2 draw — proof that it really was anyone’s game!

Later in the afternoon, residents spent time chatting about what they would love to add to our Wish Tree, sharing some truly lovely and meaningful hopes.

✨ Mhairi wished she could see Mombasa again, where she grew up.

✨ Jessie dreamed of a visit to Puck’s Glen.

✨ Jean wished for a trip to Rothesay.

It was a special moment listening to their stories and dreams, reminding us how powerful memories and wishes can be. A wonderful afternoon of connection, conversation, and smiles.

6th of November 

🌟 A Big Thank You to Our Ardnahein Team 🌟

Following the conclusion of our recent unannounced Care Inspectorate visit, we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to every single member of the Ardnahein family. 💛

Your ongoing hard work, dedication, and commitment shine through in everything you do — from the high-quality care you provide to the laughter, music, and warmth that fill our home each day. The inspectors highlighted the professionalism, kindness, and welcoming nature of our team, which truly reflects the spirit of Ardnahein.

You make Ardnahein a vibrant, joyful, and caring place to live, work, and visit — a true home from home for our residents and their families. Thank you for being the heartbeat of our home. 💛✨

🎂 Let There Be Cake! 🎂

We also celebrated Mavis’s birthday, and what better way to mark the occasion than with cake, smiles, and shared joy. A lovely celebration enjoyed by all!

🎶 Music Therapy Morning 🎶

Our residents certainly raised the roof during a lively music therapy session at Ardnahein. The room was filled with singing, laughter, and rhythm — a wonderful reminder of how powerful music can be in bringing people together.

7th of November 

🌺 Intergenerational Creativity for Remembrance 🌺

Today, we were delighted to welcome the children from Patchwork Nursery, who joined our residents for a very special intergenerational creative activity. Together, they designed and decorated their very own cenotaph, which will sit proudly alongside our other decorations as we prepare for our Remembrance Services taking place on Sunday and Tuesday. ❤️

It was truly heart-warming to see different generations coming together — sharing stories, creativity, and meaningful moments — while honouring those who served and sacrificed for our freedom.

As part of our Remembrance preparations, residents also took part in a History of Remembrance presentation and discussion. Dave kindly shared his army medals and military headdress, sparking conversation, memories, and reflection. A very moving and educational session for everyone involved.

🇬🇧 We will remember them. 🇬🇧

We would also like to say a huge congratulations to Rahel, who has completed all the stamps on her accolade card. In recognition of her hard work and dedication, she received a gift card today — very well deserved! 👏

9th November 2025

Remembrance Sunday was marked with great respect and reflection at Ardnahein.

Earlier in the day, our Activities Lead Dave, alongside our Manager’s daughter Olivia-Grace, proudly attended the local Remembrance Day commemorations in Dunoon. It was a moving morning of remembrance, honouring those who served and sacrificed for our freedom. We were proud to see our Ardnahein family represented in the wider community, standing in support of our veterans and ensuring their legacy is never forgotten. 🌺

Back at Ardnahein, residents and staff came together to observe the two minutes’ silence, creating a quiet and poignant moment of reflection. Kath then laid our poppy wreath at the cenotaph, a heartfelt tribute made all the more special by seeing our residents wearing their poppies with pride.

The afternoon brought a lighter moment as Fawn the bunny rabbit paid a visit, bringing smiles, gentle cuddles, and lots of joy to residents and staff alike 🐰❤️.

We also had a very special celebration as we marked Mhairi’s birthday. A big Happy Birthday to Mhairi from everyone at Ardnahein — we hope you enjoyed your special day 🎂🎉.

11th of November

Today Ardnahein Remembers, we held our Remembrance service this morning, Betty had the honour of laying a wreath at the cenotaph in honour of those who gave their lives.

A poignant moment of reflection, gratitude, and remembrance.

🌺 Lest we forget 🌺

#LestWeForget

#ArdnaheinRemembers

14th of November 

This morning, Hugh and Audrey enjoyed a lovely trip over to Patchwork Nursery, where they joined the children in creating beautiful clay Christmas baubles. With the wonderful support of Moira from Holy Loch Pottery, everyone got hands-on, shaping, and decorating their own festive creations.

It was a joyful intergenerational morning filled with laughter, creativity, and Christmas spirit. A big thank you to Patchwork Nursery and Moira for making it such a special experience! ❤️✨

🎉 We’ve hit a fantastic milestone — 1,500 followers! 🎉

Today our wonderful staff and residents came together to hold up a big “THANK YOU” sign to celebrate each and every one of you who supports us. 💖

Your likes, shares, comments, and kindness mean the world to us. Because of you, we get to share our activities, stories, and smiles with a growing community that truly cares.

From all of us here — thank you for helping us reach 1,500 followers! Here’s to many more memories, moments, and milestones together. 🥰✨

#1500Followers #ThankYou #CareHomeCommunity #FeelingGrateful

15th of November 

Today we celebrated Kindness Day 💝

A small gesture can mean so much, so we shared a wee gift with our wonderful staff and visitors to say thank you for all the kindness, smiles, and care you show every day.

Kindness costs nothing, but it truly makes a difference 💗

#KindnessDay #SpreadKindness #LittleThingsMeanALot 💝

Some of our residents enjoyed a lovely pamper from Margaret today 💕

18th of November 

🎹 A Musical Afternoon to Remember! 🎶

This afternoon, some of our residents were invited to a beautiful piano recital at Patchwork Nursery, thanks to the amazing Catherine Nardiello, who is currently touring around Scotland. Both Brian and Ian really enjoyed the performance — it was such a treat!

And we had a wonderful surprise on the way out… Ian spotted his picture on the wall, displayed proudly inside a wreath the children had made. 🥰✨ Such a heartwarming moment, and a reminder of how special our intergenerational connections truly are.

A big thank you to Patchwork Nursery and Catherine for making today so memorable for our residents. 💛

🌟 Huge Congratulations to Connor & Amy! 🌟

A massive well done to both of you for completing your Accolade Card and receiving your well-earned gift! 🎁✨

Each of your 5 stamps were earned through moments of going above and beyond, recognised not just by the team, but by our residents, families, and partner services. ❤️

Your kindness, hard work, and dedication shine every single day, and we are so proud to celebrate you both.

Keep being amazing, Connor and Amy Ardnahein is a better place because of you! 💛👏

22nd of November 

🎉 Afternoon Bingo Fun! 🎉
This afternoon we had a fantastic game of bingo, with Brian, Myra and Mary all winning themselves some chocolate treats! 🍫😄
Plenty of laughs, friendly competition, and a lovely way to spend the afternoon together. 💛

This morning Mary had a lovely wander down the street at the Dunoon Dazzles Christmas Market, looking at all the stalls and enjoying a wee cup of coffee and a scone at Blacks. We even got to see the reindeer and did some window shopping with Grace.🎄

24th of November 
⛄ Ardnahein Snowman Hunt Has Begun! ⛄❄️

Today we kicked off our Ardnahein Snowman Hunt and the excitement has already started! Our mischievous snowmen are hiding all around the home, just waiting to be found.

Family’s,Residents and staff will be keeping their eyes peeled over the next few weeks — and whoever collects the most snowmen before our Family Party on the 19th of December will win a special festive prize! 🎁✨

Let the hunt begin… and may the best snowman-spotter win! 👀⛄💙

Today we were invited along to the Queen’s Hall for the Youth Voice Showcase for Argyll and Bute. It was fantastic to see the incredible initiatives that young people have taken part in, as well as what they plan to do in the future. We learned that more young people are working towards having their voices heard within the wider community.

One of the initiatives in Cowal involved supporting us with our Highland Games event at the Grammar School back in September. It was lovely to look back at the photos of our residents and the young sports leaders working together while also having fun.

25th November

The Search for Our Missing Snowmen

Today, some of our residents and staff teamed up for a fun and festive activity as they went on the hunt for our missing snowmen. With plenty of smiles and seasonal cheer, everyone enjoyed searching around the home together.

The activity encouraged gentle movement, teamwork, and lots of conversation, making it a lovely way for residents to stay active and engaged. Best of all, there are still plenty of snowmen left to be found, so the fun is set to continue over the coming days.

A delightful festive activity that brought laughter and excitement as we count down to the Christmas season. ⛄❄️

28th of November 

✨ A Huge Thank You to Our Amazing Ardnahein Team ✨

Today we had the absolute pleasure of surprising our wonderful staff with a little festive treat to recognise their hard work, dedication, and outstanding achievements this year. 💛

Each member of our team received a beautifully presented bouquet, chocolates, a bottle of bubbly to celebrate, and a Morrisons voucher to help with their Christmas spread or anything else they might choose to treat themselves to. 🎄💐🥂

A massive thank you to The Woodland Florist in Kirn for helping us keep the surprise under wraps and for creating such stunning gifts. They were absolutely perfect!

To our staff: your kindness, commitment, and passion shine through every single day. Ardnahein wouldn’t be the warm, joyful home it is without you. We appreciate you more than words can say. 💛✨

Here’s to a wonderful Christmas and an exciting year ahead! 🎅🎁💛

A Day of Energy, Entertainment and Festive Cheer

The day began on an active note as Demilynn took charge of our morning exercise class. Residents enjoyed starting the day with gentle movement, encouragement, and plenty of smiles.

🎭❄️ Panto Season Has Officially Begun! ❄️🎭

In the afternoon, Mary, Jimmy, and Chrissie enjoyed a wonderful festive outing to the Queen’s Hall, where they watched the pantomime “It’s Pure Freezin’.” The show was thoroughly enjoyed by all, with laughter, music, and plenty of panto fun filling the afternoon.

A special well done goes to the talented young performers who delivered such an entertaining production. After the show, they kindly took time to have photos taken with our residents, which was a lovely and much-appreciated gesture.

Jimmy clapped enthusiastically throughout the entire performance and rounded off a fantastic day with a well-deserved ice cream, adding an extra smile to an already joyful outing. 🍦😁

It was a truly delightful way to kick off the festive season, creating happy memories and plenty of cheer. 🎄💫

30th of November 

 
This afternoon, we were delighted to celebrate St Andrew’s Day in true Scottish style with a visit from Jennifer McCann, who joined us to play the chanter. The home was filled with the sound of beautiful Scottish music, creating a warm and uplifting atmosphere that everyone thoroughly enjoyed. Residents listened, sang along, and shared smiles throughout the performance 💙🏴

Following the music, residents enjoyed a delicious selection of refreshments including cheese and biscuits, grapes, shortbread, and, of course, a much-loved Scottish favourite — Irn Bru 🧀🍇🥃

Jennifer also kindly assisted with drawing our November prize draw winner and generously donated a nail voucher for our tombola. We are incredibly grateful for her thoughtfulness and continued support.

It was a truly wonderful afternoon of music, celebration, and togetherness, and a fitting way to honour St Andrew’s Day. 🎉

#StAndrewsDay #ScottishCelebration 

November's Lunches 

Some lovely food on offer this November from our talented chefs.

MOMENT OF THE MONTH

November had some lovely moments throughout, but the highlight had to be all our staff receiving a bouquet of flowers from Woodland Forest, chocolates from Oban, a bottle of Prosecco and a Morrisons gift card in recognition of all their hard work this year. 💐🍫💝