WARMINSTER CARE HOME ALPACA FUN

Residents of Warminster’s Wren House Care Home had an afternoon of fun with a visit from some fluffy friends.

The events saw alpacas visit residents in the home’s garden and even in the rooms of those who were unable to go outside.

Residents experienced the joy of engaging with the gentle and affectionate alpacas, forming an instant bond with the captivating creatures.

Animal therapy, such as interacting with alpacas, offers a wide range of benefits that contribute to physical, emotional, and mental well-being. This includes reducing stress, enhancing relaxation, uplifting mood, and fostering social interaction.

Tracey Atkins, Wren House Manager said “Our goal is to consistently plan delightful activities for our residents, and the alpaca visit proved to be an extraordinary triumph.

“It was great to see the Alpacas bring laughter and smiles to our residents’ faces, it shows the profound impact of animal therapy and the benefits and joy it brings to our residents."

Resident June Tanswell said, "The alpaca visit was an absolutely marvellous experience! Being able to pet and interact with these magnificent creatures was truly brilliant. The alpacas' calm and friendly nature made it even more special, and I’m looking forward to their next visit”.

WARMINSTER CARE HOME ALPACA FUN

Residents of Warminster’s Wren House Care Home had an afternoon of fun with a visit from some fluffy friends.

The events saw alpacas visit residents in the home’s garden and even in the rooms of those who were unable to go outside.

Residents experienced the joy of engaging with the gentle and affectionate alpacas, forming an instant bond with the captivating creatures.

Animal therapy, such as interacting with alpacas, offers a wide range of benefits that contribute to physical, emotional, and mental well-being. This includes reducing stress, enhancing relaxation, uplifting mood, and fostering social interaction.

Tracey Atkins, Wren House Manager said “Our goal is to consistently plan delightful activities for our residents, and the alpaca visit proved to be an extraordinary triumph.

“It was great to see the Alpacas bring laughter and smiles to our residents’ faces, it shows the profound impact of animal therapy and the benefits and joy it brings to our residents."

Resident June Tanswell said, "The alpaca visit was an absolutely marvellous experience! Being able to pet and interact with these magnificent creatures was truly brilliant. The alpacas' calm and friendly nature made it even more special, and I’m looking forward to their next visit”.

MALSIS HALL WALKING GROUPS

These groups run every Friday and our Activity Co-Ordinator facilitates both male and female groups for this day. Here are views of our Patients favourite walking spots which are Keighley tarn and Bingley St Ives estate.

These walks further promote physical exercise and social interaction with our dedicated staffing team and also others in the community. It is also a chance to be mindful being so close to nature.

LANCASHIRE CARE HOME KITS OUT LOCAL FOOTBALL TEAM

Croston Park Nursing Home is sponsoring a local football team as part of the home’s ongoing commitment to developing relationships in the local community.

In a deal worth £700, Croston Sports Club Juniors Under 8s football team has been provided a new strip to wear for the upcoming season.

Having only lost two games this season, the team will be wearing the home’s logo as they seek an unbeaten run for next year.

On a recent visit to Croston Park, in the village of Croston, and with which the home has always had close ties, the players spent the day with residents and were entertained by a performance from the talented Tom Gibbons, who blew everyone’s mind with an afternoon of magic.

Jenny Forrest, health care assistant at Croston Park said: “It was great to have the children visit us at and try on their new strips for next season.

“My son has been a player for Croston since he was six years old, and is over the moon with the new kit.

“Over the years we’ve been shown a lot of love and support from everyone in the village so it’s nice to be able to give something back to a club that we have developed a strong relationship with.”

Phil Ashworth, manager for the team said: “We’re all extremely grateful for Croston Park and the home’s decision to sponsor us for the upcoming season.

“The children loved visiting the residents and getting a first glimpse of what the kits and jackets look like with the Croston Park logo on the front.”

SCHOOL CHILDREN PARADE THROUGH BASILDON AS PART OF DEMENTIA PROJECT

Around 60 school children took to the streets of Basildon dressed as scarecrows as part of a project intended to strengthen understanding of dementia amongst youngsters in the town.

The Fairhouse Primary School pupils and staff paraded through the town dressed as scarecrows as part of a new collaborative project with Mundy House care home, which connects the youngest and oldest members of society.

The school and care home have formed an intergenerational partnership as part of their involvement with The Archie Project, which works to connect local primary schools with older people, especially those in care homes. The ambition is to dispel the fear and stigma often associated with dementia and create more dementia-friendly communities.

The project is already underway with the school’s pupils spending time with the residents during arts and crafts sessions. The care home say the benefits are endless, reducing social isolation, loneliness and helping residents reminisce about their own childhoods.

Josi George, manager of Mundy House care home, said: “Our residents have thoroughly enjoyed spending time with the children, reading and taking part in different activities like painting and drawing. The children bring such great energy and enthusiasm into the home, it really brightens everyone’s day.

“The Archie Project, and schemes like it, are really important for the wellbeing of our residents and helps younger people be more sympathetic to older people who may be experiencing dementia. It reminds residents of happy memories with their own children, grandchildren or even great grandchildren, and gives the children a better understanding early on about how dementia effects people.”

Rheonaid Cooper, Assistant Headteacher at Fairhouse Primary School, said: “The Archie Project has been wonderful for our children and adults alike. The children thoroughly enjoy their visits to Mundy House and loved dressing up as scarecrows.

“The partnership with Mundy House has helped our children appreciate the elderly residents and has given them an understanding as to why they may behave in certain ways. It is teaching the children empathy by helping them to understand how dementia can affect people.

“The project has helped the children to think of their own personal situations including their own grandparents and family members. It has made them aware of how they relate to and speak with the residents of Mundy House and to think about the types of conversations that they have with them. They love asking about their pets, the things they like to eat and hearing stories from the residents lives.

“The children look forward to building on the relationships that they have started with the resident. They are excited to see the same person again to carry on their conversations and also to get to meet new residents too. Josi, the manager, has made us so welcome, as well as the rest of the staff and the wonderful residents.”

PIMMS AND PUPPIES PROVIDE DOWNHAM MARKET CARE HOME RESIDENTS WITH PERFECT AFTERNOON 

Diamond House care home, in Downham Market, had some very special visitors as residents enjoyed an afternoon of puppies and Pimm’s cocktails.

Five adorable cockapoo and dachshund puppies joined residents and their families in the home’s garden as they enjoyed a barbeque buffet and a glass of Pimm’s.

The furry companions put a smile on the faces of everyone as they frolicked amongst the attendees in the garden and demanded attention from everyone.

The visit is part of the hugely varied activities programme at the home, which is designed to keep residents engaged and active, and is tailored to their interests and needs. Larchwood, which operates the home, is a big advocate of pet therapy, which sees care home residents interacting with animals of all types with visits from reptiles, birds of prey, Shetland ponies, alpacas – and now puppies.

Sarah Hamer, team leader at Diamond House care home, said: “This is probably one the best days I’ve had at work! Everyone was so excited for the puppies’ arrival and our residents have had a fabulous time.

“Studies show that bringing animals into care homes can increase social interaction and goes a long way to improve residents’ sense of wellbeing. These visits have really boosted our residents’ spirits!”

One resident said “I love dogs, so this visit has made my day! I’ve had a number of pets throughout my life and today has brought back some fantastic memories from years gone by!

“The home is always putting on these entertaining activities for us, I’m already looking forward to whatever the next one may be!”

100th BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS FOR WELL TRAVELLED TAUNTON CARE HOME RESIDENT

A resident at Oake Meadows care home in Taunton has celebrated her 100th birthday surrounded by family, friends and fellow residents.

Margot Komarnicka, known to everyone as Mrs K, marked the milestone with a party, and a card from the new King.

Born in Worcester and married three times, Mrs K has two children, three grandchildren and two great grandchildren. One of her loves was acting and amateur dramatics and another was travel. She headed out on a world cruise from Southampton at the age of 93 and returned at 94!

In her 70s and 80s Mrs K was a tour guide, including at Wells Cathedral where she worked between the ages of 84 and 91.

When asked what her tip was for living to 100, Mrs K smiled enigmatically!

Michelle Guest, activities co-ordinator at Oake Meadows said: “Mrs K is a great character and we were delighted to help her celebrate her 100th birthday.

“She has obviously lived a very full and entertaining life, sailing the world and being a tour guide in her 90s. It was great to see family and friends enjoying the party with Mrs K and we’re looking forward to her 101st birthday.”

BASILDON CARE HOME WINS CLUTCH OF CARE AWARDS

Mundy House care home in Basildon has been recognised for its ‘outstanding contribution to care in Essex.’

The home, in Church Road, won two awards at the Essex Care Sector Awards – The Prospers – and was highly commended in a further three categories. Mundy House has been recognised for care excellence at these awards every year they have run since the inaugural ceremony in 2016.

It took first place in the Digital Impact and Technology and Sensory categories and was highly commended in Team of the Year and Making a Difference. In addition, Dr Mohammad Aslam, one of the key health professionals working with the Mundy House team was named as an unsung hero.

Last year, Mundy House was awarded a gold medal by NHS England & Improvement – East of England Regional Team for an initiative raising awareness of keeping older people as physically fit as possible.

Mundy House manager Josi George said: “I’m so proud of everyone at Mundy House. The whole team works hard every single day to make life full of love and laughter for our residents.

“The support we receive from families, friends and the local community is also important and these awards are just fantastic.

“Thank you to everyone who contributes to making life at Mundy House as wonderful as it is.”

Mundy House, which caters for older people, also provides respite and palliative care, is rated good by the industry regulator, the Care Quality Commission.

INSPIRING STORY OF INCLUSIONAND EMPOWERNMENT: VISUALY IMPAIRED ALFERTON MAN'S JOUNREY TO VOLUNTEERING SUCCESS

Jason Wood, a 53-year-old resident at Salutem Care and Education's Ashlea House in Alfreton, has overcome challenges to embrace a new chapter of community engagement and personal growth through volunteering.

Jason's remarkable journey exemplifies the power of support, determination, and the transformative impact of inclusive opportunities.

Living with a visual impairment and struggling with shyness when meeting new people, Jason's desire for meaningful connections and the chance to contribute to his community led him to the British Heart Foundation, five minutes away from Ashlea House.

With the support of the home’s staff, Jason embraced his new opportunity. His unique skills and potential were recognised by the shop manager and together they identified tasks that not only aligned with Jason's abilities but also allowed him to overcome his challenges.

His responsibilities include ensuring the shop's accessibility for visually impaired customers, verifying price visibility on goods, greeting customers, and fundraising. The initial steps were marked by extensive support, including online courses and health and safety briefings, which fostered Jason's confidence and readiness for the role.

Since his initiation as a volunteer in May 2023, Jason's growth has been nothing short of remarkable. His interactions with colleagues and customers have paved the way for genuine friendships and a heightened sense of belonging.

The Status Quo fan’s commitment to volunteering has not only allowed him to contribute to his community but has emboldened him to explore new horizons. His increased confidence has led him to consider taking on an additional day of volunteering, further enriching his life while continuing to enjoy his passions - playing snooker and attending music gigs.

Ashlea House, a 13-bed residential care home in Alfreton, stands as a beacon of person-centred care and support for adults with learning disabilities, autism, and physical disabilities. Its dedication to fostering independence and creating an environment of growth is epitomised by Jason's journey.

Lorraine Walker, Manager of Ashlea House, expressed her pride in his accomplishments, saying: "Jason's journey is a testament to the remarkable potential that exists within each individual. At Ashlea House, we are committed to providing a supportive environment that fosters independence and empowers our residents to chase their aspirations. Jason's success embodies this commitment."

THE SALVATION ARMY WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MALSIS HALL 

Patients from Malsis Hall continue to attend the ‘It’s worth talking about’ group at the Salvation Army in Keighley.

This tends to be the most popular group as it is mixed, there are free refreshments when attending the group and games. This group promotes communication, rapport and connection building and provides further opportunities for our Patients such as trips/days out, community/fun days, walks, events and more social groups.

Ryan the organiser is currently starting up a new project near Cliffe Castle in Keighley called the Woodville activity centre. He will be setting up an open space there with a large open inside area, outdoor ground and allotment. This sounds like an exciting opportunity for our patients and Service Users in the future.

CARE HOME RESIDENTS GO THE EXTRA MILE IN £1200 FUNDRAISER FOR DEMENTIA FORWARD 

Residents at The Hall care home in Thornton le Dale recently completed 260 laps of the home’s lawn to raise money for Dementia Forward.

The North Yorkshire charity, which provides vital support for those living with dementia, has developed a strong relationship with the home and often holds events on behalf of the care home community in Yorkshire.

Accompanying the residents for the challenge were the Hall’s friends from down the road at Thornton Dale C of E Primary School. The year two and three children, together with the residents, embarked on the challenge, which in total raised more than £1200 for the Yorkshire charity.

Local Ryedale businesses and members of the community made the day extra special by putting on a variety of activities.

At the end of the challenge, participants tucked into a variety of sweet treats, most notably the cake, generously provided by Dementia Forward. Velo Vintage ice creams, which is a regular visitor to The Hall, was very popular with the children from Thornton Dale C of E Primary School.

Diane Hagan, manager at The Hall care home said: “I am incredibly proud of our residents, children, family and friends, who all came together in support of such an amazing charity.

“It was so nice to see the children from the local primary school engaging with our residents and working together to complete the challenge.

“Our residents are always eager to engage with members of the local community and more importantly support organisations like Dementia Forward, who continue to support many of our residents and their families at The Hall.”

Jill Quinn MBE, CEO at Dementia Forward said: “Dementia Forward has a ‘local for local’ motto, we rely heavily on local community support to help us fund and deliver our services. This was a true community event run by our dear friends at The Hall. We know that smaller things happen every day at The Hall, not least the lovely intergenerational fun and games with the local school. The funds will be put to use in the local area supporting people affected by dementia. If anyone needs our support, they should call our help line 03300 578592”

WHISKY AND CHOCOLATE IS SECRET TO LONG LIFE SAYS CARE HOME RESIDENT AS SHE TURNS 100 YEARS OLD

A resident at an Ellesmere Port care home has celebrated her 100th birthday.

Hilda Ridgway marked the special occasion at Whitby House care home, on Pooltown Road. She celebrated her birthday with a party surrounded by her family, residents, and staff at the home.

Hilda was born in 1923, in Ellesmere Port. After leaving school she worked in a variety of roles and retired aged 85 in 2008 after working as a cleaner for the local authority.

She was married to her husband Dennis for more than 50 years during which she had two daughters, Denise and Alison. Her wider family includes three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Hilda continued an active post-retirement lifestyle with daily cycling and swimming sessions as well as frequent games of bingo.

Hilda said: “I’ve had a wonderful day and it was marvellous to receive a card from the King. The staff have treated me brilliantly and organised a lovely party to celebrate.

“My secret to a long and healthy life is plenty of chocolate, whiskey and keeping active!”

Angela Earlam, manager at the care home said: “We’re delighted to have been able to take part in celebrating Hilda’s special day and we look forward to marking future birthdays with Hilda at Whitby House”.

Whitby House care home is an elderly care facility that specialises in nursing care. The home can provide care for up to 40 residents and is currently rated ‘good’ by the CQC.

TAUNTON CARE HOME WELCOMES FURRY FRIENDS

Oake Meadows care home in Taunton welcomed some very special visitors to the home to interact with residents and staff.

A trio of beautifully fluffy alpacas - Jed, Cuddy and Coco - from Stoke Wood Alpacas, were the talk of the home when they arrived to mingle.

Originally from Peru, alpacas are known for their charming temperament and the calming affect they can have on people.

Residents and staff enjoyed petting and feeding the alpacas and learning a bit more about the very popular animals.

Michelle May, activities co-ordinator at Oake Meadows said: “It was wonderful to see the smiles on the faces of everyone. The alpacas were incredibly friendly and seemed to enjoy the visit as much as the residents and staff.

“It is so important to find things that are fun, varied and sometimes unusual for our activities programme and there’s no doubt that animal visits are very popular.

“Thanks to Stoke Wood Alpacas for bringing the three beautiful alpacas and making our day.”

RECRUITMENT SPECIALIST MAKES AN IMPACT BOTH ON AND OFF THE PITCH

Winchester City football club’s manager has scored a personal goal by leading a team to promotion whilst working Monday to Friday as group head of recruitment for a major UK care provider.

Ex-professional footballer, Craig Davis, 41, played for Cardiff City until he was 21 and played semi-professional football up to the age of 30. Now the manager at Winchester City FC, Craig has helped promote the team to the seventh tier of English football.

Following his stint at Cardiff, Craig decided to embark on a recruitment career before eventually joining Salutem Care and Education in 2020.

His leadership skills on the side of the pitch have noticeably transferred to the office with Craig recently joining the senior leadership team amongst 10 other care professionals.

With a team of 12 people, Craig oversees all aspects of recruitment with his department successfully trebling the number of accepted offers across Salutem from an average of 45 offers per month to over 130.

Craig Davis said: “Since working at Salutem I have thoroughly enjoyed having the time to work on my career in recruitment whilst also managing Winchester City at the weekend.

“Last year’s promotion to the seventh tier of English football was a great achievement for the club and the proudest moment in my five years managing the side.”

John Godden MBE, CEO at Salutem said: “It’s great to see a member of our leadership team working hard during the week but also using his leadership skills in the local community on a weekend.

“Craig is a very popular figure at Salutem and we’re all very proud of his achievements with Winchester City.”

PRAISE FROM REGULATOR FOR HORSHAM CARE HOME

Buttermere House care home in Horsham has been rated as ‘Good’ in all areas following its first inspection by the Care Quality Commission.

Buttermere House, part of the Silverlake Care brand, is a care home providing accommodation and care to people who have complex learning disabilities, autism and related conditions.

The inspector looked at five areas including:

Is the service safe?

Is the service effective?

Is the service caring?

Is the service responsive?

Is the service well-led?

The inspector noted that ‘People who used the service told us staff were kind, caring and respectful towards them. People's care plans and the support from the registered manager provided staff with the information required to support people effectively. People and their families were involved in the planning of their care and their wishes were respected.’

The report also stated that ‘People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.’

One relative told the CQC "I have no concerns whatsoever about [my relative's] safety, Buttermere House is the safest place she can be” and another said “They know [my relative] inside out and what they need to do to keep her happy."

The manager was praised with the report saying that ‘Staff demonstrated an understanding of their roles and responsibilities and told us that they had confidence in the registered manager. One member of staff told us, "[Registered manager] is always available for us, we can speak with her at any time.’

Tony Stein, Chief Executive of Healthcare Management Solutions which operates Silverlake Care, said: “We are all very pleased with the outcome of Buttermere House’s CQC inspection.

“I am especially pleased to read the comments from our residents and their families. Our purpose as a business is to provide care in a warm and welcoming environment, so knowing that this is being delivered is very encouraging.

“Well done to the whole team on achieving this recognition and for the care they give to the people they support every single day.”

PRAISE FOR BRAINTREE CARE HOME

Aspen Grange care home in Braintree has been praised by the Care Quality Commission for its quality of care.

The home received a ‘Good’ rating in all key areas inspected – safe, effective, caring, responsive, and well-led.

Aspen Grange Care Home is a nursing home providing nursing and residential care for up to 49 people in one purpose built environment. The service also provides support to older people living with dementia and complex care requirements.

The report noted that ‘People received safe care from staff who knew them well’ and ‘People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.’

The home’s management was praised with the inspector saying that ‘We received positive feedback about the leadership and management of the service. There were systems in place to monitor, maintain and improve the quality of the service.’

It was also stated that ‘Staff were kind and caring and people and their relatives confirmed this’ and included comments from relatives saying "Most of the staff are very good here." "[Person] is unable to speak, but they are always smiling, and I know they are happy." and "They, [staff] are very kind and friendly to [person], I know [person] is happy here."

Sharon Thompson, manager at Aspen Grange said: “I am so proud of the whole team who work diligently and professionally to ensure our residents are happy, safe and supported to live their best lives.”

Heidi Davies, operations director at Opal Care said: “This report is testament to the hard work and dedication of Sharon and her whole team.

“They are providing the quality of care and support we aspire to and I am delighted this has been acknowledged by the inspectors, and most importantly by family and friends of our residents.”

Aspen Grange is operated by Opal Care, which is managed by Healthcare Management Solutions.

AWARD RECOGNITION FOR REIGATE CARE HOME

Dungate Manor in Reigate has been named as one of the top care homes in the South East for the second year running.

The annual Care Home Awards 2023 recognise 20 of the top rated care homes in each region of the UK, based on reviews from residents and their family and friends on carehome.co.uk.

This follows on from recognition in several prestigious sector awards in 2022.

Abdul Rifai, who manages Dungate Manor, was a finalist for Registered Manager of the Year in the recent Leaders in Care Awards.

He was also shortlisted in the Care Employee of the Year category at the Caring UK Awards, where the care home also was shortlisted for the Care Team of the Year.

Dungate Manor and Abdul were also in the running for the Care Home Team Award and the Care Home Manager Award at the Great British Care Awards South East.

Abdul Rifai, manager at Dungate Manor said: “As a team, we are incredibly proud to have secured a Top 20 Care Home Award for the second year running. We are all driven by enthusiasm for what we do, a desire to do it well and our determination to go the extra mile for the people we support. It is wonderful to hear that our residents feel safe and protected here, but that they also enjoy the freedom they have to do the things they love and to be involved in their care planning. My thanks go to our brilliant team for this wonderful and well-deserved achievement!”

Heidi Davies, Operations Director, Larchwood Care said: “My whole-hearted congratulations go out to Abdul and his team at Dungate Manor for this fantastic achievement. Feedback is crucial in making sure we deliver the best possible care and support to our residents. The fact that this award is based on that feedback and the experience of the people who live at Dungate and their families makes it even more special.”

Feedback includes – ‘What a wonderful year you have given my friend.’ ‘Just want to say how impressed I am with the staff and level of care at Dungate Manor.’ ‘I felt safe in a caring environment for the first time in years.’ ‘Every aspect of my care needs are being met with respect and dignity.’ ‘I love this home because I feel safe and well cared for.’

Dungate Manor is rated ‘Good’ by the Care Quality Commission.

NORTH SHIELDS CARE HOME WELCOMES NEW PETS

Appleby Care Home in North Shields has some unusual new residents, adorable bunny rabbits Oreo and Snowy.

The introduction of Oreo and Snowy – named for the markings on their coats – is the idea of Appleby’s activities coordinator Elaine Rook. They noticed how much excitement was generated when petting zoos and other animals visited the home for pet therapy sessions, and wanted to be able to offer residents animals of their own to care for.

Clare Leonard, Larchwood Care’s home manager for Appleby, said: “Everyone is absolutely thrilled to introduce Oreo and Snowy into the Appleby family.

“Larchwood Care focusses on providing person-centred care that supports the overall well-being of our residents. Our residents wanted a pet, so we’ve listened and moved in Oreo and Snowy!

“The therapeutic value of animals is amazing. Interacting with them can reduce stress, boost mood and provide a sense of purpose and routine, which is incredibly important for people living with us.”

George Wood, who lives at Appleby care home, said: “The rabbits are getting big and I like them. They make me smile because I used to have rabbits. Can’t remember how many but there was a lot. Cleaning them out took a while, and my boys Gavin and Anthony watched – good memories!”

Numerous studies have highlighted the therapeutic benefits of engaging with animals in care home settings. Pets can reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation, provide opportunities for social interaction, and promote physical activity and cognitive stimulation among residents. The presence of Oreo and Snowy will undoubtedly foster a warm and welcoming atmosphere at Appleby Care Home, enriching the lives of its residents.

Appleby Care Home is operated by Larchwood Care and is rated as Good by the social care regulator, the Care Quality Commission.

ASHINGTON WOMEN CELEBRATES BECOMING A CENTENARIAN

A Northumberland great-grandmother celebrated her 100th birthday at a Morpeth Care Home surrounded by friends, family and the local community.

Edith Main celebrated the special occasion with a birthday party during Riverside House Care Home’s summer fair and was presented with a cake and flowers by the town’s Mayor, Councillor Jade Crawford.

Edith was born and raised in Ashington along with her three sisters and has remained deeply rooted in the town for almost all her life. During her childhood, her father’s passion for music lead Edith briefly to Berwick, where he played piano for the Berwick Playhouse during the era of silent black and white films.

After returning to Ashington, Edith met her future husband, Edward, at the Ashington Institute in 1944. This sparked the beginning of their relationship eventually culminating in the arrival of one daughter, Pat, two granddaughters, four great grandchildren and her first great-great grandchild due shortly.

Edith worked both in a greengrocer and the Lipton’s supermarket in Ashington until her retirement upon her husband’s passing more than 20 years ago.

Edith said: “I've been blessed with a long and fulfilling life, and throughout my journey, I've had the joy of sharing it with a loving husband and raising two remarkable daughters.

“The secret to a long and happy life? I always say that it lies in doing what brings you joy whenever and wherever you can and for me, that source of happiness has always been dancing.”

Councillor Jade Crawford, Mayor of Morpeth said: “Edith's long life is a testament to the spirit of our community and her continuing remarkable journey, filled with love and a passion for dancing, is an inspiration to us all.

“As Mayor, I’m honoured to join in celebrating Edith's 100th birthday at Riverside House and long may it continue!”

Richard Dobinson, Riverside House’s Activities Coordinator said “Edith is an extraordinary woman and Riverside House is honoured to have her with us, she is an amazing lady with the energy of someone half her age.”

Riverside House is managed by Healthcare Management Solutions and is rated as good by the industry regulator, the Care Quality Commission, which assesses elements including safety, effectiveness, standards of care, responsiveness, and how well-led it is.

CARE HOME BOSS’ PLEA TO NEW PM

Tony Stein, chief executive of Healthcare Management Solutions, has written to new Prime Minister Liz Truss to ask her to ensure that reform of health and social care will be high on their agenda.

He details several ways to support the beleaguered sector in both the short and long term including:

• Tackling energy inflation
• Centralised funding for social care
• Recruitment

Tony said: “Social care providers are under pressure with almost a perfect storm of significantly higher costs, squeezed fees and a lack of staff.

“There is only so long this can continue and I implore the Prime Minister to grasp the bull by the horns and instigate some radical reform.

“Social care could help alleviate pressure on the NHS by freeing up beds, reducing bed blocking which is a major cause of long waiting times. This is just one benefit – there are many including the ability to care for our older people with dignity, not wondering how we are going to pay the energy bill to keep them warm.”

Members from Westerham army cadets along with a representative from the Royal Tank Association surprised a Westerham Place resident with a veteran badge and plaque for the home.

Terry Brown, a former soldier, and resident of Westerham Place was delighted with the surprise visit and wore a uniform to match his guests.

During the event, cadets marched around the Westerham Place grounds for residents, who enjoyed a buffet lunch whilst listening to the sounds of war-time music.

After joining the army at 17, Terry was disappointed to not be called for active service during the Second World War. Despite this, Terry served in India during the partition after completing his training in Catterick, in the North of England.

Terry, who has had a fulfilling life, started work in plastics technology and lived in Germany for a while. Alongside work, Terry enjoyed spending time with his late wife Betty, who he misses every day.

Terry Brown said: “It was lovely to meet the local cadets who reminded me of myself when I was their age!

“The badge presentation came as a massive surprise, and it was lovely to have my son and daughter there to experience it alongside me.”

Isobel Brookes, senior carer at Westerham Place said: “It’s always great to have members of the local community visit our home and spend the day with our residents.

“Terry is always talking about his time in the army, so it was great to see him chatting to cadets, reminiscing about his experiences.”

Westerham Place is rated ‘Good’ by the Care Quality Commission, the independent regulator for the care sector.

HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT CAREER PATH

It can be really difficult knowing what career path to follow, especially when you’ve just got your exam results and need to decide what to do next. Entering the world of work can feel daunting, particularly if you’re not sure what career path you want to take.

When searching for a role, it’s likely you’ll have lots of questions from whether a certain job is right for you to how to make a good first impression.

 Here, Becky Hogan, Talent and Learning Director at Bupa Global & UK answers some of the most commonly asked questions on how to choose the right career path and offers her advice on what attributes employers look for:

How do I know if a role is right me?

Knowing whether a job role is the right fit for you can be tricky, but is important in helping you find a job you enjoy. Start by asking yourself some questions; what do I enjoy, what key skills do I have that I could use in my future job, what kind of company do I want to work for, what working environment do I want, what are the next steps in the career path?

Knowing about the company and their values is essential when applying for a job as otherwise you may find you’re struggling to engage with your role and find your place within the business.

It also a good idea to identify what the next career steps within the role are and whether these align to your goals are for the future.

How can I deal with interview anxiety?

It’s perfectly normal to feel anxious before an interview and having some nerves can be a good thing. However, there are some things you can do to prevent any anxiety from becoming overwhelming.

Start by doing your research about the company, practice some potential questions they might ask you and have a list of questions prepared to ask them. Don’t be afraid to take notes in with you. No one expects you to remember everything off the top of your head, so it’s fine to take notes about your experience so that you can refer back to them.

Don’t worry if you feel anxious or get nervous when answering a question, take a deep breath and gather your thoughts. If you need to get them to repeat the question, then make sure you ask.

More broadly, Bupa Health Clinics’ Clinical Director, Dr Luke Powles, has some advice on managing anxiety. They said:

• Share your feelings - “Although this may be obvious, many people struggle to talk about their feelings. If you’re feeling anxious about an interview, speaking to someone about how you’re feeling can really help, this could be a family member, close friend or a tutor or teacher who you are comfortable speaking to. Ask them to help you prepare for the interview, whether this is doing mock interview or going over some questions with you, it can really help to alleviate some of the anxiety you may be feeling.”

• Be prepared – “Making sure you’re prepared ahead of the interview can really help to reduce any feeling of anxiety. This can be by preparing notes about yourself, your experience and the company and by, if the interview is virtual, making sure you’ve got a quiet space with good Wi-Fi connection to do the interview. If it’s in person, then make sure you’ve planned your route and know where you are going on the day.

“This may seem simple, but if you are not prepared it can make the anxiety you are feeling worse and stress you out ahead of the interview.”

• The importance of self-kindness - “Being kind to yourself is incredibly important, especially if you’re struggling with anxiety. Practicing mindfulness, taking time to exercise and downtime away from interview prep can all help to reduce anxiety. Even going for a walk round the block when feeling anxious will help calm any panicky feelings we may have.

“It’s also key that you get a good night’s sleep before the interview, which can be difficult if we’re worrying about the following day. If you can’t sleep get out of bed and listen to a podcast to help you unwind and distract your mind.

“During the interview, don’t stress yourself out if you’re not sure about the answer to a question, ask the interviewer to rephrase the question. Make sure you’re taking deep breaths before answering and have water next to you in case you need a drink.

“Remember that the interview is for you as well to see whether the company would be a good fit, so if you don’t feel it went well or you weren’t sure about the company then don’t be hard on yourself, the right opportunity will come.”

• Follow a balanced diet - “Following a balanced diet can make sure your brain is getting the right nutrients. In addition to getting enough fruit and veg, try to ensure your diet includes foods which releases energy slowly – like wholegrain pasta or rice, oats and cereals or nuts and seeds. These can help keep your blood sugars steady, making you feel less tired and ready for your interview.

“Make sure you’re staying hydrated too, at this is really important to aid concentration. Steer away from caffeine and alcohol though as these can aggravate any anxious thoughts you may have. Getting sugars from natural sources such as fruits affect your body different to processed sugars from sweets or fizzy drinks.”

How do I make a good first impression?

This is something we know people, especially young people, worry about when it comes to interviewing and starting a new job. Making a good first impression is important, so make sure you’re keen to learn, approachable and have a good attitude.

In an interview, make sure your body language is open and engaging, and try to ask questions as this will help to build a rapport with the person interviewing you.

On your first day in your new role, go armed with questions to ask so you learn about your new colleagues, as this will help you build your relationships with them. Make sure you’re smiling and engaged in what they’re saying as this will leave a good first impression – remember your body language can also betray if you’re feeling bored or tired!

Uni’s not right for me, do I have any other options?

In short, yes! Particularly if you are looking for a career where you can help others, there are loads of roles that don’t require a degree, and you can start earning money right away. At Bupa, we have over 170 apprenticeship roles available right now!

This includes dental nurse apprenticeship roles available to people aged 16+ as well as carer apprenticeship roles based in our care homes, available to anyone over 18, and you don’t need any specific qualifications to apply.

More widely we also offer apprenticeships and onward learning related to leadership development, digital technology and nursing qualifications.

What attributes are important for a role in the healthcare industry?

We know that more and more young people are looking for a career that makes a difference to others – and that’s why we’re seeing so many take up our apprenticeships and entry-level roles which set people up for a successful career in a caring profession.

So if you’re considering roles including nursing, care work or in dentistry, being caring and empathetic to people is a key skill which will help you to go a long way.

At Bupa, another key skill we look for is that people are good listeners and communicators as this is something which patients and residents need and are grateful for.

If you have these attributes, a career in healthcare could be really rewarding, with clear career pathways and opportunities to learn.

I want to learn while I earn, should I consider an apprenticeship?

Yes, apprenticeship programmes help prepare and equip people with the skills they need in an evolving world of work. As well as earning, you also have the opportunity to learn while getting real workplace experience in an industry you want to build a career in.

At Bupa, apprentices make up 10 per cent of our workforce and help our people to take their careers to the next level. We offer apprenticeships in our care homes, dental practices and health clinics to help train people to become nurses in the different areas, providing a clear career path for our people.

To find out more information about careers and apprenticeships at Bupa please visit: https://careers.bupa.co.uk/early-careers

A lady with complex additional needs was able to swap the care home for the Canary Islands when her carers helped her jet off on a dream holiday to Lanzarote.

Steph Matthews, who has lived at Roman House care home in Basingstoke for since it opened in 1972, asked her carers about taking a short holiday in the UK now that COVID restrictions have relaxed.

Steph has learning difficulties and osteoporosis, for which she uses a wheelchair. She is also registered blind but can see shapes and colours.

Ashleigh Young, who works at the home, suggested that they take the adventurous step of booking somewhere further afield, and Steph suggested Lanzarote, because she had fond memories of visiting as a child.

Ashleigh said: “We looked at holidays online and Steph picked Lanzarote, so we looked into it to see if there was an accessible apartment available. There was, so we booked it. It took a lot of planning and she required two carers to accompany her, but we made sure we had plenty of time to get organised.”

Steph spent a week having fun in the sun, enjoying local food, visiting the beach and swimming in the hotel pool.

Ashleigh continued: “Steph had the best time. She wanted to go swimming and, because we had a swim vest and swim shoes for her, I knew we could support her safely in the swimming pool. She now wants a pool in Roman House’s back garden!

“It is incredibly important to the team at Roman House that we help the people we support to live their best lives. Although taking someone with complex needs on holiday requires a bit more work, it is its own reward. Steph will remember this for years and I’m delighted to have been part of it.”

Roman House is part of Ambito Care and Education, which is part of Salutem Care and Education.

RESIDENTS AT ESTON CARE HOME EMBRACE THEIR LATEST CANINE RECRUIT

Residents at Astune Rise care home in Eston have welcomed the latest addition to their family – Mitsi a 9-year-old Papillion.

Mitsi has quickly become part of the home and even has her own care plan which stipulates unlimited cuddles, lots of treats and the odd bone. Her human Kelly works at Astune Rise and is happy to share Mitsi with the residents.

Celebrity dog trainer Graeme Hall, from Channel 5’s Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly, recently endorsed the benefits of dogs in care homes saying that ‘spending time with a dog can reduce resting heart rates and indicate lower stress levels’.

Caroline Bowstead, home manager, said: “Many of the residents have had dogs during their lives and enjoy Mitsi’s company. It’s lovely to see how much they love having her around, even walking her up and down the path. Just the other day she was laid watching cricket with one of our gentlemen and he was chatting away to her explaining what was happening.

“It’s amazing how much of an impact animals have on residents’ mood. Mitsi is a very good girl and absolutely loves meeting everyone.

“There’s been lots of studies showing that bringing animals into care homes can help improve residents’ sense of wellbeing and increases social interaction and that’s certainly been the case with Mitsi.” 

TATTOO DREAM COMES TRUE FOR 78-YEAR-OLD CARE HOME RESIDENT

A temporary tattoo studio popped up at a Hamilton care home, offering residents the chance to ‘get inked’ after a 78-year-old resident expressed regret at never braving the tattooist chair.

For Eileen MacIntyre, a resident at Avonbridge Care Home, a tattoo was an unfulfilled lifelong fantasy.

But, thanks to the home’s activities team and local tattoo parlour Cherry Pie Tattoo and Piercing, she got the chance to make her dream come true – albeit temporarily.

Kelly O’Neill, activities coordinator at Avonbridge, said: “Eileen spotted some of our team’s tattoos and was asking what they meant and if they had hurt. After a long conversation with some of the more colourful carers she admitted she’d always wanted one but had been too scared.

“Over a few different chats, she told me she wanted something that reminded her of her children and grandchildren. We settled on a Tinkerbell fairy design, which reminded her of enjoying Disney films with them when they were young. It’s also a bit of a nod to never growing up and always having fun.

“After that I got in touch with the team at Cherry Pie via Facebook and they jumped at the opportunity to create a temporary transfer to make her wish come true.”

The team at the home set up a mock tattoo parlour, complete with a board of designs and an ‘Avonbridge Tattoo Studio’ sign, before surprising Eileen with her custom design.

Eileen said: “I was really surprised when I walked into the room to see that Kelly and the team had set up a corner to be like our very own tattoo shop.

“I did get a little bit emotional when she said she had done it all for me and had even worked with a proper tattoo artist to make a temporary design for me. She really listened to me and captured exactly what we had talked about. Every time I see it, I think of my family, which is what it’s all about – I might have to look into getting a proper one now!”

Kelley added: “The tattoo parlour gained a lot of interest, and lots of residents and staff got involved. It’s amazing how much fun we had with some simple stick-on tattoos. It sparked a lot of conversation with residents telling us about their own tattoos, and memories of friends and family’s tattoos and what they meant.”

HIT SONG INSPIRES IDEA TO KEEP MANCHESTER CARE HOME RESIDENTS FIT AND ACTIVE

The Proclaimers’ hit song ‘I’m Gonna Be (500 miles)’ has been used as inspiration by a Manchester care home to help keep its residents fit and healthy.

Atherton-based Chanters Care Home, which provides specialist elderly and dementia care, as well as looking after people with learning disabilities, is organising a challenge for residents to complete a total of 500 laps of the grounds.

The event will take place throughout July and to mark the start of the Commonwealth Games at the end of the month (July 28), there will medals for those who take part.

Residents at the home, on Tyldesley Old Road, are being encouraged to each complete as many laps as they can.

Activities manager Lyndsey McBride said: “The idea was inspired by the Proclaimers’ song ‘I’m Gonna Be’, which includes the chorus – ‘But I would walk five hundred miles and I would walk five hundred more’.

“Obviously, that sort of distance is not feasible for our residents, so we have used a bit of poetic licence and have set a target of 500 laps of our grounds.”

Home manager Anne Hargreaves said: “Our activities team is continually looking for different ways of encouraging our residents to remain active and get lots of fresh air.

“Setting a goal of completing 500 circuits of our grounds is a great way of encouraging those living at Chanters to take part in some exercise that they can enjoy at their own pace.”

The residents’ efforts will be sponsored to help bring in money for the home’s entertainment fund with each lap being a total of about 200 metres.

In the past the home, in its quest to help keep residents fit and active, hired a rowing machine, where the goal was for participants to row the equivalent of the English Channel.

Chanters Care Home is rated as overall good by the industry regulator, the Care Quality Commission, which assesses standards including safety, effectiveness, management, responsiveness, and care.

It features 40 ensuite rooms, a wide-ranging activities programme, which reflects the needs, interests and wishes of people living at the home, and an extensive well-tended garden that can be enjoyed by residents and their families.

To support the care home’s fundraising, visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/care-home-residents-to-do-500-laps?member=20344521

FARNBOROUGH CARE HOME PRAISED FOR STANDARD OF CARE

Victoria House, part of Renovo Care, has received praise from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in its latest report.

The Farnborough residential care home, which provides support and rehabilitation therapies to people with a physical disability or sensory impairment as a result of an acquired brain injury, was rated as ‘Good’ in two key areas – its care and responsiveness.

The report noted that the provider ‘had made improvements to their clinical governance’ following CQC reports at other locations. It also stated that ‘there was a process for continuous improvement.’

One service user told the inspection team that ‘I really like it here. It is very, very good’ and another said, ‘the service is well managed with motivated staff’.

The report notes that ‘Staff supported people with kindness and compassion. They respected people’s dignity, privacy and independence.’

The inspector reports that ‘there had been a period of inconsistent leadership at the home’ but acknowledged that ‘a new manager was in post who had started to make improvements. People we spoke with, and staff were optimistic the new manager could make the required improvements.’ It noted that ‘the provider had appointed an experienced manager with a track record of achieving outstanding ratings in a similar service’ and the new manager had clear ambitions to improve the service, and they had been supported by senior management.’

Alastair Clegg, chief executive of Renovo Care, said: “The crux of this report is that both as a service, and as a provider, we have been reactive and taken on board comments from previous inspection reports and have ongoing plans in place to drive sustainable improvements where these are required.

“While there is still work to be done at Victoria House to reach the very high standards we aim for, this inspection report is very encouraging and recognises the hard work and dedication of the staff, and the impact the new manager is making.

“I am confident that there is a clear plan in place, with the right leadership in place, to satisfy the requirements of the regulator and ensure that Victoria House continues to be a happy and positive environment for both service users and staff.”

WORKS START ON PLACES FOR PEOPLE LIVING PLUS EXTRA CARE DEVELOPMENT IN NEW MILTON 

Places for People Living Plus is to extend its affordable living portfolio into New Milton with the development of 50 brand-new extra care homes for people over 55 at Wooldridge View.

The company celebrated the start of the development, alongside partners, on Monday 20 June 2022 with a traditional ‘turf cutting’ ceremony – which is held to mark the formal start of building works. Attendees included Councillors Liz Fairhurst and Fran Carpenter from Hampshire County Council, Councillors Jill Cleary and John Ward from New Forest District Council and Councillor Keith Craze as Mayor of New Milton Town Council.

Places for People Living Plus is working in partnership with Lovell Later Living, Hampshire County Council, New Forest District Council and Morgan Sindall Construction to develop this new community, which will deliver 50 one and two bedroom affordable-rent apartments by the end of 2023. Wooldridge View will offer its residents 24-hour on-site care commissioned by Hampshire County Council, including both planned and emergency care. In addition to the apartments, this community will offer residents a variety of health and wellbeing facilities.

It has aptly been named after Ian Wooldridge, who was born in New Milton and was an award-winning sports journalist. Max Wooldridge, son of Ian said: “We particularly love the name ‘Wooldridge View’ as Dad once made a TV documentary series called ‘The Wooldridge View’ - so it’s very apt. We’re all very touched by the name and thank you again.” Members of the Wooldridge family also attended the turf cutting ceremony.

The new community is being developed in the Fernhill area of New Milton and will bring much-needed extra care accommodation to people over 55 living in the area. Andy Lomas, Managing Director of Places for People Living Plus, commented: “We are thrilled to celebrate this addition to our successful extra care partnership – a collaboration that will see a total of 164 homes delivered by next year. At New Milton, as with all of our extra care communities, that means creating well-designed, sustainable, and safe homes for customers who wish to remain independent, while benefitting from care and support, when they need it.” 

Wooldridge View is the fourth development between Places for People Living Plus and development partner, Lovell Later Living, with two communities already completed and a third, Spinnaker View in Gosport due for completion in Spring 2023.

Andy continued: “Our extra care communities are providing customers complete reassurance and peace of mind that they are living in a safe, self-contained yet engaging environment, while knowing they can get support and professional care, if and when they need it.”

The apartments at Wooldridge View have been designed with modern living in mind – with one- and two-bedroom apartments on offer - each featuring a contemporary kitchen, appealing living space and stylish modern bathroom with walk in shower. Each light and airy home will feature a private patio or balcony area.

Paula Broadbent, Managing Director at Lovell Later Living, commented: "We are very proud to be celebrating the ground-breaking for the Wooldridge View extra care development in New Milton, Hampshire. This is the third development we have collectively committed to delivering in partnership with Hampshire County Council and its commencement further underlines our commitment to working in each district across Hampshire to provide solutions for homes with access to caring facilities.

“We recognise how important this development is to the residents of Forest Pines and New Forest District Council. And although this has proved challenging, we knew it was important for all involved to invest in making this happen, because it was the right thing to do and will positively impact so many people’s lives for many decades to come. We look forward to completing this essential development for our partners alongside our sister company Morgan Sindall Construction and seeing residents move into their new homes and local people benefiting from the excellent lifestyle this community and its facilities - which will be open to all - will bring.”

Executive Member for Adult Services and Public Health, Councillor Liz Fairhurst, added: “This fantastic new community is the latest addition to our £45 million investment in extra care across Hampshire, designed to help ensure the accommodation needs and aspirations of our growing older population can be met.”

With the natural coastline of Barton-on-Sea and bordered by the New Forest, the busy, friendly town of New Milton is superbly located, which means that residents will be surrounded by local attractions to enjoy with family and friends. Additionally, it is set to benefit New Milton by bringing new homes and creating jobs in the local area.

Cllr Jill Cleary, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Ward Councillor for Fernhill, New Forest District Council, said: “One of the rewards of being a District Councillor is supporting the delivery of developments such as Wooldridge View for the long-term benefit of not only my own ward residents, but the residents of the New Forest District. It is fitting that the building carries the name of a highly regarded son of New Milton, as Wooldridge View will no doubt be seen as an example of excellence in supporting our residents with much needed care and accommodation over many years to come.”

Construction of the development is set to complete in Winter 2023.

Clifford Kinch, area director at Morgan Sindall Construction, concluded: “We're extremely proud to be a part of this significant project which aims to improve independent living for adults in their over 50s with varying support needs in the Hampshire area. 

“Building on our strategic commitment to Hampshire Country Council, our experienced team will deliver high-quality and value-for-money to help us achieve our goal of improving housing solutions for independent living. 

“Later Living support is vital in any community as it provides safe homes where crucially, people can retain their independence through a carefully considered design. People are always at the heart of what we do so it's fantastic to be able to deliver that.”

CARE HOME RESIDENT SET SAIL ONCE MORE

A popular trip with residents of a Falkirk care home has set sail again after being scuppered by Covid.

Outings on the local canals were a regular feature of the activities calendar at Wallside Grange in Lime Road, Tamfourhill.

For the first time since the pandemic began, three residents, Ruby Johnstone, Ann Haffey and Margaret Hastings, took to the water courtesy of the local charitable organisation, the Seagull Trust.

Starting off from the Trust’s base at South Bantaskine Estate, Falkirk, the round-trip taking in Linlithgow lasted about two hours with the majority of the scenery giving a get-away-from-it-all feel.

Melanie Bundy, Wallside Grange care home manager, said: “A canal trip with the Seagull Trust was a firm favourite with residents before the pandemic hit. “It is fantastic that we have been able to resume these trips as the residents enjoy taking in the views and watching the world go by at a leisurely pace. “The residents were so excited about the trip that they were counting down the days until it took place.”

With the easing of Covid restrictions, Wallside Grange is starting to resume its extensive programme of in-home activities, day trips, and visits from local community groups.

Melanie added: “All of our activities take into account the health, ability and wellbeing of residents and also are tailored to their personal hobbies and interests.

“In this case, the residents had not been on a canal boat before and were keen to experience one, so we arranged the Seagull Trust trip to make their wish become a reality.”

Offering 30 well-appointed bedrooms, Wallside Grange specialises in nursing care for older people, on a permanent or respite basis.

Seagull Trust Cruises provides free canal cruising to people with mobility issues, so that they can enjoy the relaxation and tranquillity that canal cruising has to offer and to help revitalise the Scottish Lowland Waterways.

CREEPY CRAWLIES AND CREATURES VISIT GATESHEAD CARE HOME RESIDENTS

Gateshead’s Craigielea Care Home had some unusual guests when Discovery Zoo brought some of its creepy crawlies and creatures to visit residents.

The home played host to a range of animals and insects including rabbits, snakes and lizards as part of the home’s ever evolving activities programme. Residents learned all about the creatures before having a chance to hold the mixed menagerie.

Guided interaction between animals and people has been proven to cause an automatic relaxation response, relieve symptoms of dementia and prevent feelings of isolation and loneliness.

Lindsay Turner, activities coordinator at Craigielea, said: “Our residents have really enjoyed their unusual visitors, especially the snake, tarantula and millipede. They’re not something you usually see up in Gateshead and for some of our residents it was the first time seeing them in real life.

“Discovery Zoo did a great job introducing the creatures to residents and explaining how to hold them. Animal visits are always such a lift for our residents and it’s great to see them so excited.

“Stroking and holding the animals always puts a smile on our residents faces. It sparks their memories and I hear all about their previous pets or trips to the zoo with their families.

“We’re always looking for activities to entertain our residents and really look forward to being able to do more now that restrictions are relaxed.”

Paul Fenwick from Discovery Zoo said: “We love visiting care homes and seeing how much joy it brings to residents. We have some unusual animals that get people really interested, as well as things like rabbits and gerbils that people may have had as pets themselves. They are great for reviving memories, although just sitting and stroking an animal can be very relaxing too.”

Craigielea care home is operated by Solehawk. It has 60 rooms, and its crowning glory is the beautiful gardens, which have recently undergone renovation featuring flowerbeds, vegetable garden, pagoda seating areas, a summer house and a greenhouse.

RESIDENTS PICK MAGNOLIA TO PLANT IN HONOUR OF THE PLATINUM JUBILEE

Residents at a Gateshead care home chose the sort of tree they wanted to plant to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

Lindsay Turner, activities co-ordinator at Craigielea, came up with four ‘eye-pleasing’ ornamental species and presented pictures of them to all the residents.

They said which was their favourite with the most popular – a pink magnolia Susan – now being sited in a prominent position in the home’s gardens overlooked by one of the communal lounges.

Four residents – Monica Pearson, Bill Hammond, Rosemary Lowes, and Mary Smith – formed a ‘guard of honour’ while the tree was being planted.

This was followed by a toast to the long-serving monarch with a glass of sherry.

Lindsay said: “We encourage our residents to play an active part in as many elements of life at Craigielea as possible.

“That is why I asked their opinion on what sort of tree we should have to mark this momentous Royal occasion. The choices were all very eye-pleasing - the magnolia, a weeping willow, red Japanese Acer and an apple tree.

“We all are looking forward to watching the chosen sapling flourish throughout the years and enjoy its lovely flowers. It is a beautiful variety of tree and will bring a touch of glamour and colour to our gardens.”

Craigielea, in Durham Road, Low Fell, provides residential, nursing, palliative, and dementia care and has 60 well-appointed bedrooms.

There are a range of public areas, in which residents can relax, including a café, lobby and communal lounges.

A feature of the home is its gardens, which have undergone a £40,000 renovation. They are made up of flowerbeds, vegetable-growing patches, pagodas, seating areas, a summer and green house.

To make the most of this asset, the home has a gardening club for those with green fingers.

DARLINGTON CARE HOME RESIDENTS PLANT A TREE FOR THE QUEEN’S JUBILEE

Residents and staff at a Darlington care home have planted a tree to mark the Queen’s platinum jubilee.

The apple blossom tree now takes pride of place in the garden at Wilton House care home in the town’s Wilton Close.

The Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC) is a unique tree planting initiative created to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022 which invites people from across the United Kingdom to “Plant a Tree for the Jubilee”.

Home manager Emma Hardy said: “We were delighted to plant the tree to mark this momentous occasion for Her Majesty The Queen.

“Many of our residents remember the day Princess Elizabeth became Queen all those years ago, and we’re all looking forward to celebrating in style in June. The tree is our small way of marking history and being part of a much wider nationwide project to enhance the environment with the planting of trees.”

The home, which has 35 spacious ensuite bedrooms, is part of Popular Care.

It provides nursing, residential, palliative, specialist and respite care. It is rated as good by the industry regulator, the Care Qualify Commission, which scrutinises elements including safety, responsiveness, standards of care, and how well a home is led.

TYNESIDE CARE HOME RESIDENTS PLANT A TREE FOR THE QUEEN’S JUBILEE



Two residents of a Tyneside care home were chosen to plant a tree to mark the Queen’s platinum jubilee because of their love of gardening.

John Anderson and Syd McNichol are residents of Kenton Hall in Kenton Lane, Newcastle, which now has an apple tree sapling in its grounds to commemorate the Royal milestone.

The home, which has 60 spacious ensuite bedrooms, is part of Solehawk Ltd.

Home manager Steve Robson said: “Both John and Syd were keen gardeners before coming to live at Kenton Hall, so it was fitting for them to be chosen to plant a tree to mark the Platinum Jubilee.

“At Kenton Hall, we have a keen focus on ensuring that we are a home from home for those who come to live here and that includes encouraging and helping residents to keep up their hobbies and interests.”

John said: “It was a real honour to be chosen to carry out a ‘Royal’ duty on behalf of all the home’s residents and staff.”

“Both Syd and I loved cultivating flowers and plants and I really appreciate being in a home that has such well-cared for and tended gardens. I love sitting out among the flora and fauna or looking out over it from inside when the weather is not so good.”

Kenton Hall boasts four newly refurbished communal lounges, activity, cinema and spa rooms, a conservatory, a landscaped garden and views across the Northumberland Hills.

The home provides nursing, residential, palliative, dementia and respite care. It is rated as good by the industry regulator, the Care Qualify Commission, which scrutinises elements including safety, responsiveness, standards of care, and how well a home is led.

JEAN CELEBRATES 107th BIRTHDAY AT GATESHEAD CARE HOME

A resident at a Gateshead care home has celebrated her 107th birthday.

Jean Slater, who marked the milestone birthday with family and friends at Craigielea care home in Durham Road, received a card from the Queen to commemorate the occasion.

Jean, whose maiden name was Wallace, was born in Hayden Street in Gateshead and has lived in the area all her life.

She married her husband Billy, who died 30 years ago, in 1940, and a year later they had a son, Graham.

Jean’s is a close-knit family, and she enjoys regular visits with her son and his wife, Janet, and her grandson Johnathonand his wife, Urmita.

Jean worked at the Thompson Red Stamp store in Sunderland Road, Gateshead, which took its name from the fact it gave customers red stamps to save when they shopped there.

Her recipe for a long and happy life is to ‘never take medicine from a doctor and to have a Baileys or whisky every night’.

Jean said: “The staff here are lovely and I am very well looked after. They all helped make my birthday a really special day.”

Malcolm Hanson, manager at Craigielea Care, which is part of the Solehawk Group, said: “Jean is a much-loved resident of Craigielea and it was an honour for staff and residents to celebrate such a momentous birthday with her.”

The home, which caters for up to 60 residents, is rated as good by the industry regulator the Care Quality Commission, which inspects aspects including safety, effectiveness, standards of care, responsiveness, and management.

It is set in well-tended big gardens, which are set out like a park.

SOUTH OXFORDSHIRE CHILDREN'S HOME RATED OUTSTANDING

A children's home in South Oxfordshire is celebrating an 'outstanding' rating in all aspects of its operations.

The highest Ofsted assessment encompassed the overall experiences and progress of the home's children and young people, how well they are helped and protected and the effectiveness of its leaders and managers.

The home, which is owned by Calcot Services for Children, cares for up to seven young people with learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, complex needs and behavioural problems, who are unable to live with their families.

The Ofsted inspectors' report said: "The children's home provides highly-effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good.

"The action of the children's home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people, who need help, protection and care."

Parents told the Ofsted inspectors that their children were blossoming thanks to the care and support of staff and the ethos at the home and that they got emotional thinking about the positive progress and outcomes that were being achieved.

One parent said: "I'm so pleased with the care given to my son, as it is helping him flourish into a lovely young man, and sometimes it brings a tear to my eye to see him making so much progress."

Other key points highlighted in the report are:

• 'The manager and staff are exceptionally skilled, and they provide outstanding care to children'
• 'Children have developed trust and secure relationships with staff' 
• Staff provide an exceptionally individualised and child-centred care that meets the needs of children'
• 'Children, who struggled to engage with others, or found it difficult to go out in the community, now enjoy taking part in a variety of activities. This has supported them to improve their self-esteem, confidence and helped them build friendships with peers while improving their social skills'
• 'Staff have good relationships with parents and professionals'
• 'Parents and professionals trust the care and safeguarding of their children by staff'
• 'The registered manager is passionate and inspirational'
• 'Staff maintain a highly-effective positive culture of keeping children safe in the home'

The report also said that children were supported to engage in full-time education, and that 'excellent attention' was given to their health needs.

Sukhbir and Harvinder Singh, Calcot Services for Children directors, said: "This report is testimony to the hard work and dedication of the highly-trained and caring professionals at this wonderful home.

"It also reflects the warm, loving and family-style ethos that is at its heart where the focus is on providing stability and enabling the vulnerable children in our care to heal and blossom.

"The rigorous inspection validates how we are achieving positive outcomes for our young people by helping them to thrive in a nurturing, supportive environment where they feel safe." 

SENIOR APPOINTMENT AT ECHO SUPPORTED LIVING SERVICES



ECHO Supported Living Services has appointed Amy Childs as Clinical Support Manager.

An experienced professional, Amy, who qualified as a Registered Nurse Learning Disabilities in 2006,has held positions withing hospital, residential and supported living services with her most recent role being Clinical Director supporting clinical strategy and support within the community. She implemented a clinical governance process for people with autism, learning disabilities and mental health and their staff teams.

Amy’s responsibilities will include strengthening the positive behaviour support ethos within ECHO Supported Living Services. This will involve monitoring quality of life and outcomes for the individuals supported including personal development, self-determination, interpersonal relationships, social inclusion and emotional, physical and material wellbeing.

ECHO Supported Living Services uses the PERMA model (Positive emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment) to support achievement of self-identified goals.

For individuals who are communicating through behaviours that may be a risk to self or others, assessments and analysis will be completed to ensure that the function of the behaviour is understood before strategies to support are implemented.

Strategies will include skills teaching for the person and their supporting team in how to replace the behaviour with a safer way of communicating the unmet need/want whilst ensuring the setting events, triggers and protective factors are identified and supported.

For the staff teams the role will include training, on-site support and coaching, skills development, reflective practice and systems to ensure effective post incident support.

The Clinical Manager Support role will also include monitoring of data such as incident trends, use of restrictive practice, outcome measures, people supported and family/carer involvement, risk management and staff support via the seven pillars of clinical governance.

Amy Childs said: “I am delighted to have the opportunity to join ECHO Supported Living Services, which is a growing company, already achieving fantastic outcomes for the people supported.

“Clinical support and governance is hugely important both for the people supported and the staff who support them.

“A key part of my job will be promoting positive behaviour support. This is not a behaviour intervention in itself but an ethos to support improved quality of life for all within the company which will have the secondary benefits of reducing behaviours of concern that can impact on an individual’s daily life whilst also increasing staff retention.

“I am looking forward to the challenges and successes ahead and working with colleagues and the people they support to further enhance their quality of life.”

Andrew Shelton-Murray, Director of ECHO Supported Living Services, said: “Amy will be an excellent addition to the team at ECHO Supported Living Services. Her skills and experience will be invaluable as the company grows and our planned new service in Stafford develops alongside the existing facility in Walsall.”

SUPPORT WORKERS OPEN THEIR HEART AND HOME TO UKRAINIAN REFUGEES 

Families find refuge in Morton – leaving loved ones behind 

From Gloucestershire to Lincolnshire and beyond Ambient Support staff across the country have stepped up to support the people of Ukraine in their hour of need.  In the village of Morton, Lincs staff at Springfields and Brambles supported living services, have not only been helping by organising collections but two team members have gone a step further by opening up their homes to welcome Ukrainian families via the Government’s sponsorship scheme. 

 The two services, which are next door to each provide care and support for up to 12 people with a learning disability and have a combined 18 employees.  Team Leader at the services, Andrea Woodcock, has been organising collections with all 18 employees getting on board to donate what they can and asking friends and families to get help too.   

Donations are sent to Ambient Support’s regional head-office in Grantham, where it is then distributed to recognised charities. Items include toiletries, sanitary aid, nappies, pet food, tinned food, clothes, and paracetamol. 

 Andrea Woodcock, Team Leader at Ambient Support, says: 

“Our staff teams at Springfields and Brambles work very closely together, and we have a lot of support for each other. We don’t see our work as a job, it’s a vocation and we are incredibly passionate what we do and the people we support. We’re in care roles because we want to help and support people who can’t do it for themselves, so our instinct is to want to help others and the people in Ukraine need our help and as much support as they can get, and we can give. Seeing the devasting effects of the War has been heart-breaking and we have all wanted to do something to help.” 

 The two support worker’s at Springfields, Julie Houldershaw and Sandra Tilley are going a step further by welcoming refuges into their homes. 

 Julie and husband, Gary, are sponsoring a Ukrainian mother and her 7-year-old-boy. Once the visa application is passed, the Ukrainian mother and son will leave their current place in Poland and fly to the UK to live with Julie and Gary for 6 months. 

 Sandra is hoping to keep the family close by sponsoring the boys Aunt and is waiting to hear news about her application. 

 Julie, who hopes to collect the family from Stansted airport imminently says: 

“Watching the horrors of the War unfold has been extremely distressing. We have three grown-up daughters who have flown the nest and a four-bedroom house, so we have plenty of space to be able to help. 

 “We have spoken to the family via Zoom and it’s very emotional. What they are doing is courageous, leaving loved ones behind, coming to a new country and not being able to speak the language. 

 “We want to give them a safe roof over their heads, food and security and emotional support. The mother doesn’t speak English, so we are trying to find local lessons for her. We hope to give them a chance of a new life. 

 “Everyone at Ambient Support has really come together to support and help each other and we’re collectively doing what we can. 

 “Sandra speaks Russian and has been integral in helping us communicate with the family and will be coming with me to collect the mother and son from the airport next week. 

 “It’s the first thing I think about when I wake up and the last thing I think about before going to sleep and I would like to think that someone would help me and my family if I were in the same situation.” 

Chief Executive of Ambient Support, Mark Milton says: 

“It is incredibly humbling to see how our support workers go above and beyond to help those who have been forced to flee their homeland and to leave loved ones behind. I am extremely proud that our staff are helping communities beyond their own and am inspired by their generosity.” 

 Ambient Support is a registered UK charity with over 25 years’ experience in providing care and support services for older people, people with a mental health need and people with a learning disability. Ambient believe that everyone is unique, and they should be able to lead valued lives in their communities, treated with dignity and respect no matter their age, health condition or disability. 

SUPPORT WORKER GOES EXTRA MILE FOR CARE HOME RESIDENTS

A care assistant has gone the extra mile – or rather 5km – in support of residents.

Nicole Jenkins, who has worked at the Atherton-based Chanters Care Home since 2018, braved very high winds to take part in the organised run at Heaton Park.

The 22-year-old took 42 minutes and 11 seconds to complete the course around the large park, just north of Manchester, which is home to the Grade 1 listed neoclassical 18th century house, Heaton Hall.

Nicole’s endeavours, which raised £240, will contribute to supporting trips, entertainment and activities for residents at the home, which is on Tyldesley Old Road.

This was not her personal best for a 5km run, but the race took place as Storms Malik and Corrie battered the North of England.

Nicole, for whom running is a relatively new hobby in a bid to get fitter, said: “It was a bit of a challenge with it being so windy, but I was determined to finish the course even though I was somewhat slower than my previous times due to the weather conditions.”

Anne Hargreaves, manager of Chanters Care Home, said: “Nicole is a much-loved member of staff, who likes to go the extra mile in her support of our residents, and she has done exactly that by taking part in this race.

“She is to be commended for running in such challenging weather conditions. Our residents have enjoyed hearing about the race and seeing photos of Nicole in her running gear.”

Chanters Care Home is rated as overall good by the industry regulator, the Care Quality Commission. It provides specialist elderly and dementia care as well as looking after people with learning disabilities.

The race was organised by RunThrough, a running community that organises fun and affordable races over a variety of distances around the UK.

ESTON CARE HOME SUPPORTS UKRAINE HUMANITARIAN APPEAL

Astune Rise care home in Eston, near Middlesbrough has proudly ‘done its bit’ to help people affected by the ongoing war in Ukraine.

The home appealed to family, friends and the local community to donate toiletries and baby supplies to be taken to a local hub for transportation to the Ukraine border where women and children are in desperate need of everyday items.

Caroline Bowstead, manager at Astune Rise said: “Everyone at Astune Rise has been moved to tears witnessing the awful scenes in Ukraine and the plight of the millions of refugees.

“We might just be a small care home in Eston but we’ve got a big heart and wanted to do our bit to help.

“As we knew they would everyone rallied round, and we will now make sure the things that were donated go to exactly where they are needed.”

CREEPY CRAWLIES AND CREATURES VISIT NEWCASTLE CARE HOME RESIDENTS

Newcastle’s Ashton Court Care Home had some unusual guests when Discovery Zoo brought some of its creepy crawlies and creatures to visit residents.

The home played host to snakes, tarantulas, rats and even a large millipede as part of the home’s ever evolving activities programme. Residents learned all about the creatures from Discovery Zoo’s Paul Fenwick before having a chance to hold the mixed menagerie.

This is the first time that Discovery Zoo has visited the home since the start of the Covid pandemic, having previously been regular guests. Guided interaction between animals and people has been proven to cause an automatic relaxation response, relieve symptoms of dementia and prevent feelings of isolation and loneliness.

Nikki Foggin, activities coordinator at Ashton Court Care Home, said: “Our residents have really enjoyed their unusual visitors, especially the snake, tarantula and millipede. They’re not something you usually see up in Newcastle and for some of our residents it was the first time seeing them in real life.

“Discovery Zoo did a great job introducing the creatures to residents and explaining how to hold them. Animal visits are always such a lift for our residents and it’s great to see them so excited.

“Stroking and holding the animals always puts a smile on our residents faces. It sparks their memories and I hear all about their previous pets or trips to the zoo with their families.

“The millipede was something not many of us had seen before. The sensation of all those legs on your skin is really weird, but its great sensory stimulation for our residents, especially those who have dementia.

“We’re always looking for activities to entertain our residents and really look forward to being able to do more now that restrictions are relaxed.”

Paul Fenwick from Discovery Zoo said: “We love visiting care homes and seeing how much joy it brings to residents. We have some unusual animals that get people really interested, as well as things like rabbits and gerbils that people may have had as pets themselves. They are great for reviving memories, although just sitting and stroking an animal can be very relaxing too.”

Located in Newcastle’s West End, Ashton Court has 42 en-suite rooms, and offers a host of on-site facilities including a hair dressing salon with a nail bar, a traditional ‘Ashton Arms’ pub, library, tea room and cinema room, with a shop for added convenience.

Ashton Court care home is operated by Solehawk, part of the Cairn Group of companies and rated as Good by the Care Quality Commission, independent regulator of all health and social care services in England.

Launch of dynamic internal comms platform, Workvivo, signifies a new era for Ambient Support 

National charity, Ambient Support, one of the top 20 generic Not-For-Profit Health & Social Care Providers in the UK, launches Workvivo, a tailored internal communications platform designed to elevate employee experience and bring teams together across the Charity, and sees engagement triple compared with its traditional intranet platform. Following the successful rebrand of Ambient Support in April 2020, it was recognised that the next drive for repositioning and modernisation of the charity was to tackle internal communication and culture. Following a comprehensive tendering process which involved people from all tiers of the organisation, a SaaS (Software as a Service) provider was chosen and the platform was launched in January 2022. This new digital channel allows for real time communication, sharing of best practice, quick access to Ambient’s documents database and it allows colleagues to create online communities. One month from launching, Ambient recorded active users and engagement tripling compared with its traditional email and intranet platforms. Results from the first Pulse survey were overwhelming positive, showing that 90% of employees found Workvivo easy to use, 94% said they could access documents more quickly and 94% said they feel more involved with Ambient. Davina Sellick, Director of Marketing & Communications, said: “The launch of Workvivo heralds a new era within Ambient Support. For the first time in our history, our teams have a communal area and space within which they are able to share real time news, views and best practice with colleagues from across the charity. The functionality available to us within Workvivo means that in the coming months we will be rolling out a raft of initiatives including livestream broadcasts, pulse surveys and the introduction of a new staff reward and recognition schemes, all within this new platform. “This initiative sits firmly within our strategy to revolutionise our digital assets and ways of working with those we support and our frontline teams. Additionally, it helps us build upon and strengthen the strong internal culture that already exists within Ambient, solidifying the links to our value set and the very heart of our way of working we call ‘The Ambient Way.’” Lee Hodgson, Chief Information Officer: “Workvivo is as innovative and dynamic an internal communication platform as I have ever come across and the benefits it will provide Ambient Support are immediate. Workvivo will form the gateway to our digital estate, making accessing our other systems simple and intuitive for all our teams. “Workvivo was the first step towards modernising our technology capabilities, and will be followed closely by our finance system and the introduction of our newly procured enterprise care and support system.”  Feedback from Ambient employees includes: “Everything I need for work is all in one place.” “It is nice to see that we are capturing good things about what we do.”  “I think it's a really positive tool that will have an enormous impact on the staff teams. Great Job!”  John Goulding, CEO of Workvivo, said: "We are delighted to be chosen as Ambient’s internal communications platform as the company begins to revolutionize their digital assets and how they support their frontline teams. “At Workvivo we believe the culture of the company is owned by and shaped by everyone, a belief shared by the team at Ambient Support. We've seen how having an internal communications platform can bring company values to life and create a real sense of community. This is an exciting time at Ambient as they begin the rollout of a number of employee engagement initiatives and we are excited to be chosen as the gateway to Ambient’s digital estate." 

What happens to our beliefs and values if we are diagnosed with

dementia?

Dementia Action Week 16–22 May; National Vegetarian Week 16 – 22 May

This Dementia Action Week, which coincides with National Vegetarian Week, the charity

Vegetarian for Life encourages care providers to pledge to protect the values of those with

Dementia. According to research commissioned by Alzheimer’s Society, over one million people will be

living with dementia by 2025. This number is set to double by 2050. As the population ages and people live longer, the chances of being diagnosed with dementia are increasing. This may mean that large numbers of people will experience a loss of capacity and require support for day-to-day living. Vegetarian for Life (VfL), which supports vegans and vegetarians in later life, encourages

people to plan ahead for conditions such as dementia. The charity suggests that people should document what matters to them to guide those that may care for them in the future.

This is because they have heard many cases where people’s past beliefs have not been respected when receiving care. A recent Inquiry Report, published by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Vegetarianism and Veganism, highlighted multiple examples of individuals receiving meat while in care settings, despite having been vegan most of their lives. The individuals had been deeply committed to their dietary beliefs and it upset family members to see their loved one’s values being ignored. VfL argues that beliefs and values should not be forgotten. They help define who the person is and how they want to live. Just because a person may lack capacity – a condition that may fluctuate – basic principles that define them should not be overlooked.

To support care providers in protecting the values of those with dementia, the charity is encouraging providers to sign the Memory Care Pledge. The pledge consists of five simple

good practice points that care establishments can follow to ensure that vegetarian and vegan residents experiencing capacity issues or cognitive losses will be offered a choice of meals, drinks and snacks that uphold their ethical beliefs.

Good practice recommendations include offering a resident the opportunity to eat at a vegetarian-only, or vegan-only table when possible, and in the event of an ‘accidental’

choice to eat meat, offering an alternative that upholds their philosophical beliefs. These recommendations are suggested because Vegetarian for Life is aware of vegetarian residents experiencing issues with capacity or cognition, who may otherwise pick meat from

others’ plates. VfL has also issued a Statement of Wishes

 form. This allows people to document the beliefs

and values they want to live by as they age. It encourages people to plan for their future and guide those who will care for them; the document should support care providers to

understand what matters to people receiving care and empower them to act accordingly. These actions encourage care providers to think about the values and beliefs of those in care. Dementia Action Week is a time to focus on how we respond to the challenges posed by Dementia and ensure that individuals are treated with dignity. According to VfL, these actions are fundamental. They allow people to define their values and ensure that if they do become diagnosed with dementia, they retain the right to practice their beliefs. Aspects of personality that have characterised a person’s life should not be forgotten when receiving care.

The United Nations says more than a million people have fled Ukraine since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the attack last week and on Tuesday (1/3/22) , the government relaxed family visa rules and promised to open a community sponsorship scheme.

Tony Stein, chief executive of Healthcare Management Solutions (HCMS), has written to Home Secretary Priti Patel to offer several large empty facilities in East Sussex for the short-term housing of refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine.

HCMS provides management support to care companies including Sussex Healthcare which can make a total of 150 bedrooms immediately available at existing sites in Horsham and East Grinstead. These would be made available, on a not-for-profit basis, to the Home Office for temporary use by those fleeing the conflict.

In the letter Tony Stein wrote ‘ In common with the Western world, at Healthcare Management Solutions, we have been devastated by the scenes we have witnessed in Eastern Europe. We, like many others, felt we had to do something to help Ukraine and are in the unique position of having accommodation available to in support of HMG’s commitment to those seeking refuge.’

He said: “There are three empty buildings that could be put to temporary use to provide a safe haven for the mainly women and children who are fleeing Ukraine. I have written to the Government to offer their use as part of any re-settlement programme.”

“As a society we have a moral obligation to do what we can to help those who seek sanctuary in the UK and I am certain that the people of Sussex, and wider, will come together to welcome and support them.”

THORNTON-LE-DALE CARERS PREPARE TO JUMP FOR DEMENTIA

Three carers from The Hall care home in Thornton-Le-Dale are preparing to participate in a sky dive to raise money for a Yorkshire-based dementia charity.

The jump, which has been arranged by deputy manager Edna Harris, is set to take place on 20 March and the team are hoping to raise £500 for Dementia Forward.

It will be Edna’s second parachuting experience, and the first time for everybody else.

Dementia Forward is the leading dementia charity for York and North Yorkshire, providing support, advice and information to anybody affected by dementia across the region.

Edna Harris said: “At The Hall, we care for many residents who live with some form of dementia, and we’ve seen how it affects them and their families. It’s heart-breaking.

“Dementia Forward is a fantastic, locally-based charity, which offers invaluable support to people, and we want to help their fantastic fundraising work.

“Of course, jumping 13,000 feet out of a moving aeroplane is pretty scary, but we’re up for the challenge!”

Chris Mitchell, chairman at Park Lane Healthcare, which operates The Hall, said: “We’re incredibly proud of all of our staff, and this is a very worthy cause for fundraising.

“I know the residents are going to love seeing the photos and hearing about the sky dive afterwards.”

The Hall is a converted 17th Century home of landed gentry, which now serves as a 54-bed residential care home. It is rated “good” by the Care Quality Commission.

To donate, visit https://tinyurl.com/TheHallJump

102-YEAR-OLD SAYS STAYING BUSY IS THE KEY TO A HAPPY LIFE

A Thetford great-great-grandmother says that keeping busy is the key to a long and happy life as she turns 102 years-old. 

Phyllis Manning was surrounded by some of her 28 descendants as they celebrated her extraordinary birthday at Larchwood Care’s Alexander Court care home in Thetford.

The second eldest of 11 children, Phyllis has lived her life to the full, always keeping herself busy with work and volunteering. She met her husband, John William Manning, during a bike ride at 16. In 1942, not long after giving birth to their first son, John Jnr, her husband was dispatched to North Africa by the RAF. Their second son, Lionel was born in 1948 following John Snr’s return from his posting.

Her wartime memories include a lucky escape while living at Methwold Airbase when a bomber’s door malfunctioned and sent explosive ordinance spilling across the runway. Another memory from that period saw John and her diving for cover when a walk through a church yard was disrupted by a Luftwaffe bombing raid.

After several house moves and jobs, which included running a post office, sewing parachutes and looking after older people, the Manning family settled in Methwold once again. Phyllis took a job at a school where she was known as Little Mrs Manning and gave one-to-one support to youngsters who struggled with their reading – a position she carried on in a voluntary capacity for many years into her retirement. In the little spare time she had before moving to Alexander Court, Phyllis enjoyed knitting, sewing and reading, but most of all enjoyed spending time with her ever growing family.

Phyllis now lives at Alexander Court care home, a purpose-built residential home in Thetford operated by Larchwood Care. The modern building has been designed specifically with the needs of elderly residents, with a dedicated activities coordinator and an extensive garden space offering lots of opportunities for residents to enjoy pastimes.

Phyllis said: “I’ve always tried to keep myself as busy as possible and do my bit for the community. I’ve always been someone who needs to be doing something and it’s what kept me going all these years. Apart from my beautiful family, one of my greatest pleasures has been working with children. No matter how old they get, they always remember me and still call me Mrs Manning. I am proud that I’ve been able to help so many people over the years.”

Amanda Skinner, Alexander Court Manager, said: “Phyllis is a much-loved member of the Alexander Court family, who has lived an amazingly interesting life and done so much. After spending time working in schools nearby, she is very well-known by many people locally. Thankfully, by carrying out testing and following the relevant guidelines, we’ve been able to celebrate this momentous occasion in a safe way at the home, with Phyllis’s family by her side.”

Phyllis’s firstborn son, John Manning Junior, said: “My mother Phyllis has lived a very full life and has touched the lives of thousands of people through her work with schools, charities and care homes. Even now I am learning new things about her amazing and diverse life.

“My father and mum were truly soulmates. They devoted their lives to our family and her four grandchildren; nine great grandchildren and 13 great-great-grandchildren are testimony to her love and dedication.

“It’s a pleasure to bring so many of our family together to celebrate her 102nd birthday with the help of Alexander Court. They’ve done a fantastic job decorating the room and it’s great to have her friends from the home join us.”

CARE HOME SPONSORSHIP DEAL FOR JUNIOR COMMUNITY FOOTBALL TEAM

A fledgling junior football team from Colne has been given a boost after a nearby care home paid for new kit for the entire squad and coaches.

The Colne FC Under 11s team and management received new shirts, emblazoned with the logo of Larchwood Care, the operator of Wordsworth House in Burnley which facilitated the sponsorship.

Many residents at Wordsworth House, on Wordsworth Street in Hapton, have been involved with grassroots football during their lives and are delighted to see the team in their kit.

Jonny Stansfield, coach for Colne FC Under 11s, said: “Without the support of people and businesses like Wordsworth House and Larchwood Care, we simply wouldn’t be able to compete as a team.

“It can be very expensive to buy kit for a whole team and taking that burden away from the children’s parents means that no one has to worry about the cost and can focus on enjoying the sport.”

Rachel Clough, regional support manager for Larchwood Care, said: “It’s really important to Larchwood that Wordsworth House is part of the community so being bale to support this local team is brilliant.

“Sport instils important values and characteristics in young people, and many of the players will make lifelong friends through the team. I’ll be bringing some of the residents down to watch matches and look forward to seeing lots of wins!”

Wordsworth House is rated Good in all areas by the Care Quality Commission.

BURNLEY CARE HOME CELEBRATES CQC INSPECTION SUCCESS

A Burnley care home has been praised by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) following its latest inspection by the independent regulator.

Wordsworth House care home, on Wordsworth Street, had already been given an overall rating of ‘Good’ in all areas at a CQC inspection in 2019. Its latest inspection focussed on safety and leadership, both of which were found to be Good.

The CQC judges a care home on its levels of care, responsiveness, safety, effectiveness and leadership and incorporates comments from residents and their relatives.

The report highlighted the care home’s responsive approach to residents’ problems and ensuring residents feel their needs, interests and preferences are being met sufficiently.

Residents and visitors told the CQC representatives: “There is always plenty of staff around. They are helpful and seem to enjoy their job” and “The home is always clean, looks spotless, with nice touches like flowers on the dining room table”.

Staff were very positive about the respectful culture in the home. Their comments included: "It's a lovely staff team and we all work so well together; we all have the residents’ best interests at heart.”

Other comments from the inspectors included:

• Infection control was well managed, and the home was clean and free from hazards
• Person-centred culture was being embedded at the home
• People and their relatives were happy with the way the service was managed
• The manager and staff team were committed to providing people with high-quality care

Rachel Clough, regional support manager for Larchwood Care, said: “We were delighted to welcome back the CQC and the reaffirmation of Wordsworth House’s rating. It is especially pleasing to note that our hygiene and covid protocols are highlighted as Good.

“The team at Wordsworth House do everything they can to ensure residents’ needs are met, which is acknowledged in the report by residents, their family and CQC inspectors. Well done everyone!”

Wordsworth House is a residential care home operated by Larchwood Care and is registered to provide accommodation and personal care for older people and people living with dementia.

CARE HOME WORKER NOTCHES UP 20 YEARS’ SERVICE

A member of staff at a Blairgowrie care home is celebrating 20 years’ service.

Administrator Gill Rennie started work at Muirton House, in Essendy Road, in early 2002.

In recognition of her dedication during two decades, she was presented with flowers and vouchers.

Catherine Russell, manager of Muirton House, said: “Gill is a much valued and loved member of the team.

“Her colleagues, residents and visitors know if they need anything done or a sympathetic ear Gill is always there for them.

“She will wash dishes, help in the laundry, go for shopping - nothing is too much trouble. Personally, I am indebted to Gill for her support. Here's to the next 20 years.”

Gill said: “My time at Muirton House has flown by. I can’t believe I have been here 20 years.

“I really love my job, working with a great team of people and playing a part in supporting older people. I look forward to continuing to do this for many years to come.”

Muirton House has been providing dementia, nursing and residential care for more than 30 years with a team of dedicated staff, including registered nurses on site 24 hours a day.

The dementia unit has been upgraded with themed areas such as sport, farming, music and film and items of interest are displayed on walls to encourage reminiscing. The manager and staff have completed champions training run by Alzheimer’s Society.

Love and romance were the order of Valentine’s Day for a 65-year-married couple at Astune Rise care home in Eston, near Middlesbrough.

Evelyn Robinson (84), who lives in Astune Rise care home and husband Colin (90) who will celebrate 66 years of wedded bliss in March were surprised with a Valentine’s Day afternoon tea at the care home.

They were serenaded by a local singer who performed ‘their song’ Till which was originally sung by Shirley Bassey, and a private lounge was decorated with balloons and fabulous heart decorations made with love by children from the local Whale Hill primary school.

Colin visits Evelyn every day and their devotion to each other prompted staff to make Valentine’s Day extra special, particularly given all the restrictions they have been living under over the last two years.

Colin said: “We mean everything to each other. We’ve done everything together, never been apart. It’s so important to see her every day, we don’t know how many days are left so every day is a treasure.”

Caroline Bowstead, home manager at Astune Rise said: “It’s the most romantic day of the year and we’ve followed Evelyn and Colin’s love story since Evelyn came to live with us. We just wanted to do something really special for them.

“We put a post on Facebook and the local school and the whole community have helped make it so special. Thanks you to everyone for making Evelyn and Colin’s Valentine Day!”

NEVER TOO LATE TO PREPARE FOR CARE

During the pandemic, Leading nursing, social and healthcare agency Local Care Force recognised that the care sector was being decimated with workers isolating or leaving care permanently. In response to this, it launched the ‘Local Care Academy’ and devised a ‘Prepare to Care’ training course, offering an introduction into the care industry and a new career path, and is now celebrating its first official graduate Heather Tandy.

Led by Michelle Shaw, Head of Care at Local Care Force, the business realised it had an untapped workforce of people who despite not having relevant experience, had the right attitude and passion for caring. All of whom could be supported by its team of Nurses and qualified care trainers.

Michelle says, “With our program of training, support and mentorship we weren’t only able to do our part in plugging the gaps with passionate carers, we were also able to support people in a new rewarding fulfilling career.”

Heather Tandy, aged 53, had worked as a Customer Care Advisor for three decades - all of her adult working life - when she was unexpectedly made redundant at the height of COVID. She knew she wanted a total change in her career, but soon realised that every job she saw required experience that she didn’t have. Then she came across an advert for Local Care Force’s ‘Prepare To Care’ project.

Heather explains; “It was the training and support offered that made me feel like this was the right choice for me”

Once she had met all the legal requirements and checks. Heather took part in zoom training, in person practical training and online course modules.

“The training was wonderful, I learnt so much and as I completed the programme, it all started to click into place” 

Next up was to venture out into the real world of care.

Local Care Force’s Prepare To Care candidates also receive invaluable support from the care homes they are placed with.

For Heather, her greatest challenge was having the confidence to put her new skills into practice, and with the help of Local Care Force and her colleagues she feels she has been able to do this.

She continued, “The support I was given during those first shifts was invaluable and I felt my confidence grow every single day. There’s so much to learn, but it is so rewarding. The best thing about working in care is, hearing people's life stories and knowing that I can make a real difference.”

“To anyone else looking to take the leap into a career in care, just go for it. You can make a difference to someone’s life. You can make someone’s day, there’s such a wonderful comradery with colleagues and a bond with the residents you’re caring for. In your little, tiny way, you can absolutely make someone’s day better and that is so fulfilling.

FIRST HOMES FOR SALE AND RENT RELEASED AT NEW EXTRA CARE DEVELOPMENT IN ROMSEY – NIGHTINGALE LODGE

 New homes for older people in Romsey have now been released for sale and rent at the exciting new, state-of-the-art Nightingale Lodge development - due to open later this year. 

The ‘Extra Care’ accommodation, being built by Places for People, Living Plus, comes with 24-hour care and support on site and is aimed at people who have either existing care or support needs, or who anticipate needing support in the near future. The project is being delivered in partnership with Test Valley Borough Council and Hampshire County Council.

Prospective residents can now reserve homes for sale and apply for homes to rent at the development which offers 54 modern apartments, with private balcony or outside terrace, available to buy or rent ahead of a planned opening in summer 2021.   

In addition to the apartments, Nightingale Lodge offers a variety of facilities for use by both residents as well as the local community. These include a wellness suite, hair and beauty salon, a restaurant and landscaped gardens.

Andy Lomas of Places for People said: “We are delighted to be launching this fantastic new community for the people of Romsey. We are passionate about creating well-designed homes which are available through either sale or rent. Living Plus has a great track record of establishing similar communities across the country where we aim to create a balance of independent living, great amenities and social activities – but with added facilities that give peace of mind.

“Extra Care apartments are ideal for those who wish to remain independent, with their own front door and privacy, yet with the knowledge that they can be supported in their own home when necessary. Nightingale Lodge is about embracing life, and the new opportunities a development like this can offer are endless.”

Hampshire County Council’s Executive Member for Adult Social Care and Health, Councillor Liz Fairhurst, said: “Nightingale Lodge will provide high quality new homes in Romsey for anyone who wants to remain independent, but may need extra help and the added reassurance of qualified staff on hand 24/7. This is all about offering people choices rather than a ‘one size fits all’ approach to care.”

Housing and environmental health portfolio holder at Test Valley Borough Council, Phil Bundy, added: “We’re delighted to be working with the development team on Nightingale Lodge. This ambitious project will bring a high standard of homes to Romsey and will help us establish a great community and ultimately be a great asset for the town. Extra Care housing provides an ideal solution for those who wish to remain living independently but need some form of care and support which can be tailored to suit their needs, and this development will ensure that residents in the south of the borough are able to have that choice made available to them. We are pleased that many of the apartments will be offered as affordable rented homes making them accessible to a wider range of customers.”

Nightingale Lodge is the first Living Plus development in Romsey and is being delivered with construction partners Morgan Sindall Later Living and Amiri.

SALUTEM SERVICES SCOOP TOP PRIZES IN PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION

Cwmbran Day Opportunities in Cwmbran, Morley Road care home in Tiptree and Oxclose Lodge care home in Nottingham were celebrating after receiving prizes in a photo and video competition.

The services, which are part of Salutem Care and Education and aim to empower the individuals they support to enjoy the freedom to live fulfilling lives, scooped the prizes with photos of the individuals supported by the service.

The competition brief was to show what HumanKind, the premise at the very heart of Salutem, meant to staff and the individuals they support through a photo or video.

The winners received a Fujifilm Instax Polaroid camera, and the top three entries were also presented with a printed canvas of their winning photo to display at their service, as well hanging at the Salutem head office in Windsor.

Kimberly Davey, service manager at Oxclose Lodge, which won first prize, said: “I’m so happy our team won the photography competition. Stacey really enjoyed being pampered and having a face mask and Remi captured the moment. It was then submitted by Elaine Cubitt. They’re the real stars.

“At Oxclose Lodge, we want the people we support to feel at home, comfortable and relaxed, so we often have lovely spa days and special events to help us get everyone in good spirits.

“I’m delighted that the picture of Stacey spoke to the judges and represents HumanKind across the whole of Salutem.”

John Godden MBE, CEO of Salutem Care and Education, said: “I’d like to congratulate everyone who took part in our photo and video competition.

“We saw so many examples of HumanKind and what it means to our team. It’s fantastic to see so many people living the Salutem values. The pictures really captured a lovely moment. Very well done.”

NATIONAL CARE AND EDUCATION PROVIDER LEADS THE CHARGE WITH GREEN CAR POINTS FOR STAFF AND VISITORS

Salutem Care and Education has announced its intention to invest in electric vehicle charging points at its moving to electric vehicles for their fleet and encouraging staff to ‘go electric’ with its employee car scheme.

Salutem joins big brands like Microsoft, Tesco, Royal Mail and BT by ditching the diesel and parking the petrol to make way for more fully electric and hybrid vehicles.

Research shows that electric cars emit fewer greenhouse gasses than traditional vehicles and are, on the whole, more efficient.

John Godden MBE, CEO of Salutem Care and Education, said: “I’m delighted to announce that we will be installing electric vehicle charging points at our services across the UK. In order for the UK to reach the government’s ambitious net zero targets, all sectors must look to reduce their carbon footprints – care is no exception.

“We are committed to moving our fleet vehicles to electric when they are renewed and are encouraging staff to consider electric cars with the support of our employee car scheme.

“In addition to providing excellent support and care for people with complex needs and disabilities, we are also an environmentally friendly company, and this initiative will help us to reduce our carbon footprint.

“We hope other organisations will follow suit and look at going greener with their vehicles.”

Kenton Hall embraces ‘home comforts’ arts project

Kenton Hall care home in Newcastle has signed up for a creative initiative that will include artwork telling the story of older people’s experiences during the Covid pandemic.

The home, in Kenton Lane, is taking part in the Home Comforts artistic project, which will involve artist Sharon Bailey building positive and meaningful relationships with older people, their families and care workers during an eight-month period.

A key aim will be to demonstrate the value of care home residents participating in the Arts and celebrating and sharing the creative achievements of care homes in the wider community.

The scheme, which is financed by Newcastle City Council with Public Health Covid Recovery funding, and supported by Newcastle University, also will focus on:

• Finding new ways to integrate the arts into care home settings to help benefit older people longer term
• Attempting something more challenging to address the key issues that have come to the fore during Covid for people living and working in care homes
• Delivering high quality arts activity that is accessible to people at a time when seeking out such opportunities is difficult.

Elements of Home Comforts will encompass residents helping make artworks that tell of their experiences, including during Covid, which will be shared with others in the community.

It also will involve using different artforms and techniques to explore their stories and life experiences.

Steve Massey, operations director at Solehawk, said: “An important part of the culture at our care homes, including Kenton Hall, is organising a wide range of activities to boost residents’ mental and physical well-being.

“The Home Comforts project shows how beneficial it is to collaborate with external organisations and individuals to add new dimensions to what we can offer.

“It will give our residents and staff the opportunity to learn new arts skills, which can continue to be used even after the project has drawn to an end.”

Sharon Bailey said: “Artistic and creative engagement can prove an effective means of expression by stimulating memories and helping forge relationships and friendships within a care home setting.

“Older people have fascinating stories to tell and their reminiscences and experiences deserve to be shared with the wider community.”

Sharon, an artist and creative producer working within communities across the north east of England and internationally, is renowned for leading projects that span art, heritage and health. She is passionate about telling the stories of those with whom she works.

Kenton Hall, which has 60 beds, cares for those aged 65 and over, who require nursing or personal care. It has been evaluated as good by the CQC.

Care home knits patchwork for pooches

Residents at Linden House Care Home in Epsom are putting their knitting skills to good use to create blankets for animals at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home.

The patchwork blankets created by the Surrey care home’s residents will be sent to help keep some of the thousands of animals that Battersea rescues each year warm.

Each animal that is rehomed from Battersea leaves with its own blanket, which they have used since arriving at the centre. This provides comfort and familiarity when settling into a new adopted home. With up to 450 dogs and cats being cared for at each of its three sites at any one time, Battersea uses thousands of blankets a year. Without donations from the likes of Linden House’s thoughtful residents, the cost to the charity could be significant.

This knitting drive is just one of the many activities organised by the home’s activities manager Pip, whose job it is to keep residents’ bodies active, and minds engaged. Other activities include horticulture, bingo, yoga, and Covid-safe visits from entertainers.

Pip, activities manager at Linden House Care Home, said: “Our residents are real animal lovers, and we often have dogs visiting the home, which really brightens up their day.

“We always try to encourage residents to try new activities and hobbies, including knitting. Some of our residents were already very good knitters and they’ve been helping the others to learn, which has been great to see.

“It’s fantastic that we’ve been able to take a hobby and do something positive with it, helping these poor animals when they need it most.”

A sensitively converted Victorian house, Linden House, retains a number of stunning original features, but also has state-of-the-art care equipment and modifications which have transformed it into a first-class care home.

The home is managed by Wren Retirement Living and is rated Good by the Care Quality Commission in four of the five key areas. It is rated as Outstanding in the ‘Well-led’ inspection area, reflecting the dedication and professionalism of the team.



Care home helps trio of staff achieve their career ambitions

A former chef decided to change career direction entirely during lockdown to become a carer in a Tyneside nursing home.

Annette Perry works at Craigielea in Durham Road South, Low Fell, Gateshead, which is part of Solehawk Group, where she recently has been promoted to a senior carer.

She had worked as a chef/catering manager for 22 years before making the change in career.

Annette had been toying with the idea of moving into the care sector for ten years. She said: “Lockdown gave me the push I needed to try and move on from cooking.

“I don’t regret becoming a carer as it is a very satisfying role. The thing I like most is helping people, who need the support from carers to live their day-to-day life, with as much dignity and to the highest standard possible.

“I feel very positive about my new role as a senior carer and am growing in confidence every day.”

Sarah Hoey is another member of staff who has been promoted within the home, which is rated ‘good’ by the regulator the Care Quality Commission.

She started as a care assistant in 2003 and since then has risen through the ranks including becoming a senior care assistant. Sarah now is a nursing assistant having learned new skills, including undertaking Social Care Assistant Practitioner (SCAP) training. This means she now is qualified to take bloods, oversee catheter care, and undertake other clinical work.

Sarah said: “This opportunity shows that care workers can develop and grow into future practitioners.”

She added: “I am looking forward to being more hands on with practical and clinical aspects of the nursing service.”

Sue Turnbull has also progressed to be a nursing assistant. She started at Craigielea in 2013 as a care assistant and within a year she was promoted to senior care assistant within the residential side o its services.

She said: “I am looking forward to being more hands on with the practical and clinical parts of nursing and care. This opportunity shows care workers can develop and grow into future practitioners.”

Steve Massey, Solehawk operations manager, said: “It is very important to Solehawk that we ensure all staff are provided with the opportunities and training to develop their skills and ambitions.

“It is fantastic to see Annette, Sarah and Sue progress their careers within the company.”

Craigielea, which has 60 beds, provides accommodation for people requiring nursing or personal care, specialising in dementia, physical disabilities, and sensory impairments.

Under-14s girls’ football team secures the support of Fareham care home

A Fareham care home is supporting a group of budding young footballers by helping to kit them out for the 2021/22 season.

Cams Ridge, in Portchester, Fareham, is backing AFC Porchester Youth FC Under 14 girls’ football team.

Michelle Shann, manager of Cams Ridge, said: “At Cams Ridge, we believe it is important to keep our residents connected with the wider community.

“Some are footie fans and, particularly with the increasing popularity of women’s football, we felt it would be good to help nurture future generations of female soccer players.

“As a Fareham-based business, we know what a significant contribution grassroots sports, such as youth football teams, make to local life in Porchester.”

Lee Cook, Coach for Porchester Youth FC, said: “We are extremely grateful to Cams Ridge for supporting our Under 14 Girls’ football squad.

“Being involved in sport can help boost youngsters’ self-esteem, mental and physical wellbeing and teach them lessons that stand them in good stead for the rest of their lives.

“We would not be able to do what we do without the support of external organisations such as Cams Ridge.”

Cams Ridge provides accommodation for up to 51 people aged 65-plus, who need nursing or personal care,

It is rated as good by the regulator, the Care Quality Commission.

JESS’S DREAM IS FAST BECOMING A REALITY

The final stages of work at April Cottage in Henshaw are moving nearer to completion, with exterior landscaping work progressing well.

Jessica Robson sadly lost her battle with Sarcoma Cancer at the age of 18 in 2014. Her dream was to raise enough money to build a respite lodge for other families with children with cancer to make lasting happy memories. Use of the lodge and its facilities are free of charge.

Jessica’s parents Julie and Trevor have dedicated their lives to creating a holiday home for children from across the country, and their families. They acquired a small bungalow with three acres of land in Henshaw, Northumberland and built a three-bedroomed holiday lodge, which is fully adapted for various disabilities.

They have invested their life savings into the project and are now finishing the exterior landscaping. With a grant of £25,000 from The Watson Family Charitable Trust, significant work has already been undertaken including:

• Flattening and seeding land
• New trees planted around the pond areas
• Completing a play park, storage shed and BBQ hut
• Installing a pergola with bar table over the hot tub to offer privacy for guests
• Constructing a small building on the patio to house laundry facilities
• Creating a wall, gates, and rockery at the entrance.

Ian Watson, who established the Trust, his son Craig and charity trustee Hugh Welch visited April Cottage to meet Julie to see how the grant is making a tangible difference to the project.

Julie Robson said: “We have put our heart and soul into this project, in Jess’s memory.

“The donation from the Family Trust is just amazing. The wonderful outside area is really coming together, and we were delighted to show it off to Ian, Craig and Hugh.”

Ian Watson said: “Julie and Trevor have put everything into creating this fantastic facility to help families during the most challenging times.

“Craig, Hugh and I were delighted to visit April Cottage once again. The progress that has been made since we last came is excellent and it is a real pleasure to see that families are able to enjoy special times and make lasting memories in this amazing place. 

Care home worker celebrates 20 years’ service

A Tyneside care home is celebrating the long service of one of its members of staff.

Nikki Foggin started at the care home company, Solehawk, in 2001 as a carer at its Kenton Manor care home, in Kenton, going on to work as a domestic and in the kitchen in its nearby Kenton Hall facility.

She moved to the company’s Ashton Court care home, on West Road, Newcastle, four years ago, where she works as activity co-ordinator.

Steve Massey, operations manager at Solehawk, said: “Nikki is a valued member of staff, who is loved not only by her colleagues, but, most importantly, by our residents.

“Renowned for her sense of fun, she provides a wide variety of activities that keep everyone busy, stimulated and entertained. She is a real team player and is not afraid to tackle any role in the home and helps out in other areas when the need arises.

“To have worked for a care home company for two decades is a fantastic achievement and one that deserves to be celebrated.”

Nikki said: “I can’t believe how fast the 20 years I have been with the company have flown by.

“I have enjoyed all the roles I have worked in but being an activity co-ordinator is a particular joy.

“I love coming up with ideas that match the interests of the residents and that are fun and also help boost their sense of wellbeing, both physically and mentally.”

Tees valley operator on recruitment drive

Popular Care Homes is launching a recruitment drive at its homes in Darlington and Eston to help address the staffing shortages hitting the care sector.

Against a backdrop of an aging population, historically low pay rates, mandatory vaccinations, a slowdown in the number of overseas nurses entering the market and competition for some roles from the hospitality sector offering financial incentives, there are significant issues in recruiting across the social care sector. The sector employs about 1.5 million people, but there are currently around 120,000 vacancies and the number is growing.

Wilton House in Darlington and Astune Rise in Eston - both of which are rated ‘Good’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) - have a number of vacancies in roles including senior care assistants, care assistants and domestic and kitchen staff.

Steve Massey, operations manager at Popular Care Homes, said: “There is no hiding from the fact that there are considerable challenges within our sector, one of which is a lack of people applying for jobs.

“There is a perception that care homes are a poor relation to the NHS, which is certainly not the case. Our staff are professional, caring, and skilled people, and we have very recently reviewed our pay rates to reflect this.

“There must be many people across Tees Valley with the attributes to make a positive impact on the lives of our residents and I would appeal to them to consider a career in care. It’s not an easy option, but it is a very rewarding profession and I believe that since the Covid pandemic the public has realised the hugely valuable contribution care home staff make to society.”

Care home regional manager raises £630 for Dementia UK

 A care home regional manager embarked on a 100-mile cycle to raise money for Dementia UK.

Sam Armstrong, who works for Healthcare Management Solutions, planned her bike ride to start at Riverside House, Morpeth, and stop at Appleby Care Home, North Shields, for well-earned refreshments before her trip home.

Both homes are operated by Healthcare Management Solutions.

Her fundraising challenge saw Sam raise £630 for the charity, which is closely aligned with the organisation’s values. Many homes operated by Healthcare Management Solutions specialise in supporting those living with dementia.

When Sam arrived at Appleby Care Home, based on Military Road, she was greeted by staff and residents.

Dementia UK provides specialist dementia support for families. It gives compassionate one-to-one support, guidance and practical solutions people may need.

Research conducted by the Social Care Institute of Excellence indicates that more that 920,000 people in the UK are living with dementia. Though there are many different causes and types of dementia, there is currently no cure.

Commenting on her challenge, Sam said: “As I work for Healthcare Management Solutions, a care home operator, I knew that Dementia UK would be a great cause for me to raise money for.

“I am a keen cyclist, but the challenge was very tiring and I was definitely glad to see the lovely Appleby family at the end of my ride.

“Organisations such as Dementia UK are so important and the research they do for people living with the disease is life changing. I hope the money I have raised will help them to continue to do fantastic work for our elderly community.”

*https://www.scie.org.uk/dementia/about/#:~:text=Who%20does%20dementia%20affect%3F,accounting%20for%20over%20880%2C000%20people.



DEDDINGTON CARE HOME RESIDENTS REVIVE OLD GREENHOUSE

 Green-fingered residents at Featherton House Care Home in Deddington are tackling a project to breathe life back into an old greenhouse.

The gardening club at the home, which is rated good by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), has cleared out the building that only had been used for garden storage for some time.

The greenhouse now is brimming with plants grown from seed including courgettes, tomatoes, spinach, lettuce, rocket, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, oregano, basil, thyme and Love in a Mist flowers.

Home manager Agi Rygala said: “The residents in the gardening club have taken this project to heart and it is proving to be a real tonic for their health and wellbeing. 

“It helps keep residents both mentally and physically active as they plan what they want to cultivate and then care for the plants.

“It all is part and parcel of how, at Featherton House, we encourage residents to maintain their interests and hobbies or develop new ones.”

One resident, Jock Pirie, who used to grow bedding plants and sell them at a nursery in Leamington, loves being part of the gardening club.

“Gardening keeps you active and gives you something nice to think about. Also, it is very rewarding when you start to see your seeds sprouting. We’ve recently purchased a propagator to speed things along.

“I hope we grow more produce for the home. It would be great to grow fruit and veg all year round for us to use in the kitchen here.”

A fellow gardening fan is Heather Starling, whose interest in cultivating plants and vegetables was sparked by her dad, who was a gardener.

“My dad worked organising and tidying other people’s gardens. We had a greenhouse and a big garden ourselves. I grew up weeding, spreading manure and building bonfires. We also sold a lot of flowers and vegetables – we were renowned locally and people came to our house to buy them.”

She added: “What I love about gardening is the fresh air and sunshine. It gives you a good feeling when you see your work come to fruition.”

Featherton House Care Home forms part of Wren Retirement Living and is managed by Healthcare Management Solutions. The service provides residential care for up to 25 older people. It has a score of 9.8/10 on the national carehomes.co.uk site and the CQC has rated the home as ‘Good’ with its standards of caring rated as ‘outstanding’.

DEANSTON HOUSE CARE HOME IN DOUNE SAYS A BIG THANK YOU TO ITS NURSES

 Deanston House in Doune, part of Enhanced Community Healthcare Options Group (ECHO), paid tribute to its nurses with a special International Nurses Day event.

The Registered Nurses received a bouquet of flowers or a voucher to say thank you and the café was turned into a beauty salon for the afternoon. All the staff were offered treatments, available for both male and female staff, from a visiting beauty therapist and soft drinks, fresh fruit and homemade cupcakes added to the pampering experience. Everyone who attended also received a gift bag.

Deanston House employs 11 nurses with a mix of learning disability, mental health and adult registered nurses which enables the service to effectively meet the holistic nursing and social needs of the people it supports. The nurse team leads the shifts to ensure service users are well supported every day and to enable them to achieve positive personal outcomes.

International Nurses Day is commemorated every year on the anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale and recognises the contribution nurses in the UK and around the world have made to society.

Nurses have been on the frontline throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, and the event gave us an opportunity to acknowledge this, say thank you and learn more about the work nurses do and the challenges they face.

Deanston House is a care home registered to provide care to 20 adults with learning disabilities.

Colleagues paid tribute to the nursing staff at Deanston House. Charlene, Senior Support Worker, said: “The nurses at Deanston House are fantastic and extremely supportive to both service users and the support workers. The event was fantastic and a great boost to all staff.”

Jemma said: “Working with the nurses at Deanston House is amazing. They are good listeners, offer guidance, inspiration and encouragement for service users and support workers. They are always there for you and I will always be grateful to them for their support.”

David Forsyth, Support Worker, said: “I find the support from the nurses and staff invaluable; everyone is eager to work together to support each other and our service users to provide the best person-centred care possible. It is for those reasons I’m very proud to be a part of the Deanston House team as a support worker.”

Staff also voiced their pleasure at the event.

Vicky Miller, Registered Nurse, said: “It was such a wonderful surprise to receive a beautiful bouquet of flowers from the management team in acknowledgement of the work of the nurses at Deanston House, then to be treated to a pamper day with beauty treatments, buffet and goody bags from the company was just lovely. In my 17 years as a qualified nurse, I have never felt as valued as I do at Deanston House. It’s so refreshing to work alongside such devoted staff that are passionate about the support, wellbeing and development of our service users.”

Joyce Tortalona, Administrator at Deanston House, said: We all had a wonderful day at Deanston House, International Nurses Event. Although I am not a nurse all staff were made to feel very welcome to this event and it was more a thank you to all staff for their hard work,  We all worked as a team relieving members of staff from duty so that they could attend the event. Many members of staff who were off duty also attended. Staff feedback that I have received has been excellent and we are all wondering when we can do it again.”

Fiona McKenna, Staff Nurse added: “What a lovely way to remind us all how much we are appreciated at Deanston House! As a nurse I’ve never felt more valued than I have felt in this job and our celebration of National Nurses Day, with beauty treatments, fresh fruit, cake and bubbly was a reminder of this. To our management, nurses, seniors, occupational therapists, psychologists, support workers, housekeepers, kitchen staff, and maintenance at Deanston house.... thank you, for being a part of the team we have built! Our service users are lucky to have you all. What a team!!!!”

Marie Greenberry, Service Director for Deanston House, said: “As a care home with nursing we wanted to celebrate International Nurses Day and show our staff how much we value their ongoing hard work, commitment and support. 

“Our service users have been kept safe and supported throughout the pandemic, which has been challenging for everyone. The positive outcomes our service users have continued to achieve in this challenging time demonstrates the absolute dedication of the whole team, led by our wonderful nurses.” 

TEARS OF JOY FOR REUNITED TWIN SISTERS KEPT APART BY COVID

Twins, who were prevented from seeing each other properly for more than a year due to Covid-19, have had an emotional reunion after one moved into the care home, where her sister was living.

There were tears of joy as Janette Millar joined her sister Margaret Kerr at Broomfield Court at Barmulloch, Glasgow.

The 81-year-olds could only see each other from either side of a window while care homes had to stop indoor visits to protect residents from the risk of catching Covid.

Broomfield Court manager Debbie Martin said: “It was a very emotional reunion for Janette and Margaret after not having seen each other properly for so long. 

“It also was very moving for staff, bringing a tear to their eyes, when the two sisters saw each other face-to-face for the first time in many months.

“They are now making up for lost time and are loving being able to see each other whenever they want.”

Margaret said: “I was so happy when Janette came to join me at Broomfield Court. We are so close and used to see each other regularly so it is fantastic to be able to see each other every day.”

Janette said: “I really missed being able to see Margaret properly. I am so pleased that I have moved into Broomfield Court and have been reunited with my sister. It is a lovely home and we both are being well looked after by the staff, who are kind and caring.”   

Margaret and Janette were born 13 hours apart on June 4 1939. They grew up in the family home in Rutherglen and attended local schools - MacDonald Primary and then Gallowflat Secondary.

They went to Sunday School when young and were members of the Brownies and Girl Guides with Margaret going on to become Brown Owl of the 3^rd Rutherglen Brownie Pack and Janette was the Guide Captain of the 3^rd Rutherglen Guide company.

After leaving school, they became shorthand typists at different companies then, for a while, both worked at Richmond Park Laundry. They followed each other to Wilson Boilers, where Margaret worked until she married in 1963.

After being made redundant a few years later, Janette, who never married, moved to an insurance company where she worked until she retired in 1999. She remained active in the community, volunteering as a Victim Support helper in the High Court in Glasgow.

Both sisters were active member of the Church of Scotland and enjoyed a range of hobbies with Margaret favouring baking and shopping and Janette walking. Both loved spending time with family and friends and holidaying abroad including America and the Canary Islands.

Margaret, who celebrated her golden wedding with late husband Alistair in 2013, has two children, Jim and Alan.  She lived in Bishopbriggs, in the same house for 55 years, before moving to Broomfield Court in early 2020.

Janette lived for 68 years in the same house in Burnside with her sister Anne before she moved to the care home.

Broomfield Court specialises in nursing care for the elderly and frail. The home also has a specialist nursing dementia unit. It offers care for up to 60 residents.

Taunton care home plants pandemic memorial tree

Oake Meadows care home in Taunton has planted a memorial tree in the garden to symbolise regrowth after the pandemic.

The home, based on Wyvern Road, was gifted a willow tree by local businessman, Matt Foster, and it has been positioned in the centre courtyard of the home where it can be seen by residents and staff.

Oake Meadows’ activities coordinator, Jean Coleman, planned a memorial event which involved planting the willow tree and participating in a minute’s silence to pay respects to show support and admiration to the local community for its efforts throughout the pandemic.

Resident, Margaret Hill, aged 77, was one of the Oake Meadows residents who enjoyed participating in the memorial event.

She said: “I think our willow tree is brilliant - I love seeing things grow in our garden. I do feel sad about all the people that have passed away during the pandemic, so it feels nice to have the tree as a tribute to them.”

Jean Coleman, an activities coordinator at Oake Meadows, said: “It was lovely to see so many residents join us for this special occasion and acknowledge the variety of emotions the past year has brought to everyone. The tree is such a beautiful way of marking this. 

“We have strategically positioned the willow tree, which is planted in a beautiful pot, in the centre courtyard so it can be viewed by most rooms, so we can admire the tree.

“Taking a moment to reflect on the pandemic is very important, as it helps to bring closure and is a lovely way to remember those who have sadly lost their lives across the world.”

Oake Meadows care home forms part of Larchwood Care and is currently managed by Healthcare Management Solutions. The home is rated ‘Good’ by the Care Quality Commission. Across the Larchwood portfolio, the regulator ratings reflect the exceptionally high standards of care given and the drive of every team member to continually improve the care they give.

BASINGSTOKE CARE HOME BURIES LOCKDOWN TIME CAPSULE

Old Raven House care home in Hook near Basingstoke has commemorated the recent easing of lockdown restrictions by planting a time capsule in the home’s garden.

The residents and staff filled the time capsule with written notes of their thoughts about life during a pandemic, items of PPE and a COVID testing kit, and buried it in the garden underneath a rose bush, a highly scented climbing rose, chosen by the residents.

Burying the time capsule was arranged by the home’s activities lead, Helen Wise, who wanted to organise something meaningful to help staff and residents begin to move on from a tumultuous year.

Recent easing of lockdown restrictions has allowed the home, based on London Road, to facilitate indoor visits with a resident’s nominated visitor.

Sylvia McKenzie, 87, a resident at Old Raven House, said: “Creating the time capsule was a lot of fun, and it was great to get our thoughts down on paper and bury them in the ground!

“I hope that in years to come, someone finds our time capsule and enjoys learning more about the strange and eventful year we have had.”

Helen said: “Recently, we have spent a lot of time reflecting on the past year with our staff and residents and planting a time capsule seemed like the perfect activity for everyone to get involved in.

“We found that writing our thoughts down on paper was very therapeutic and we really hope that someone finds the capsule and learns all about our first-hand experiences of the pandemic.”

Old Raven House care home is currently managed by Healthcare Management Solutions. The home is currently rated ‘Good’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Westerham care home centenarian celebrates milestone birthday

 A resident at Westerham Place care home has marked her 100th birthday with a card from the Queen and a special visit from her nominated visitor, daughter Carolyn Guiness.

Joan Collier was joined by residents and staff at the Quebec Square home, in the landmark celebration – which included afternoon tea with her daughter. Everyone sang happy birthday with one member of staff even dancing the cancan for her!

In 1949, Joan married her husband, Jim, whom she was married to for 49 years before he sadly passed away in 1998. Joan’s career was as a civil servant in Southport.

Joan has two children, son Roger and daughter Carolyn, who both describe her as a loving mother. Her wider family includes two grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Joan said: “I’ve had such a wonderful time celebrating with the staff and my daughter at Westerham Place. This year was very different as I was unable to see lots of my family like I had hoped. The best part was being able to hold my daughter’s hand. I also loved receiving the telegram from the Queen.”

“I put my long life down to my strong genes, but also, red wine! I also love spending a lot of time with my family making memories, something that definitely keeps me going!”

Claire Davis, home manager at Westerham Place, said: “Joan likes to join in with the activities within the home and is very friendly and chatty. She always has a kind word for everyone, and she is a valued member of our Westerham Place family.

“All our staff ensured she had the best birthday possible, and she was delighted to receive a visit from her daughter, Caroyln and it was especially lovely that she was able to hold her hand.”

LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL FOR DOWNHAM MARKET CARE HOME  

Residents at Diamond House care home in Downham Market are celebrating after receiving their 2^nd coronavirus vaccination.

The vaccinations were administered by Dr Scott of Bridge Street Surgery at the home in a Covid-secure environment. All residents have received their second vaccinations to date.

The milestone has put the home one step closer to normality and follows the recent ease in restrictions which allows a resident’s nominated visitor to enter the home as opposed to only conducting outdoor and window visits.

Home Manager Carly Stannard said: “This is a fantastic day for our residents and their families, and we are truly grateful to everyone who made this possible.

“It has been a difficult time, and we still have some way to go, but we’ve been celebrating this wonderful milestone today because it means that at last, we can see a light at the end of the tunnel.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank my amazing colleagues, our wonderful residents and their family and friends who have supported us throughout the pandemic. When we can finally lift all restrictions – that will be the day we have a big party!”

Ann Prodromou, aged 93, a resident at Diamond House, said: “I am so grateful that I have received both doses of the vaccine. Everyone at Diamond House has been fantastic all through the pandemic. I know how hard they have worked and appreciate that it can’t have been easy, so I’d like to say a heartfelt thanks.”

Diamond House forms part of Larchwood Care and is managed by Healthcare Management Solutions. The home is currently rated ‘Good’ by the CQC. Across the Larchwood portfolio, the regulator ratings reflect the exceptionally high standards of care given and the drive of every team member to continually improve the care they give.

Swinton couple celebrate sapphire anniversary

A resident at The Fountains care home in Swinton spent a wonderful afternoon with her husband celebrating their 65^th wedding anniversary.

Faith Yorke, aged 87, and husband Arnold aged 87, celebrated together in the home after visiting restrictions were eased recently.

The couple married in March 1965 at Eccles Parish Church after a five-year courtship, during which Arnold spent two years away from home completing his national service.

Faith and Arnold have one child, three grandchildren and four great grandchildren and like to reminisce about the years they spent going out dancing together.

Faith said: “It was wonderful to be able to see my husband for our 65^th wedding anniversary, and I am so pleased we were able to actually be together in the home. I sometimes wondered if that would be possible with this awful virus.

“The past year has been quite difficult as I have missed him very much, but the staff have made an extra special effort to make sure we kept in touch regularly. It won’t be long until I can give him a big kiss and a cuddle!”

Arnold said: “I had a lovely afternoon with Faith; celebrating our sapphire wedding anniversary is such a milestone and it was great to be able to do it in person.

“The secret to a long and happy marriage for me is having a wonderful family together, not keeping secrets from each other and sharing the good and bad times.”

Huma Anwar, Home Manager at The Fountains Care Home, said: “I am delighted restrictions were eased in time for us to welcome Arnold back into our home to celebrate his wedding anniversary with Faith.

“Seeing the couple reunited for such a special occasion filled our hearts with warmth, and we can’t wait until the day we can lift all visiting restrictions.”

The Fountains Care Home is currently managed by Healthcare Management Solutions.

CQC URGED TO INCLUDE INFECTION CONTROLS IN CARE HOME INSPECTION REGIME POST COVID

Hugo Spalding, managing director of Gather Care has written to the chief executive of the Care Quality Commission asking him to use the experiences of the coronavirus pandemic to update its inspection criteria to include infection control.

In the letter to Ian Trenholm, he says: ‘Ensuring a care home is ‘safe’ is fundamental to an inspection and I believe that protecting residents from transmissible illnesses is an important part of this.

‘The Covid-19 experience within care homes has been incredibly challenging for everyone involved in the sector. However, even when the pandemic is behind us staff will still have the usual illnesses and infections, such as flu, winter vomiting and diarrhea that can cause serious problems for elderly and vulnerable residents.

‘Care homes have a duty to report suspected outbreaks or incidents of infections to the local Health Protection Team, however they receive little in the way of data by return.’

Hugo Spalding said: “Clients within the care sector have told us that it is invaluable for them to have access to data that provides a picture of outbreaks of illness, not only within an individual home, but across a group, area or wider.

“This gives an early warning system that allows for precautions to be put in place to help stop the spread. 

“Care staff have done an amazing job since the beginning of the pandemic and they need and deserve all the support they can get. I am not suggesting many more layers of bureaucracy within the regulator’s inspections but encouraging operators to embrace systems that help to protect residents and staff from easily transmissible infections and illnesses will make a tangible long-term contribution to keeping care home residents ‘safe’.

SHOREHAM CARE HOME RESIDENTS LEARN MANDARIN

Residents at Cavell House care home in Shoreham have been exploring Chinese culture and have learned to speak and write in Mandarin.

During celebrations for Chinese New Year, Cavell House’s kitchen assistant, Geri Nacci, who was born in Sanxi province, China, came into the home on her day off to teach the residents her native language.

Geri also spoke about Chinese traditions with the residents as well as helping them to learn more about their Chinese zodiac sign. The residents also painted Chinese fans as part of their Chinese New Year celebrations.

Barbara Hardy, 69, a resident at Cavell House said: “I learnt a lot about China during our Chinese New Year celebrations, I found it informative. I enjoyed making the fan and writing another language was very difficult, but I got the hang of it in the end! I have never been to China but would have liked to have gone, it looks like a wonderful country.”

Lionel Heryet, 87, another resident at Cavell House, said: “I thought our Chinese New Year celebrations were such good fun. I enjoyed learning about the history of the country. Like Barbara, I have never been to China, but I have travelled to some other great places.”

Soumya Baby, home manager at Cavell House, said: “The residents had a lot of fun celebrating Chinese New Year and learning more about the Chinese culture. You’re never too old to learn and it’s important that we all take time to understand more about other cultures and countries, and it was very interesting to discover more about the history of China.

“We would like to say a huge ‘xiè xiè’ to Geri our kitchen porter for taking the time on her day off to come in and share her knowledge and expertise with us.”

LOVE IS IN THE AIR FOR 63 YEARS MARRIED EAST KILBRIDE CARE HOME RESIDENTS

An East Kilbride care home has ensured two married residents celebrated their 63^rd wedding anniversary and Valentine’s Day in true romantic fashion.

Helen and Danny Falloon, who live at Kingsgate care home on Glasgow Road and were married the day after Valentine’s Day, enjoyed a special day celebrating with staff and fellow residents.

Helen and Danny have been married for 63 years and have two daughters, Anne and Yvonne. Danny was a welder/fitter and Helen worked in schools and supermarkets but enjoyed her job as a barmaid the most.

Helen said: “I really enjoyed our Valentine’s Day celebrations, it’s always a special occasion for us as a couple since our wedding anniversary is the following day. The home went to a lot of effort with the gorgeous cake and beautiful decorations, it was lovely.”

Danny said: “Valentine’s Day is always great, but our wedding anniversary is my favourite day, as it is just about my wife and me. We were spoilt with lots of cards from our family and friends, it was a wonderful day!”

Liz Williamson, peripatetic manager at Kingsgate care home, said: “Helen and Danny are a lovely couple, and to be married for 63 years is quite an achievement.

“All our residents enjoyed Valentine’s Day and we had a lot of fun and making Helen and Danny’s wedding anniversary the next day special was the icing on the cake. Which was also delicious!”

Kingsgate care home forms part of Larchwood Care and is currently managed by Healthcare Management Solutions. 

ATHERTON CARE HOME GOES DOWN UNDER 

The Chanters care home in Atherton, Greater Manchester, has celebrated Australia Day in true antipodean style with cork hats and inflatable native creatures.

The home, based on Tyldesley Old Road, held an afternoon of fun for the residents with themed games including a bushtucker trial where residents ate creepy crawly shaped sweets rather than the real thing!

Exploring and celebrating different countries and cultures is an important part of The Chanters activities plan, enabling residents to learn more about countries they may not have visited.

The residents also shared stories of exciting places they have visited in the past, while enjoying a Fosters shandy together.

Sybil Downham, age 93, a resident at The Chanters, said: “I really enjoyed the Australia Day afternoon, especially playing the games. We had a giant inflatable spider that we threw rings onto its legs to score points! When it was my turn to spin the bushtucker trial wheel I had to eat a pretend snail, it was horrible, but I washed it down with my shandy.”

Anne Hargreaves, home manager at The Chanters, said: “The residents had a lot of fun celebrating Australia Day, and the bushtucker trial game was a hit! You’re never too old to learn and it’s important that we all take time to understand more about other cultures and countries, and it was very interesting to discover more about the animals and creatures that are native to Australia.”

The Chanters care home forms part of Larchwood Care and is currently managed by Healthcare Management Solutions. he home is currently rated ‘Good’ by the CQC. Across the Larchwood portfolio, the regulator ratings reflect the exceptionally high standards of care given and the drive of every team member to continually improve the care they give.  

NEW TREDEGAR CARE HOME BECOMES SOCIAL MEDIA SENSATION FOR NATIONAL STORYTELLING WEEK

A resident at White Rose care home in New Tredegar has starred in a Jackanory worthy video for National Storytelling Week.

Mary Burchell, 84, read the popular Hairy Maclary Scattercat on camera which the home shared on its Facebook page as part of the nationwide initiative which aims to encourage storytelling and reading for all ages.

The video received lots of support from the page’s followers, with many comments thanking Mary and congratulating her on her professional recital.

Following Mary’s story time, resident shared their favourite tales with each other, and some of the most popular books included Pippi Longstocking, Swallows and Amazons and Just William.

Mary said: “I had a lot of fun reading Hairy Maclary Scattercat to our followers on Facebook. It was a very different style to my childhood favourite, Winni the Pooh, but it was a very enjoyable story!”

Jane Coburn, home manager at White Rose care home, said: “Celebrating National Storytelling Week is very important to us as a home as it gives us an opportunity to share stories with one another. This can be childhood favourites, adult fiction or even telling our own stories to each other.

“The residents had a lot of fun and we have discovered some fantastic new stories to get stuck into!”

White Rose care home forms part of Larchwood Care and is currently managed by Healthcare Management Solutions. 

Droitwich care home becomes social media sensation for National Storytelling Week

A resident at Ravenstone care home in Droitwich has starred in a Jackanory worthy video for National Storytelling Week.

Audrey Prince, 90, read the popular Goldilocks and the Three Bears on camera which the home shared on its Facebook page as part of the nationwide initiative which aims to encourage storytelling and reading for all ages.

As well as narrating the story, residents at Ravenstone created their own Goldilocks themed illustrations to be shown throughout the video. Some of the illustrations included Goldilocks, grizzly bears and bowls of porridge.

The video received lots of support from the page’s followers, with many comments congratulating Audrey on her professional recital of the childhood favourite.

Audrey said: “I had a lot of fun reading Goldilocks and the Three Bears to our followers on Facebook. It is a childhood favourite which has been enjoyed by many generations, and will be for many more years.

“One of my favourite books as a child was A Peep Behind the Scenes because it is just such a great story. I read it so many times as a child. It is a sad story though, it made me cry."

Wendy Stokoe, home manager at Ravenstone care home, said: “Celebrating National Storytelling Week is very important to us as a home as it gives us an opportunity to share stories with one another. This can be childhood favourites, adult fiction or even telling our own stories to each other.

“The residents had a lot of fun and we have discovered some fantastic new stories to get stuck into!”

Ravenstone care home forms part of Larchwood Care and is currently managed by Healthcare Management Solutions.