A Complex Care Home in Devon Where Stories Matter

When someone lives with a Dementia; lives with an altered sense of reality, the challenge isn’t just clinical – it’s human. Behind each diagnosis is a lifetime of memories, identity and meaning still trying to find a voice. Too often, traditional care settings focus on managing symptoms rather than understanding the person beneath them. At Heanton Nursing Home, the approach is different. Care means connection. Behaviour is not a problem to solve, but a message to interpret and respond to with compassion, skill and respect.

This is the story of how one woman’s journey, marked by talent, grace and eventual vulnerability, found a new chapter of dignity and purpose thanks to a team who know that complex care begins with listening.

The Roots of Barbara’s Brilliant Mind

Barbara Vivien Walsh’s story began in Hampshire in 1947. At the age of two, her family moved into a large country house, where she spent her early childhood surrounded by older siblings and lovingly cared for by Miss Fudge – a kind and constant presence who remained with her until she started school at five.

As the youngest of three, Barbara was the baby of the family, much loved and adored. But those early years of warmth were disrupted by a sudden shadow. Her mother fell ill with meningitis, and for a time, the family faced the unbearable uncertainty of whether she would survive. In the chaos of that moment, the children were sent to different places, a temporary arrangement meant to shield them from the storm. Barbara, still so little, was returned to the familiar care of Miss Fudge.

In the years just after the war, with so many families still coping with loss, such arrangements were seen as practical rather than harmful. Yet for Barbara, the separation left a quiet scar, a sense of abandonment that settled deep within her and never truly left.

Barbara was exceptionally bright from an early age, able to read, write, and speak fluently by the time she was just three years old. Her love of learning led her to Neuchatel University in Switzerland, where she studied French Literature. Being a linguist and an academic was simply part of Barbara’s nature, shaped by the environment she grew up in. As Phillipa her sister, shared “we didn’t have a television, so we read constantly, and our mother often took us to the theatre and operettas. Each evening, we sat at the table talking about everything from politics to philosophy. Barbara had a great sense of humour and told jokes with our father, most were terrible, but we laughed anyway.”

A Life of Talent and Compassion

Later, Barbara moved to London, where she attended drama school on a scholarship and later secured a job at Richmond Theatre. There, she played several roles, including the nurse in Romeo and Juliet, Eva in Jean Anouilh’s, (French dramatist and screenwriter) Thieves’ Carnival, and starred in Restoration comedies, where her comic talent truly shone. At one point, Jack Lemmon’s agent offered to represent her in the United States, but Barbara chose not to pursue the opportunity. Instead, she married, though even on her wedding day, an instinct told her it wasn’t quite right. She stayed for a time, hoping it might work but ultimately, they went their separate ways and with it, her promising theatre career faded.

Barbara went on to work as a Civil Servant at the Ministry of Defence. However, during the years of Margaret Thatcher’s leadership and the Falklands War, she became deeply affected by the injuries and suffering she witnessed in those who returned from conflict. Motivated by a desire to help in a more frontline way, Barbara made a significant career change in her forties, enrolling at the University of Exeter to become an Occupational Therapist.

Aside from her academic talents and intelligence, Barbara is kind, honest, and friendly, though naturally quite timid, always beautifully dressed in a very traditional style, but taking risks was never part of her nature. Yet in social settings, she comes to life, performing and making friends easily. A love for animals has always been part of who Barbara is. She cared for two horses, attended horse shows, rode in point-to-point races, and confidently jumped high fences. The horses adored her, and the bond between them was unspoken but known. It was a passion she shared with her mother, and together they spent many days side by side.

The Journey into Dementia

Barbara was officially diagnosed with a Dementia by her doctor in Yelverton in 2020, though the signs had begun to appear much earlier. By August 2016, her sister had noticed a growing sense of fear and frustration when she forgot things, and a tendency to repeat worries and concerns. That year, the death of a close friend of over forty years standing, seemed to affect her deeply.

For a time, she managed to hold on to her routines. But the loss of her beloved dog Monty in 2023, changed everything. Her capacity declined quickly, and through her fear, she began to hide away the things she could no longer use – her computer, her phone, the objects that once connected her to daily life. Not out of frustration, but from a sadness that ran deep. Each one was a small surrender, a sign that something once simple had slipped just out of reach.

Barbara’s move to Heanton Nursing Home wasn’t a decision made by her family. It came after a difficult period in which she had spent over a month in a closed dementia ward. At that time, decisions about her care and placement were made by professionals responsible for ensuring her safety, leaving her sister unable to influence where she would go next.

The hospital in Plymouth recommended Heanton because it could offer the level of care Barbara needed, even though Philippa had hoped for a placement closer to her own home in the area. It wasn’t an ideal outcome “Heanton is over 250 miles away, a six-hour journey, making regular visits nearly impossible” she shared.  And yet, despite the distance, Heanton became a place of stability and safety.

Philippa, who once spoke to Barbara every day, now sends weekly letters and parcels, holding on to the precious connection they once shared “I am heartbroken; my little sister with whom I laughed most of the time no longer exists and has left me to grow old alone without her.”

To bring some comfort to Philippa and help bridge the distance between them, photos and videos are shared – Barbara dancing, smiling, a glimpse of the person she’s always been. Philippa shared, “She looks great in the video, and this cheers me up a lot,” her words carrying both relief and sorrow. She reflected on the ache of their separation, recognising that much of the pain lives in her own heart and that loving someone deeply often means wanting their comfort, even at the cost of your own.

Philippa gave her blessing for the photos to be shared.

Trust at Heanton Nursing Home

Settling into a new place wasn’t easy at first. Like anyone, Barbara needed time to feel at home. At first, everything was unfamiliar, the faces, the routines, even the rhythm of her days. But over time, as she began to trust those around her, she came to see that the team was not there to take over her life, but to stand beside her.

The care she receives is rooted in respect – for her past, her independence and her identity. As part of the world she now experiences through the dementia, Barbara genuinely believes she is still working as an occupational therapist. It’s not simply a memory she holds onto; it’s a time in her life that she has emotionally and mentally returned to. And in many ways, that role still lives through her. She often tries to support others in the home, offering to help other residents (family members) or instruct the team – gestures that come from a deep, ingrained desire to be useful, to care.

The team recognises how significant this identity is for Barbara. Rather than correcting her, they gently create opportunities where she can feel purposeful and respected in the role, she believes she holds. Past occupation is key in keeping Barbara engaged and it’s clear that this thoughtful approach brings her comfort and calm.

Heanton understand that it’s not about restricting what people can do. It’s about standing alongside them, offering the right support at the right time, and making sure they still feel in control of their lives. They know that care isn’t just about tasks, it’s about connection. Sometimes, what Barbara needs most is simply someone to sit beside her chatting during a cigarette break, to listen, to share laughter, have a good rant or even a well-earned complaint! as any loved one would. As Home Manager Abi Denford shares, “That’s what we do at Heanton: we become the family each person needs, and in turn, they become family to us.” In fact, Barbara’s bond with the team has grown so strong that she fondly calls one carer as her “adoptive daughter”.

Though she no longer acts on stage, the performer in Barbara is still very much alive. She shines in social moments dancing, laughing, connecting, in ways that echo her theatre days. Barbara is often vulnerable, at times confused, distressed, or frightened and these moments are met with compassion rather than correction. The team knows when to speak and when to simply sit beside her, offering presence instead of pressure.

And despite all that dementia tries to take, Barbara’s core remains true.

Where Care Feels Like Family

Heanton is a trusted complex care home in Devon, offering a place where stories matter, independence is encouraged, and each person is seen, known, and loved. With compassion, dignity, and personalised support, our experienced team provides specialist care for individuals with complex needs, ensuring that everyone can continue to live with purpose and meaning, no matter the challenges they face.

To learn more about Heanton Nursing Home please visit Heanton Life Captured – Heanton Nursing Home