Residents from The Old Vicarage Care Home in Clay Cross were filled with festive cheer after taking part in the much-loved Adept Christmas Choir Competition, held at the beautiful St Catherine’s Church in Burbage.
The day was packed with laughter, music and Christmas magic as choirs from across Adept Care Homes came together to sing their chosen festive songs. The Old Vicarage choir delivered a joyful performance full of warmth and smiles — earning them the trophy for Best Small Choir.
The morning was a wonderful celebration of intergenerational connection, with babies, toddlers and residents sharing smiles, songs, playtime and touching moments that brought pure delight to everyone involved. The room buzzed with warmth as friendships formed naturally across generations.
The award recognises Adept Care Homes’ continued commitment to delivering high-quality, person-centred dementia care through innovative practice, compassionate leadership and dedicated teams across its homes. Judges praised Adept for its forward-thinking approach, focus on meaningful engagement, and the positive impact its care has on residents and their families.
Resident, Dorothy’s, dream comes true with a breathtaking helicopter ride over Derbyshire skies
There were cheers, smiles, and even a few happy tears at The Old Vicarage Care Home as Dot (Dorothy Brewer) (age 90), one of the home’s much-loved residents, saw her lifelong dream take flight — quite literally!
The Care Group of the Year nomination is particularly special, as Adept Care Homes proudly won this award in 2024. Being shortlisted again reflects the group’s continued commitment to providing outstanding, resident-focused care across its homes.
Residents across Adept Care Homes have once again put their green fingers to the test in the much-loved Annual Sunflower Competition, with this year’s tallest bloom reaching an incredible 9ft 4in (285cm) at Moat House Care Home.
The competition is a highlight of the year for residents and teams alike. It all begins with a celebratory planting session in spring, when residents plant not only sunflowers but also vegetables and other flowers as part of a wider gardening tradition. Exactly 100 days later, Grounds Manager Richard Mee makes his rounds with the measuring stick to determine which home’s sunflower stands the tallest.
Midlands, UK – July 2025 – Adept Care Homes has launched a heartfelt new initiative across all its care homes called ‘Stop The Clock’, designed to carve out moments of genuine connection and joy for residents and team members alike.
Twice a day, at 11:30am and 3:30pm, the usual routine takes a backseat as the homes pause the hustle for 10 minutes of pure, person-centred joy. Whether it’s a spontaneous sing-along, a quiet chat over tea, a game of dominoes, or a stroll in the garden, the focus is simple: connection.
A well-loved teddy bear with over 100 years of cuddles and memories has been lovingly restored, thanks to a touching wish granted by The Old Vicarage Care Home in partnership with Adept Care Homes’ Make a Wish program.
Ann, an 80-year-old resident at the Derbyshire home, recently fulfilled her lifelong dream of giving her treasured childhood bear a well-earned pampering. Originally her mother’s toy, this cherished teddy has been by Ann’s side for eight decades, dressed in hand-knitted clothes and steeped in family history.
The Old Vicarage Care Home has been awarded Best for Indoor or Outdoor Communal Space at the prestigious Care Home Awards 2025, in recognition of their transformative work creating vibrant, engaging environments for residents to enjoy.
The award follows the home’s standout 2024 community project: the design and construction of a brand-new pub and beer garden, now affectionately known as The Clay-Cross Keys. Named by the residents themselves, the pub has quickly become the heart of social life at The Old Vicarage—hosting everything from quiz nights and birthday parties to live music and Sunday roasts.
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