Avante News Winter Spring 2014

Avante News Winter/Spring 2014 www.avantepartnership.org.uk

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Intermediate Care at Puddingstone Grange

Celebrity Chef Works with Avante Care Homes

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Bridge Haven Snug p29

really tough decisions to reduce our costs and unfortunately that has meant that some roles have been made redundant.

We are very sad to be saying goodbye to some very valued colleagues both at Head Office and in Operations over the next few weeks and I’d like to wish all of those who are leaving us the very best for the future.

Debbie Pert Finance Director

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s a member of the Executive Management Team, it’s my turn to introduce this edition of Avante News.

Having been with Avante for almost 14 years many of you will know that I am the Finance Director. My role also includes being the Deputy Chief Executive and Company Secretary.

have to say that the last few months have been the most challenging times I have seen in my years at Avante. I predict that the next 12 months will also be very challenging as we deal with the difficulties of both financial pressures and the everyday life of managing and working in a very challenging environment.

Without wishing to start off on a down beat, I

Due to financial challenges we have had to take some

Our financial and business planning calendar starts in April and we are now looking at our budget and business plan for the year ahead in the light of recent challenges to ensure we concentrate our efforts on the most important areas in the next 12 months.

staff. These stories remind us that even in difficult times there are really good things going on every day.

At Head Office we have, over the last few weeks, had the news of two new arrivals of baby girls giving us a first time Mum, a new Dad and a first time Grandmother in our team!

Very exciting!

I hope you will enjoy reading this edition of Avante News.

Best wishes

Debbie Pert Finance Director

What helps in these times is to remember why we are here and that is to support and care for a wide range of people from those who need a little support to some very vulnerable people who rely on our services. That is where Avante News comes in – I always look forward to reading the stories about celebrations held of amazing achievements of both service users and

www.avantepartnership.org.uk If you would like to receive the next edition of Avante News as an E edition please log on to www.avantepartnership.org.uk and subscribe to our news letter

Members of:

Established 1990. Avante Partnership

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Working with:

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Registered office: De Gelsey House, 1 Jubilee Way, Faversham, Kent ME13 8GD Tel: 01795 597400 Fax: 01795 597419 Email: enquiries@avantepartnership.org.uk Website: www.avantepartnership.org.uk

Profiling some of our Trustees Philip Harland Deputy Chairman

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y professional life has been as a Chartered Surveyor responsible for managing agricultural estates throughout the South of England. It has been a most enjoyable career not only advising private landowners, but also The Crown Estate and d The Church Commissioners.

It is my knowledge of propertyy o that meant that I was asked to become a Trustee of Avante - the previous Trustee with a property interest having retired. But that is not why I accepted the role. Both my mother and my mother in law needing physical help had been in care homes. homes My mother m (but remained as bright as a button to the end) and my mother in law with Alzheimer’s - so very different requirements. I saw the quality and type of care that was available to them - and wanted to become involved and to help improve the facilities, care and quality of life for elderly people into the future.

Avante was an ideal organisation for me to join.

My role as a Trustee has enabled me to become involved with the future financial stability of the organisation, to help upgrade the various homes where we can, and to actually promote care. I hope that I have added a different direction to the approach of the trustees and that the real gain will be to all of the service users and staff who will have more enjoyable and rewarding experiences. Difficult at this time of tightened finances - but we need to ensure that it happens. That is my goal.

Jane Loudon Stepahead Support Chairman

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fter my three children started full time school I decided to spend some time as a school governor, raising money for cancer research and then helping vulnerable young and old. I was introduced to Avante Partnership (formerly known as KCHT) by a fellow Trustee, Molly de Courcy.

dh d ttwo grandmothers d th h lilived to the ages of 101 Ih had had who and 92 years old, it was their quality of life to these great ages which made me want to help improve the lives of elderly people. I was always committed to helping young people which was the purpose of Stepahead Support, an organisation within Avante Partnership which tried to improve the lives of vulnerable young people and their families over many years.

So joining the Trustees of an organisation, which sought to help both ages of vulnerability, was a privilege.

Medical research is advancing all the time and changes must be made in the provision of care for the most vulnerable in our society, but one thing remains constant, those who choose to work in this sector need to really care about people with tenderness, kindness and commitment.

Brian Munday Community Support Chairman

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started as a Trustee years ago when Avante Partnership was known as KCHT. Previously I had chaired two other charities, the East Kent Mediation service and the Kent Council on Alcoholism. My working (paid) life has been in social care both as a practising mental health social worker and then training social workers in universities – including abroad.

Avante Partnership interests me because it combines being a not-for-profit organisation in social care with a business-like approach to how it operates. It does that pretty well despite the very difficult financial pressures of recent times. I spent some time as Chairman of the Board of Trustees and currently I chair the Community Support Board, which I hope is raising the profile of this important service at a time when, nationally, increasing numbers of people need support to maintain a decent quality of life at home.

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Avante Partnership Head Office Staff Wear it Pink Avante Partnership Head Office staff ‘Wear it Pink’ to raise valuable funds for the Breast Cancer Campaign.

Friday 25th October saw a wave of pink enter Avante Partnerships Head Office in Faversham, where some of the staff decided to leave their normal work clothes behind and dress up in various shades of pink in aid of the Breast Cancer Campaign to help raise valuable funds for the charity.

The outfits and accessories included a pink tinsel wig and pink cow girls from the Payroll team and Business Development team, Adam Bradley in Finance modelling a rather bright pink blazer and Darren Carrett from Governance and Quality Standards department, looking like he had just stepped out of the bath in his pink dressing gown and pink towel to match!

There were pink cupcakes kindly donated from the local sandwich shop Fillers, for staff to buy and donate their money to the charity day as well as a guess the cake competition which was won by Pauline Harvey.

A great day was had by all with £66 raised for the breast cancer charity.

Well done to the staff who coordinated the event and to all staff that took part in the day.

Charitable Fund Staff at Head Office raised a great total of £179 9 by holding their annual Christmas Raffle. Prizes n on offer ranged from hampers to books, even an overnight stay at a local hotel and of course, the customary wine and chocolates!

The money raised went into Avante’s Charitable Fund and helps our most vulnerable service users in their time of need.

Philippines Disaster 4

Some of the services across Avante Partnership took part in fundraising for the victims of the recent disaster in the Philippines.

£320 was raised and donated dona through the British Red Cross to help towards providing life saving aid and equipment for the thousands of people whose lives had been ripped apart by Typhoon Haiyan.

Community Engagement News Head Office Volunteers For the second time this year, in late Autumn, members of Avante Head Office staff took the opportunity to volunteer in Avante care homes for a day as part of the Employer Sponsored Volunteering scheme.

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n this way staff are able to meet colleagues and have a better understanding of our core work in care and hopefully break down some of those ‘them and us’ barriers that exist in any large organisation.

Student Santas

Christmas visitors from Canterbury Christ Church University

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very resident at Bridge Haven Care Centre received a Christmas present of goodies from a group of students and staff volunteers from Canterbury Christ Church University. This was part of an initiative from the students: ‘Gifts for Older People at Christmas’. Residents and staff were delighted to receive their gifts from ‘Santa’s helpers’ who came and spent time with them one wet afternoon before Christmas.

Dementia & Spiritual Care Steph Bradley and Marie Carter from the Finance and Resources team make sandwiches for residents at Amherst Court.

5 care homes welcomed 7 staff volunteers: the volunteers’ responses ranged from ‘a wonderful experience’ to ‘staff were a bit suspicious about why we were there’.

Community Engagement Manager Philip Moore expressed a huge thank you to those who took part in the scheme and supporting activities such as sandwich making, emergency help as a cleaner on a staff shortage day, comforting a distressed resident, helping to feed a resident at lunchtime, decorating and craft work and chatting to residents and staff.

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he amazing Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara, the recently built Sikh temple in Gravesend, was the venue for an event to discuss Spiritual Care for those living with dementia, organised by the Dementia and Spirituality Group, part of the Kent Sussex and Surrey Dementia Care Innovation Hub (England Centre for Practice Development). Philip Moore, who was part of the organising group, was accompanied by two members of Avante head office staff, Amanda Andrews from the Business Development Team and Francis Lake from the Practice Development Team. Outcomes from the day will be taken forward by the group, which meets at Canterbury Christ Church University.

The Gurudwara at Gravesend is thought be the largest Sikh temple outside India.

Frances Lake says:

Olivia Newton from HR helps decorate a room at Barton Court

‘After taking off our shoes (to denote that we were leaving the outside world behind) and covering our heads (to denote a commitment to our thoughts and not material things) we were shown around this absolutely beautiful building, given something to eat and generally made to feel very welcome. I feel privileged to have been given the opportunity to visit this wonderful place.’

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Celebrating Success Avante Partnership recognises that throughout each year members of staff reach a milestone, or achieve success that is worthy of special recognition, so we invited those staff members that had achieved long service or a work related qualification to celebrate that success together.

An informal reception was held on Monday 25 November 2013 at The Marriott Hotel, Bexley, where over 100 staff members were invited to receive a certificate from Trustees Bob Bushell and Giles Craven. Cedric Frederick, Chief Executive, gave his personal thanks to the staff for their contribution to the success of the organisation and the positive difference to the lives of the people we care for and support.

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Name

Service

Qualification

Mary Adams

Parkview

NCFE Level 2 Certificate in Understanding the Safe Handling of Medicines

Gladys Agor

Weybourne

EDI Level 3 NVQ Certificate in Management

Adunni Mojisola Ajayi

Parkview

Level 3 Dementia Award

Louise Aldridge

Parkview

Level 3 Dementia

Amanda Andrews

Head Office

EDI Level 3 NVQ Certificate in Management

Doreen Barrett

Northbourne Court

OCR Level 2 in Dementia Care

Brian Blandford

Northbourne Court

First Aid at Work

Brenda Boyns

Pilgrims View

40 Years Long Service

Rosemary Breen

Riverdale Court

Level 2 Food & Safety

Janice Brennan

Honeyfield

Level 2 Food & Safety

Marion Brett

Barton Court

OCR Level 2 in Dementia Care

Beverly Brown

Parkview

Level 3 Dementia Award

Sophia Brown

Puddingstone Grange

Level 3 Dementia Award

Valerie Browning

Northbourne Court

30 Years Long Service

Aleksandra Bullah

Northbourne Court

OCR Level 2 in Dementia Care

Julie Burtenshaw

Pilgrims View

First Aid at Work

Jacqueline Butcher

Hevercourt

HABC Level 2 Award in Food Safety

Roseline Caesar

Sunbury Lodge

Level 2 Diploma in Health and Social Care

Lorraine Collick

Barton Court

OCR Level 2 in Dementia Care

Georgia-Chaise Courtney

Hevercourt

HABC Level 2 Award in Food Safety

Barbara Cox

Homeleigh

20 Years Long Service

Sarah Crew

Pilgrims View

OCR Level 2 in Dementia Care

Barbara Curtis

Barton Court

NCFE Level 3 Certificate in the Principles of End of Life Care

Lee Davies

Amherst Court

OCR Level 2 in Dementia Care

Judith Dickson

Pilgrims View

First Aid at Work

Sandra Driscoll

Homeleigh

Level 2 Food & Safety

Ben Durey

Hevercourt

HABC Level 2 Award in Food Safety

Angela Durrant

Perrygrove

OCR Level 2 Diploma in Health and Social Care

Angela Dyke

Community Support

20 Years Long Service

Hayley Eden

Sunbury Lodge

Level 2 Diploma in Health and Social Care

Karen Ellingham

Weybourne

Level 2 Food & Safety

Lesley Entwistle

Amherst Court

OCR Level 3 Award in Awareness of Dementia

Phylis Fashola

Puddingstone Grange

Level 2 Food & Safety

Wendy Ford

Pilgrims View

First Aid at Work

Charlene Freshwater

Barton Court

EDI Level 3 NVQ Certificate in Management

Carol Gathern

Community Support

30 Years Long Service

Mary Hatchett

Hevercourt

Level 2 Food & Safety

Maggie Howard

Riverdale Court

20 Years Long Service

Name

Service

Qualification

Venancio Ignacio

Amherst Court

Level 2 in Medication Management

Harkirat Janagel

Hevercourt

HABC Level 2 Award in Food Safety

Siobhan Joy

Pilgrims View

OCR Level 2 in Dementia Care

Bernadette Kane

Northbourne Court

30 Years Long Service

Emma Kanu

Weybourne

Level 2 Food & Safety

Regina Kanu

Hevercourt

Level 2 Food & Safety

Eileen Keegan

Perrygrove

Level 2 Food & Safety

Jade Kenny

Hevercourt

Level 2 Food & Safety

Susan Kilby

Barton Court

Level 2 Diploma in Health and Social Care

Annette Levett

Weybourne

Level 3 Dementia Award

Nadine Linton

Puddingstone Grange

Level 3 Dementia Award

Suzanne Loader

Amherst Court

NCFE Level 2 Certificate in Understanding the Safe Handling of Medicines

Kay McClarron

Hevercourt

HABC Level 2 Award in Food Safety

Eugenie McDowell

Honeyfield

Level 3 Dementia Award

Bebee Memon

Perrygrove

OCR Level 2 in Dementia Care

Emma Mitchell

Bridge Haven

Level 2 Medication

Jane Mohamed

Hevercourt

Level 2 Food & Safety

Adunni Mojisola Ajayi

Parkview

Level 3 Dementia Award

Claire Moore

Pilgrims View

OCR Level 2 in Dementia Care

Adam Mugarura

Homeleigh

NCFE Level 2 Certificate in Understanding the Safe Handling of Medicines

Hadijah Nansamba

Homeleigh

Level 2 Food & Safety

Rowena Nduga

Northbourne Court

Level 2 Food & Safety

Linda Neville

Parkview

NCFE Level 2 Certificate in Understanding the Safe Handling of Medicines

Danielle New

Barton Court

OCR Level 2 in Dementia Care

Sarah Louise Noble

Sunbury Lodge

Level 2 Diploma in Health and Social Care

Christine Nabatanzi Nsamba

Homeleigh

Level 3 Dementia Award

Mary O’Connor

Sunbury Lodge

40 Years Long Service

Janet Overal

Pilgrims View

20 Years Long Service

Linda Page

Parkview

HABC Level 2 Award in Food Safety

Louise Peckham

Hevercourt

Level 2 Food & Safety

Michael Piper

Bridge Haven

HABC Level 2 Award in Food Safety

Susan Price

Puddingstone Grange

OCR Level 2 in Dementia Care

Teena Quelch

Sunbury Lodge

Level 2 Diploma in Health and Social Care

Jamey Quinlan

Northbourne Court

Level 2 Food & Safety

Gillian Reed

Riverdale Court

20 Years Long Service

Joanne Renner

Parkview

HABC Level 2 Award in Food Safety

Clair Richards

Pilgrims View

HABC Level 2 Award in Food Safety

Gemma Richardson

Hevercourt

Level 2 Food & Safety

Lisa Ann Rogers

Barton Court

EDI Level 3 NVQ Certificate in Management

Michelle Russell

Community Support

OCR Level 2 in Dementia Care

Constance Santos Moya

Northbourne Court

Level 2 Food & Safety

Nicola Simmons

Amherst Court

OCR Mathematics at Level 1

Jacqueline Smallwood

Puddingstone Grange

OCR Level 2 in Dementia Care

Yvonne Smith

Hevercourt

Level 2 Food & Safety

Lilly-Beth Sookprechar

Weybourne

Level 3 Dementia Award

Maggie Stevenson

Hevercourt

Level 2 Food & Safety

Dave Stewart

Weybourne

Level 3 Dementia Award

Jackie Stone

Honeyfield

Level 3 Dementia Award

David Symes

Community Support

20 Years Long Service

Kirsten Vaughan

Bridge Haven

Level 2 Medication

Danielle Walker

Sunbury Lodge

Level 2 Diploma in Health and Social Care

Caroline Ann Ward

Sunbury Lodge

Level 2 Diploma in Health and Social Care

Glennys Whitehead

Parkview

Level 3 Dementia Award

Joan Willis

Sunbury Lodge

Level 2 Diploma in Health and Social Care

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Richard’s Challenge!

This exciting challenge Richard Macintyre is undertaking in June 2014 will have him trekking up and down 24 peaks in the Lake District in a mere 24hrs.

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he Lake District is home to some of the most rugged and challenging mountains in Britain giving it its reputation as one of the best natural adventure playgrounds in the U.K. This is a challenging trek both mentally and physically with long days of trekking, but with stunning views of the Lake District and a fantastic sense of achievement when Richard has completed the trek.

The purpose of the trek is to raise funds for the Avante Admiral Nursing Service which Avante and Dementia UK are working in partnership for the three years of the project. The funding comes for year one from the Peoples Health Lottery and year two and three from Avante Partnership and Dementia UK. Any monies raised will help offset the funding for year two and three and also raise the profile of both charities in caring and supporting for those with Dementia type conditions.

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The secondary reason for the event is to raise the profile of both organisations in the care and support for people on the Dementia journey, along with sponsor organisations who wish to be involved with best practice for dementia care services.

Dementia UK is very happy to support Richard for this event and provide funds to enable him to get the fundraising underway by paying the deposit to secure a place on the trek. Richard will be undertaking a number of fundraising events in the coming months to help reach the target of £2K (he may raise more hopefully) by undertaking 10K runs and walks which helps to top up his fitness for the event. Richard will be approaching Avante Partnership contractors to secure corporate sponsorship for the event and advertising for these companies.

To date Richard has raised £625.50 with £160.00 pledged, his target is £2K. If you would like to help by sponsoring Richard you will find an online sponsorship with JustGiving, which is the funding portal for Dementia UK, available at: https://www.justgiving.com/account/your-pages/Richard-Macintyre1

Looks like spooky goings on for the orrt Community Support team at Turkey Mill illl d as they celebrated Halloween!

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Erith resident Elsie celebrated her 102nd Birthday Elsie Petley celebrated her 102nd Birthday on 5th December 2013, still living in the house where she was born in 1911. When asked what her secret was to her longevity, Elsie replied that it was being a lifelong spinster!!

Elsie had three sisters, two of whom lived in the same road ass her after they got married. She used to work in London as an office worker. Unfortunately her only relative around now is a Niece who lives in Whitley Bay. Debbie Baker, who has been Elsie’s carer for 20 years said; “Elsie is an amazing lady and is full of stories from her past, especially relaying memories of her childhood. To think of all the history she has lived through is remarkable.”

chosen to live in their own homes to receive care and support and it’s great to see so many of them so happy, surrounded by their personal items and memories. Reaching 102 years old is wonderful and everyone at Avante Community Support wishes Elsie well on her Birthday.”

Christine Matthews, Field Care Supervisor at Avante Community Support arranged for Elsie to be presented with a bouquet on her special day and commented; “Our clients have

Sadly since receiving this article Elsie has passed away, however Elsie’s niece asked that we still publish this story in celebration of Elsie’s life.

Avante Community Support co-sponsor Silver Sunday Held on Sunday the 6th October, at Age UK’s pop-in parlour centre in Sidcup, Silver Sunday was a celebration for a select number of older residents and their contribution to communities.

Through a variety of free activities, this joint project gave those, aged over 65 a chance to keep active in body and spirit, try new things, meet their neighbours and ultimately overcome loneliness.

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his event was the first in its kind and those attended were by special invite from Age UK to those that reside in the local community. After the great success on the 6th October Age UK are hoping to repeat the event and extend the invitation to many other people aged over 65 in the local community.

The Mayor and her husband attended and it was clear from the smiles on the faces of all that were there, that the event was a success. The entertainment was followed by refreshments being served and the main attraction (from what we heard) was the homemade scones being provided, that many have obviously tasted before when attending the day centre!

It really was an enjoyable few hours spent with some real characters, two in particular that were so cheeky and funny I could not stop laughing! The banter between them was brilliant.”

Avante Community Support were pleased to be co-sponsoring Silver Sunday and playing a part in meeting the 50 residents to support their needs.

This special occasion was a reminiscence event, with catering and entertainment, including a singer and a Punch & Judy performance.

Dawn Dwyer, Avante Community Support’s Branch Manager

“It was a lovely afternoon with everyone enjoying the entertainment. Everyone was singing and dancing and the local Councillor even provided us with a Punch and Judy show!

said

Sue Broadbent, newly Registered Branch Manager for Community Support Maidstone Branch

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An Avante Care Home can be a Home

2013 did not start well, my Dad was diagnosed with cancer of the oesophagus and they could not offer any treatment. He sadly passed away in August.

Dad had always done a lot around the house, Mum never discussed his illness and after he died she rarely mentioned him, I had to make all the arrangements and sort out his estate.

I put this down to her bereavement, but slowly it became apparent that there was a lot more wrong.

I had noticed before Dad became ill she was a little forgetful, unable to understand money, but it was getting worse. She was overdosing her medication, not eating and not looking after herself, she would just sit watching TV all day.

I took her to the doctor who did a memory test, her score was very low, so it was recommended that that she went to a memory clinic for further investigation.

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Mum was now having community carers to help her but one Sunday morning they found her in a very distressed state, she was saying she had fallen and hit her head while sleep walking, the house was falling in, there was no air and it needed to be demolished. She had also started to pack her ornaments in sandwich bags. Due to the possible fall she was admitted in to hospital. She said if she went home it would kill her. They did further tests and scans and diagnosed Alzheimer’s with mixed dementia (small vessel disease) I think Mum must have had signs for a while but it had been masked

by Dad doing everything.

I therefore needed to ďŹ nd her a home. I visited homes in Bearsted, Sutton Valence and Maidstone but I decided on Pilgrims View, Snodland. The warm welcome, facilities and feel of the home was a far better standard than any of the others.

The excellent service I had from the Assistant Manager who quickly completed an assessment on Mum so within days I was able to take Mum to her new home.

Upon her arrival Mum was instantly welcomed like an old friend with a cup of tea and biscuits, nothing was rushed.

Once she had settled a little they took her to her room. The whole experience could have been very stressful for her, but the kindness and professionalism of the carer made it so easy for her – and me.

Mum has settled in really well, she is now knitting again, has her hair done and she eats well. She has even done some washing up. We have talked about Dad, I have a bit of my Mum back, a care home is not the last resort, it can be the best resort. I felt so guilty about putting my Mum in a home, but knowing she is safe and well looked after has taken some of that guilt away.

So thank you Pilgrims View for keeping my special mum safe.

Sue Dartnell

Pilot Scheme offering Intermediate Care at e Puddingstone Grange Puddingstone Grange, our new care home in Greenwich opened at the end of November last year. This new state of the art home, offers dementia specialist care and support for the frail and elderly requiring dementia care or dementia care with nursing. Within the home are 62 ensuite bedrooms, with each room fitted to a high class standard including a 24-hour carer call system, walk in chair assisted shower room, a relaxation therapy room, hair and beauty salon.

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ust a month later it has started a unique scheme to operate an intermediate care service, based on an 18 month pilot scheme. This intermediate care pilot, under Social Care, is to assist the NHS with the additional beds that are required each winter.

As part of the care pilot scheme, we will be supplying 14 beds for those discharged from hospital after a period of hospital care, who still require an extended stay for rehabilitation to help gain more confidence and continue their rehabilitation.

This normally takes place at the neighbourhood rehabilitation centres in the Greenwich area which has now freed their beds to allow admissions from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Greenwich, when the need arises.

The service is designed to enable older people coming out of hospital to ensure they have recovered enough to look after themselves, after a short stay at Puddingstone Grange for rehabilitation, before they go home.

Patients require no nursing care at this stage of the pilot and st the average stay in a separate suite of the home is between 2 to 4 weeks, offering an important part of aftercare and rehabilitation therapy.

On hand is a team of therapists such as an Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist, Rehab Assistant and Care Cocoordinator employed by the CCG, who work closely with the Avante Care and Support care team and patients to enable them to return home and be fully independent again as they were before their admission to hospital.

Richard Macintyre, Head of Care & Welfare, Governance

“This is a new opportunity for us to provide much needed care to enable older people in the borough to stay longer in their own homes, whilst working in partnership with the newly formed CCG, Integrated Care Team at QEH. This is all about supporting the older people and allowing them to be where we all want to be, at home, but without making the sometimes daunting move from hospital to home right away, enabling us to offer something in between to ensure people are really ready to be independent once more.

& Quality Standards, Avante Partnership said;

Something at Avante we truly believe in, is everything we do, we do to serve the local community.”

To find out more information on this exciting new pilot scheme please watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdoKW1EnvYA

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Admiral Nursing Admiral Nurses are mental health nurses based in the UK who specialise in supporting families affected by dementia, including the person with dementia, their families and any generalist care deliverer involved. The concept was first piloted in London in 1990 and the charity Dementia UK was established to provide the service. The charity worked initially with statutory NHS mental health and social care services but more recently with other types of organisations such as not for profit organisations and care home providers.

Funding for a new partnership Dementia UK had historically supported Avante for a number of years in the provision of specialist dementia advice and training to their care teams in both residential and community based settings. An opportunity arose with a Peoples Health Lottery grant to take their partnership further and introduce an Admiral Nurse to work within Avante. The first year was funded by The Peoples Health Lottery grant from a successful bid by DUK, with years two and three being jointly funded by Dementia UK and Avante.

The Avante Admiral Nurse Traditionally Admiral Nurses (AN) have worked within the community but the journey that families affected by dementia take enters many different services and settings across health and social care, so the application of the model to other than the community setting has been innovative. The Avante Admiral Nurse Service supports Residents, families and staff n teams in Avante care homes. The Admiral Nurse also offers an ‘outreach’ service also to provide support to Avante residents and staff groups within their Community Support Services.

The Avante AN, Stephen Mason, joined the Governance and Quality Standard Directorate; an internal specialist support team that provide clinical and care consultancy for the wider organisation. The AN specialist in dementia care joined a team that included other specialists providing guidance and advice on issues such as nutrition and hydration, medication, nursing care and clinical standards.

Transition to care homes

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Stephen had previously worked in a primary care setting as an AN so had a great deal of experience of working with individual families affected by dementia. This new role has had its challenges in changing the focus of attention in a number of ways; specifically on the transition into a care home setting for the person with dementia and support for their families. This is often a difficult transition for both the person with dementia and their families in realising that they can no longer care for the person with dementia at home any longer.

By supporting families and individual carers to come to terms with this realisation the AN offers advice, practical support and potential solutions to support, so when the needs of the person with dementia increase to the need for 24 hour care, the AN can support the carer/family to make the best decision and to support them through the transition.

Supporting best practice in dementia care The role of the AN within the care home setting is also in providing expert advice, support and leadership to staff groups within Avante’s 15 care homes. The AN works across health and social care boundaries with multi disciplinary colleagues; e.g. GPs, mental health teams etc, to provide a seamless service for care home residents with dementia. He continues to offer support to the families of the resident with dementia within any of the 15 care homes, by far my most frequent requests for his clinical expertise are from staff members who are experiencing difficulty in understanding some needs and behaviours that are exhibited by their residents.

Stephen maintains that behaviours staff find difficult to understand and make care delivery a challenge are often an expression of a person’s need which, if not understood, can lead to frustration and sometimes aggression from the Resident.

As everyone with dementia is unique their lifetime experience will often be complex and individual to them which may have a direct bearing on the behaviour they are expressing.

has delivered a teaching session at the school Northfleet School Pilots Thefromproject a Practitioner point of view, going through the 17 aims of the National Dementia Strategy. The students learnt about palliative care support, end of life planning, experience of Dementia Project

Anne Child MRPharmS PHwSI I.P, Head of Pharmaceutical Care and Clinical Standards for Avante Partnership, has been working with Northfleet School, Dartford, to deliver a new teaching module to cover the National Dementia Strategy and service provision.

advanced care planning and access to mental health support.

Students then visited two of Avante Care and Support’s care homes in Kent.

Firstly, they visited Court Regis, Sittingbourne, where they had a presentation on dementia and how it affects the brain, followed by an insight into the day to day life of the residents whilst meeting many of them.

Secondly, they visited Amherst Court, in Chatham, a larger modern home with 112 residents where the students had the opportunity to observe the knitting and sign language groups held in the Calypso café bar, followed by a tour of the home

by Dawn Christopher the Activities Co-ordinator. Additionally, Frances Lake, PA to the Director of Governance and Quality Standards and Ashley Roberts, Activities Coordinator, Court Regis, gave a presentation on the Eden Alternative training, upon which Avante’s Philosophy of Care is based. The presentation included interactive sessions to demonstrate the three plagues of loneliness, helplessness and boredom and how to help overcome them.

“This offered us an invaluable way of learning through seeing some of the residents in the care home environment.”

One of the students said:

Anne Child said: “It was a pleasure to work with the students and help them develop their academic studies in this subject.”

The outcome of this project is that the students will complete their A2 modules in the coming months.

Harvest Festival Songs of Praise The residents and staff at Barnetts Care Home enjoyed a Harvest Festival “Songs of Praise” on Wednesday 2nd October 2013.

A selection of popular hymns and prayers were led by local parishioners from St Marks Church in Tunbridge Wells. Every resident received an individual card wishing them a Happy Harvest Festival and a display of pictures, celebrating the season, were circulated amongst the residents.

Tim Newman, Temporary Home Manager, thanked the volunteers for coming along and for their continued support to Barnetts where they have been visiting for many years.

Arthur’s Fundraising Northbourne Court care home held a ‘Pink Day’ party for Breast Cancer Awareness. Arthur Floyd asked for the job of selling raffle tickets, he was previously a volunteer at Queen Mary’s Hospital for many years and was part of the fundraising team there. He single handed raised an amazing £200 by selling raffle tickets to staff, residents and their families to help this worthy cause.

We are all really proud of him!

Arthur said his main tactic is ‘not taking no for an answer!’’

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Health and Wellbeing Spring is upon us which is often a time to think about detoxification or a health kick but we are not quite ready for a salad. Here is a lovely soup which helps detoxification as it has B vitamins and magnesium as well as vitamin C and it will keep you feeling full for longer as it has a good level of protein. It is SO easy to make too.

Red Lentil Soup /

Recipe Makes 4

Ingredients UÊ 6 organic tomatoes UÊ 1 large onion UÊ 1 small cup of red lentils UÊ 1 tsp turmeric UÊ 1 tsp Asafoetida UÊ 2 tsp white mustard seeds UÊ ½ teaspoon cumin UÊ 4 Garlic cloves, UÊ 1 lemon (juice and zest), UÊ 1 ½ points stock (low salt and no MSG) or just Water UÊ 1 dessert spoon olive oil

1. Chop and shallow fry onion with a desert spoon of water and olive oil together with garlic, cumin, turmeric, mustard seeds, and asafoetida until onion is soft 2. Chop and add the tomatoes and stir for a few minutes 3. Add the water or stock and simmer for 30 minutes with the zest of the lemon 4. Just before serving squeeze the juice from half a lemon

Avante’s Head of Nutrition and Hydration a ‘Guest Speaker’ at NACC South East Seminar Sophie Murray, Avante Care and Support’s Head of Nutrition and Hydration was a guest speaker at the NACC South East Seminar and Training Day, on Friday 29th November 2013.

Sophie’s topic of discussion was headed ‘The Journey to Nutritious Food and Nutritional Care’ and she shared her journey, with successes and pitfalls, as well as some first-hand nutritional tips. Expectations are now greater than ever, for nutritional homemade foods when caring for the elderly and Sophie’s experience as an expert in the field of nutrition, a nurse and former restaurant owner is invaluable.

Only a few months ago Sophie was delighted to win the Hydration Award 2013, at the NACC Annual Conference and Exhibition, National Awards gala dinner. This event honours the teams and individuals that have demonstrated real excellence, dedication, innovation and achievements throughout the year.

The NACC (National Association of Care Catering) event was a day packed with plenty of learning and networking opportunities and took place at Sunningdale Park, near Ascot.

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The NACC is an organisation who has for over 25 years focused on raising nutritional care and representing professionals providing catering to the care industry. They

are recognised by Local Authorities, independent providers, the charitable sector and Government departments as a prime source of information and opinion on all aspects of catering within the care sector and whose primary aim is to improve standards.

Avante Care and Support joins Produced in Kent Avante Care and Support has become the first residential care home group to become a member of Produced in Kent. We believe this is the first collaboration of its kind between a food group promoting local food and drink and a care home partnership.

Nutrition is a very important part of caring for our clients, particularly those with dementia. We age because the lipids (fats) and proteins within our bodies changes and those with dementia often lose their appetite, which can make it harder for them to get the nutrients they need to remain healthy. A diet, rich in fresh fruit and vegetables and with a healthy fat profile has been linked to healthier bodies and healthier brains in the elderly.”

The move is part of Avante’s review of healthy eating through its care homes across the county. The charity, which is based in Faversham, runs 15 care homes across Kent and South East London, caring for 1,200 residents living with dementia.

The review is resulting in more locally sourced fresh produce, creating new menus and investing in more training for its cooks.

Ed Martin, Manager from Produced in Kent says: “’Produced in Kent’ is delighted that Avante Care and Support has chosen to join as a corporate member. In a clear sign of the times and with changing priorities for food sourcing nationwide, Avante Care and Support is leading the way, seeing the benefits of working closely with Kent based food and drink producers to support the excellent services that Avante Care and Support provide to their customers.

Sophie Murray, Head of Nutrition and Hydration at Avante Care and Support, says: “We are really pleased to be the first care home group to have signed up with Produced in Kent and I am looking forward to us all working together.

Kent produces great food and we will buy local wherever and whenever we can. Cooking fresh and healthy food is good for our clients and sourcing top quality ingredients from producers in Kent is good for the local economy too.

Good nutrition is fundamental to the ethos of Avante Care and Support just as provenance is to ‘Produced in Kent’ and its members. We look forward to working with Avante Care and Support in sourcing and supplying the best and most nutritious produce, Kent has to offer through our extensive membership.”

Emily Celebrates her 100th Birthday It’s 100 years and counting for Emily Christmas, who is a resident at Avante’s Care and Support care home, “Riverdale Court” in Welling. Born on the 4th of January 1914, Emily has e lived through two World Wars and seen four Monarchs on the Throne.

has lived through. It is always a wonderful celebration here at Riverdale Court when a resident celebrates their 100th birthday and we wish her well on her special day.”

Emily was born in Bethnal Green and whilst watching ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’ the family noticed Emily lived a couple of doors down from Len Goodman from ‘Strictly Come Dancing’. Emily had been a dress maker before she married and after her husband passed away she returned to work in a Grocers Shop and then a Bakery.

Emily was very quiet about turning 100 and didn’t want a big party or a lot of fuss, so on her actual birthday Annette Kelly, one of the Activities Co-ordinators for Riverdale Court e organised a little tea party for her suite, which included a little e cockney sing song, as Emily is proud she is a cockney. On the following day Emily’s family all visited to have a small family gathering to celebrate her special milestone.

“Emily is a wonderful person and everyone here is very excited by her 100th birthday. It’s amazing to think of all the history she

Annette Kelly, Activities Co-ordinator said;

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Celebrity Chef Works with Avante Care Homes The Cooks working in Avante Care and Support care homes, have recently completed a unique and ground-breaking training course with TV Chef, Rosemary Shrager. They attended a speciallydevised cookery course at the celebrity’s new cookery school in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, to help them, in their work, to prepare a range of meals each day for residents at the care homes.

Many residents at the home live with dementia and may suffer loss of appetite due to their condition. Ensuring residents eat well by cooking fresh, nutritious and tasty food for them is paramount to their health and well-being.

Training with Rosemary and her team was a great experience for all of the Cooks and some of them commented afterwards:

- “This has made me feel alive again in my job.”

- “I feel more important in my role now.”

- “I feel I have woken up – it is all about amazing flavours including herbs and spices.”

- “I realised it is about keeping it simple, realising you don’t need to overcomplicate.”

- “This is a journey which is continuing. Our Residents deserve the best. It is our duty to make sure we give them just that.”

“This is a very exciting project and we have all enjoyed working with the cooks from Avante Care and Support. What they cook and how they prepare and serve is really important to their client’s health and well-being. This course has helped them understand the benefits of cooking with fresh, local produce and how food can be more interesting, really good for you and even more delicious.”

Rosemary Shrager says:

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Pilgrims View’s very own in-house Novelist At Avante Care and Support we believe all ourr residents are special and each one often has an interesting story to tell. This was exactly the case when staff at Pilgrims View, Snodland were re surprised to find one of their residents, Anne Bentley had written a book which had been published!

Over 30 years ago, Anne (nee Olsen) was living in Zimbabwe we and was running one of the country’s leading marriage bureaux. Through her experience at work and her personal misfortune, she composed a novel entitled “Seventh Floor Cupid”, which was published in 1980.

The book, quite often humorous, though mostly poignant, unfolds the ‘case histories’ of a great variety of ‘star-crossed lovers’, each one shielded by anonymity.

Critic’s comments at the time were; UÊ

“… a little book that packs more human emotion into its pages than most novels.”

SUNDAY NEWS

UÊ

“Cleverly combining pathos with humour; the former journalist gives a fascinating behind-thescenes picture of how people react to their contrived ed introductions in her role as Cupid.”

THE HERALD

The story unfolded when Dawn Wraight, a Carer at Pilgrims View, had been chatting with Anne about how she juggled h her time between raising her children and running her business – the Marriage Bureaux. Dawn commented how proud she must have been to have achieved so much and that was when Anne mentioned she had also written a book, but no longer had a copy for herself.

Dawn took it upon herself to track down a copy of the book, which took a few months to obtain but eventually a copy of the book was found and then Dawn had the great pleasure to present Anne with it, which as you can imagine came as g a lovely surprise.

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AMHERST COURT

Some of the residents at Amherst Court, Donald, Dudley and Ken, enjoyed a day at the RAF Museum, Manston. Ken had worked at ‘Shorts’, a local aircraft manufacturer, so was able to educate everyone on various parts of the aircraft and how they worked, he remembered his days as an apprentice and told many humorous stories which made the day even more special.

Laura, who is key worker to Carol, a resident at Amherst Court, thought it would be nice for a couple of residents to eat out in a local restaurant. After talking it over with Carol and another resident they went and joined in with the pre Christmas excitement in the community, where they enjoyed a meal and soft drinks.

Carol said “it was nice; I used to go out a lot”.

Well done to Laura for using her own time and resources for the benefit of residents, a real case of a Carer going the extra mile.

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Amherst Court were approached by Kent Police, PC Gibbons and PC Nichols, to help raise money for the children’s ward at Medway hospital. Everyone was keen to help, with residents making gingerbread, cakes, chutneys and pickles and then selling them. It was felt that the money raised, £45.60, would be best used to purchase food and to make up a Christmas hamper to be raffled off, that way more money would be made.

With the total amount raised by Kent police and local business donations they said they were going to buy 3 flat screen TV’s with built in free view for individual wards where children can not mix with the other children due to their condition. An Xboxx 360 for a communal area of women’s refuge, and gift packs for the elderly in hospital over the Christmas period.

A big thank you to all for giving so generously and well done to Kent Police too.

Asda’s Generous Donation The Chatham branch of Asda kindly donated £500 to put into Amherst Court’s amenity fund, they raised this by way of a bucket for donations by the lottery counter.

Amherst Court feel blessed to have a friendly and continuing relationship with Keith the Manager and Debbie the Community Champion. Keith said he would jump at the chance to go on an external activity later this year with staff and residents....watch this space!

Sue looks forward to a well deserved retirement A Amherst Court staff member, Sue Kemp, retired recently after 22 years with the organisation. Sue started work at Lennox Wood as a tea time cook and when that home went to Amherst W Court she went there as a day cook.

Sue plans to have a long holiday in her native Korea, then she and her husband will just enjoy the fruits of a lifetime of working. Sue has one adult son but says she is still waiting on w her first grandchild.

Roses, Sue’s favourite flower, were presented to her by Lesley Edwards, Care Manager at Amherst Court, her colleagues from the kitchen also presented her with flowers and the collection given by the homes’ staff. Sue said she will miss everyone but wouldn’t wouldn t be persuaded to stay!

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Trip down Memory Lane for Betty A local resident from Amherst Court care home in Chatham, part of Avante Care and Support, was able to have a trip down memory lane by travelling with a carer to London, visiting all the places where she grew up and then went on to enjoy a concert at the Royal Albert Hall.

Betty started her big adventure by boarding a train to London; something she hadn’t done for a long time. With plenty of time before the show began, Betty and Dawn Christopher, an Activities Co-ordinator had a long leisurely walk around Hyde Park, taking in the sights and chatting about Betty’s happy childhood memories.

Dawn said;

“Betty was raised in Chelsea and told me her father used to regularly take her to Hyde Park as a child, Betty had so manyy lovelyy stories to share.”

Before we knew it, it was time to head to the Royal Albert Hall, where a very talented Junior Classical Musician, Nina Del Ser gave a stirring musical performance which Betty seemed drawn into. Betty moved her hands as though to conduct the music, played a virtual piano on the table top and smiled and nodded her head in time to the music. Afterwards we congregated in the hallway, where the young Musician came out and greeted her well wishers. Betty praised Nina and her talent and was thanked with a hug and an autograph.”

Betty then went on a tour of the Royal Albert Hall and saw the Royal waiting area, where she was invited to sit on the Queen’s seat, enjoyed a glimpse of the Royal box and heard the history of the Hall. A souvenir booklet was bought and Betty said “it was such a wonderful day”.

Dawn added;

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“During the train ride home, Betty was quite quiet but kept saying she was thinking about the day.”

BARTON COURT Barton Court Celebrates Edith’s 102nd Birthday Edith Gosden, who lives at Barton Court in Minster, celebrated her 102nd birthday. Edith has lived at the home since 2001, making her one of its longest residents, after moving there from Essex.

Edith worked as a tailor in a large factory and was one of seven children. Her husband Joe passed away before she moved to Sheppey, the couple had no children.

She came to the Island as her nephew Cyril Webb worked forr L Jackson Opticians in Halfway and thought highly of the home me in New Road, so he chose it for his aunt.

Activity co-ordinator Elaine Bashford said:

“She’s such a lovely lady.”

Staff threw a party for Edith with a cake and music.

Debbie’s Fashions came to the home for a clothes party and everyone had a brilliant time picking out some new things to wear, hectic but good fun!

Happy

nd

102ay!

Birthd

Dennis having a cuppa and game of bingo at the community centre

2 21

Barton Court had Memory Lane in to entertain and all enjoyed the award winning show as so much effort is put into their shows. It was extra special for one of the residents as she knew one of the performers in her childhood in Yorkshire.

What a small world, so they had a good catch up at the end of the show.

Anne was staying at the home for respite care, Elaine Bashford, Activities Coordinator said, ‘Recently, a lovely lady, Anne, left Barton Court after being with us for a few weeks for respite.

She is such a lovely lady and we will miss her, and I know she said she is going to miss us. She enjoyed her stay so much, and has said so many lovely things. Last time someone stayed for short term care at Barton, they changed their mind and came back permanently. What a compliment. She made lots of friends in such a short time here residents and staff.

When she went home there were many tears. Anne said she had had a wonderful stay and could not fault anything.

The care was first class and the food like a hotel, all top quality. What a good ambassador Anne would make for us.’

Through the year, residents at Barton Court often visit Howletts Zoo. It is a 2 minute bus ride away from the home, and you can get a ticket where you pay once and it lasts the whole year. They also feel it is helping one of their local charities at the same time. Nicola Linstead, Activities Coordinator and resident Jim Barnes enjoy an 22 ice cream.

The pom poms begin, Pat her daughter and g a dso start s a making a g thee first s batch ba c grandson

Pat really getting into the pom poms making another batch with her other daughter

Joyce having just helped put the pom poms on our smoothie hats, 45 were completed.

Pam Griffiths (next of kin) – ‘Lovely place and staff. My dad is well cared for there.

Every one of them work hard, the kitchen staff and cleaners too are always pleasant. The carers deserve every penny they earn.’

We have received some lovely comments on Barton Court’s Facebook page:

Sue Kemp – ‘I know first hand how hard you all work to take care of everyone. You deserve the praise and appreciation. If I had my way, you would all be paid very handsomely.

You certainly don’t do that job for the money.’

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COURT REGIS 3 residents and 3 staff members from Court Regis spent a week in the Butlins resort in Bognor Regis and had the time of their lives.

Staying in comfort at the plush Wave Hotel, residents were treated to meals, drinks, nonstop entertainment and even a go on the Donkey Derby!

Leslie working hard painting a new residents room.

Les and Ashley take a well deserved tea break, from all the decroating. Vera keeps watch from afar.

Jean and Lesley drinking coffee in Costa Coffee in Faversham.

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Peter and Vicky enjoy a cup of tea in the comfort of the Tesco café.

Ruth doing a bit of shopping at Sheerness market.

Vera gets busy doing the weekly shop at Asda.

Some residents from Court Regis went on a day trip. They visted, Debbies Garden Centre, had coffee at Dicken’s World, lunch at ‘Bridge Haven Snug’, visted Notcutts to vistit the reindeer, Christmas drinks at Dover Castle inn and lunch out at Ashford, They also had an exclusive carol service and soup morning at Minster Abbey!

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BRIDGE HAVEN A Personal Perspective With our Avante care services meeting the challenge to care for older people with Dementia type conditions in our care homes, it’s nice to hear a relative perspective on how good care practice is being delivered at one of our 15 care homes, Bridge Haven in Bridge, a village just outside Canterbury.

“I think everyone who has watched as dementia takes hold will be familiar with the grief, the anxiety and the fear that comes with the dissolution of a loved parent, friend or spouse. Add to that the media reports on abuse in care homes, the stories of people being lost and found wandering or not found until it is too late and it is no wonder that, like me, the distress of caring for my mother was increased by the terror of putting her into a care system which appeared to be anything but caring.

For five years, I did everything to keep her at home where I could protect her from herself and from what I thought of as the depredations of ‘care.’

I have lived in Canterbury for more that forty years and knew hundreds of people who sympathised with my situation but regaled me with stories of visits made to relatives. I don’t need to write these stories. If you are involved with residential care, you already know them.

The moment came which I had dreaded. Mother was taken into hospital and clearly, I could not manage any more, even with family support and four-times-a-day-carers. I visited Bridge Haven with my husband, weeping. I know this isn’t unusual, I have seen it so many times when other families visit the home with a view to bringing a parent or a partner. It seems as if you are abandoning someone you cherish, that you are disloyal and hateful and just not trying hard enough.

If only I had known about how wonderful Bridge Haven is, I could have saved myself and my mother a great deal of heartache. She has lived there for nearly five years now and her mental decline has been as steady as it is inevitable. She no longer walks, cannot feed herself and speaks rarely but she is well and I am certain that she is happy. How can I know?

I know as surely as I know myself. She loves a little chocolate and her puddings and listening to the old songs and still has a life, all thanks to the love and care she receives from the staff.

They talk to her and she smiles (when she is awake, which is not very often!) and they have completely cured the psoriasiss she had when she first arrived through daily creaming and careful cleaning.

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Ray Planting Winter Pansies

What astonishes me is their patience and kindness, the way they talk to residents, with respect and as if they really are interested in their welfare; the jokes and the dancing, the staff who buy, out of their own money, little treats or bring in photos or take people to the ‘snug’ for lunch and chat, all to make lives a little happier. An arm round a lady who is sad, a little sit down with someone who is alone; all this adds up to daily acts of kindness that makes Bridge Haven something special.

I never worry about her. That in itself is the most amazing difference that has happened. Now, I have the chance to enjoy my grandchildren and to help with their care. I can do voluntary work and have a real life in retirement which was impossible before. So thank you, everyone at Bridge Haven, the domestic staff and the carers, the cooks and the launderers, the managers and the volunteers, all of you.

Finally, you may read this and find it too emotional. That’s fine, because no one who loves a person with dementia can be anything but emotional-see my first line”.

Pauline Walters I would like to thank Pauline for taking the time to put pen to paper and tell how good the care is at Bridge Haven. Pauline is an active member of the Avante Dementia Advisory Panel.

If you would like to become a member and bring your perspective and ideas to the panel which only meets three times a year then we would love to hear from you.

For more information please contact: Richard Macintyre, Head of Care and Welfare at Avante Partnership on 01795 597400.

Art Class

Christmas Carol Practice

Court Regis visited Bridge Haven Snug where Ash tried to pull a pint, but the pumps were empty!

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W

henever I visit Bridge Haven Care Centre, I am always welcomed with warmth and kindness from both the staff and the residents. I thoroughly enjoy the time that I spend at Bridge Have, especially as no two visits are the same. At the end of each day, I always leave with a beaming smile on my face, knowing that my time has been well spent. There is always something for me to do, from chatting to residents, helping at mealtimes, to reading poetry or stories. However the sessions when I play the piano have proved to be the most popular – I love seeing the residents start to relax as they listen to the music, tap their toes or do gentle chair exercises together.

What really makes me smile is seeing the vast array of characters that live at Bridge Haven, and I learn so much from their years of experience. I love talking to all the different people, from artists to short hand typists, and listening to their stories, advice and memories. Bridge Haven is an amazing place, and is a pleasure to visit each week.

Sophie Stephens, age 16

Pudsey Bear visited!

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The Bridge Haven Snug is open lunch times Monday to Friday and either Julie Wendy or Nicola Linstead will be behind the bar, if any other homes would like to come and visit they can call us and we can book a table.

The residents at Bridge Haven regularly enjoy visiting a local Farmers market 29

Spooky Pictures from m Halloween Week

@

Avante News Summer 2011 www.ava ntepartnership.or

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Residents and staff Stepahead Support all celebrate the away day trip Royal Wedding

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Admiral Nurse joins the team Page 16

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