Nursing Home Turns Reception Area into Sweet Shop and Café

Hatherleigh Nursing Home near Okehampton, Devon, has re-vamped what was once its reception area, turning it into a sweet shop and café. The space now features shelves of traditional sweet jars alongside a small coffee area where drinks can be made and enjoyed, creating another place to sit and make a hot drink beyond the kitchenettes within each household.

The idea grew from a family member (resident) who previously ran her own sweet shop. She now spends time in the space with others, surrounded by something that still feels recognisable. The team worked with The Puzzled Sweet Shop in Dawlish to bring the idea to life, sourcing jars and a selection of classic sweets from the local business.

Jars line the shelves filled with liquorice all sorts, jelly beans, chocolate mice, peppermint creams and other traditional favourites. A vintage-style scale is used as sweets are weighed out into white or classic pink striped paper bags. The space has quickly become part of everyday life in the home, with people stopping by throughout the day. Some pause in front of the jars, taking their time to choose, while others sit nearby with a drink and watch as bags are filled and passed across the counter.

For some, it brings back the experience of stopping at the local shop, whether that was after school with friends or later taking their own children at the weekend, choosing sweets from behind the counter — something many remember as a familiar part of daily life. It has introduced a setting that feels recognisable, while also offering a place for relatives and visitors to pause when they arrive.

The change reflects a wider focus on the spaces people use each day and the routines that continue within them. By understanding each person’s history, preferences and habits, support is shaped around the individual, with family members continuing to live in a way that feels familiar to them. If you would like to learn more about Hatherleigh Nursing Home, please visit https://www.hatherleighnursinghome.com/lifes-journey-continued-2/

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