Sheena rides a horse during stables visit ... and much more inside
Care at the heart of the community
We are a not-for-profit charity running care homes, assisted living communities, and care at home services across the south of England.
Our team provide high-quality, professional care, whether that’s 24/7 assistance, respite support or help at home. Everything we do is guided by our HEART values: Honesty, Excellence, Approach, Respect and Teamwork. These values inspire us to go the extra mile every day to deliver great care to yourself, a loved one or friend.
For the fourth consecutive year, Care South has been named as one of the Top 20 Care Home Groups in the UK. This is an accolade based on reviews from residents, relatives and friends on industry website carehome. co.uk and it’s something we are immensely proud of. We’d love to welcome you to take a look around our care homes to experience for yourself why we are so highly-rated.
We put the residents and Care at Home clients at the centre of our attention and we follow our ethos of the three Fs - Food, Fun and Friendship.
This encourages us to enable residents and clients to follow a passion or try something new, socialise and build friendships, and to tuck into a meal or snack that they enjoy. The care we deliver is bespoke to each resident and client and we listen to their feedback to ensure they enjoy a fulfilled and happy life.
Welcome from Simon Bird the Chief Executive of Care South
Welcome to our third edition of Care South Insights. Across the pages you can read about some of the residents who have celebrated a big birthday (including Nin who turned 107!) and our new care home, Marjorie House, nearing completion in Lilliput, Poole.
This is a guide for local communities and visitors to our homes to let you know what we do and provide you with some useful information and tips if you are considering care for yourself or a loved one.
Learn about how we make our residents and care at home clients’ wishes come true, such as Joe the motorbike fanatic, Sheena who wanted to ride a horse, and David, an ex-commercial airline captain.
You can also read some handy features on how to choose a care home, paying care home fees, and one of our Home Managers answers some frequently asked questions.
As you go through this magazine, if you have any questions about our care homes or care at home services, you will find the contact details on the back page. Our team will be happy to help!
But in the meantime, I hope this magazine gives you a small ‘Insight’ into the Care South community.
What is care?
The care team assist the residents to live happy, fulfilled lives. Knowing that they are safe, respected, and looked after aroundthe-clock enables the residents to flourish in an environment where a helping hand is always available when they need it.
Every person’s care needs are individual to them and so the care we provide is flexible to match this with lots of food, fun and friendship along the way. Our care homes provide residential, nursing and dementia support delivered by kind, compassionate trained professionals who ensure that each resident gets the dedicated care that they need and deserve.
Every day is unique
No two days are the same for the residents in our care. Our team love to learn about each resident’s hobbies and passions so that clubs, events and trips out are tailored to individual interests.
It could be as simple as planting some flowers in the care home garden, baking a cake or playing a favourite game. Or perhaps the resident has a long-held special wish that we could safely make happen or they would love to try something new.
Regardless of how long a resident stays with us, whether it’s for respite care or on a permanent basis, everyone receives the same great level of care and is given access to the same opportunities.
at Care South Big birthdays
D-Day veteran celebrates his 100th birthday
John, who is one of the last surviving D-Day veterans, celebrated his 100th birthday with a tea party.
As a proud Yorkshireman, John, who lives at Kenwith Castle care home, said that he didn’t want a lot of ‘fuss’ on his birthday, so the care home team arranged afternoon tea for him with his family and loved ones.
John joined the Royal Air Force on his 18th birthday. In World War Two he was part of the D-Day landings and travelled through France and Germany as a driver.
Our care homes hosted services and commemorative events in June this year to honour the 80th anniversary of D-Day.
Nin turns
107
Nin credits being a lifelong vegetarian as the reason why she has celebrated her landmark 107th birthday at St Ives House. She was joined by her daughter, Jane, and son-in-law, Eric, as well as Simon Bird, Chief Executive of Care South, and the Deputy Mayor of Ringwood, Cllr Rae Frederick, for a special party.
Nin received bouquets of flowers and birthday cards including a special card from King Charles and Queen Camilla. Afterwards, Nin went out for a pub lunch with her friends from the care home followed by tea and birthday cake.
Other big birthdays we have celebrated so far this year include Betty K’s 106th at Wickmeads, Jean’s 105th at Maiden Castle House, Betty L’s 101st at Talbot View, and Betty B’s 100th at Elizabeth House.
“Everybody was so wonderful to me. When I woke up in the morning, I remembered that it was going to be a special day for me.”
Nin, Resident
Care South rated as a top care provider for fourth consecutive year
We have been named as one of the ‘Top 20 Care Home Groups’ in the UK at the Care Home Awards.
The awards are based on reviews from residents, relatives and friends on the care home reviews guide, carehome.co.uk. The average group review score for Care South is 9.8/10, with most of our homes ranking even higher.
Simon Bird, Chief Executive, Care South, said: “We are thrilled to receive the Top 20 Award for the fourth year in a row. It is even more pleasing given that this accolade is based on reviews from residents in our care, their families and their friends of their actual experiences with us.
“Naturally, I am so proud of all our care teams who work so tirelessly and compassionately to make sure that the residents
in our care have the best possible experience in later life. Clearly food, fun and friendship is in good supply in our care homes, which means the residents continue to live their lives to the full.”
Reviews for Care South’s homes on carehome.co.uk include: ‘Mum is well looked after, getting all the physical and emotional assistance she needs. She is socialising and has made friends. As her daughter, I am delighted with the care that Mum is receiving. I only wish all elderly, vulnerable people received such great care.’
Another review reads: ‘I cannot possibly thank the care team enough for all the support and round-the-clock care, love and time they have given to my grandad. I have always been close to him, so it’s one less worry knowing that he’s got everything he needs when we are not on site. My grandad could not ask for a better group of staff.’
Making new memories
As we moved into the summer months, it provided a great opportunity for the care home residents and Care at Home clients to enjoy some food, fun and friendship outdoors.
Fairlawn residents danced along to the music at their D-Day event
Dorset House residents visited the Field Honey factory
Castle Dene residents watched a performance from the Quayside Cloggies
Alexandra House residents planted some sunflower seeds for an inter-home competition
Elizabeth House residents designed and painted clay elephants
Buxton House residents attended their Big Dementia Coffee Morning
Beauchamp House residents played parachute games with the local cub scouts
Talbot View residents tucked into strawberries and prosecco for International Women’s Day
Fern Brook Lodge residents met Nelly the dog from Hey Doggie Dorset
Sussexdown residents enjoyed live music and entertainment at their D-Day event
St Ives House welcomed Fairlawn residents for a giant Scrabble contest
Fremington Manor residents took part in a six-week poetry workshop with Poetry Cares
Wickmeads residents went on a boat trip around Poole Harbour
Maiden Castle House residents were thrilled to meet the donkeys from Weymouth Beach
Kenwith Castle residents enjoyed an Easter egg hunt and Sunday service
Marjorie House
Welcoming new residents from September
Work is progressing well on our brand new residential care home, Marjorie House. Residents will receive outstanding, passionate care within a fabulous setting while enjoying stunning views over Poole Harbour and Brownsea Island.
Marjorie House has been carefully crafted to enable residents to lead rich and fulfilling lives. There are 50 luxurious en-suite bedrooms with a variety of sizes, styles and sea views.
There is a cafe, bar, and hair and beauty salon within the home. On each of the three floors there is a dining area, dedicated activity area, lounge, and smaller private lounge, which is ideal for private and family functions.
The terraced gardens, circular walkways, viewing areas and balconies enable residents and their guests to enjoy the exceptional views, whilst the landscaped courtyard offers the ideal spot for relaxation and social gatherings.
Residents in our care have led rich and fulfilling lives and we want to keep it that way - with plenty of Food, Fun and Friendship.
Marjorie House care home
The terrace at Marjorie House
The bar at Marjorie House
A bedroom in Marjorie House
Care South at Home services
If you or a loved one are looking to maintain your independence, care in your own home could be a suitable option.
Our Care South at Home team can provide flexible, personalised care to meet a range of care needs. They can help with respite care or continual daily support from companionship to more complex care.
Care services at home include:
• Companionship
• Personal care
• Stay at home assistive technology
• Housekeeping and home help
• Collecting prescriptions and shopping
• Active recovery, reablement and rehabilitation
• Mobility, adaptations and aids
• Medication administration
• Complex care including dementia and end-of-life care
Michael visits Cherries stadium
Lifelong Cherries fan, Michael, who receives support from Care South at Home, told the team about his long-held wish to visit the Vitality Stadium for the first time in 10 years, having first watched AFC Bournemouth play in the 1960s.
In response, our care team took Michael to watch the Cherries play against Manchester United. Michael also had a VIP stadium tour to see the players’ tunnel and sit in the manager’s seat in the dugout and look out over the pitch.
Michael said: “I watch every game on the TV at home, so it was exciting to be back at the stadium. I used to be a goalkeeper when I played football at school, so it was great to sit behind the goal. I really like Solanke as I think he’s got all the skills to play for England, so it was great to see him on the pitch.”
The surprise experience was organised through our ongoing partnership between Care South and AFC Bournemouth, which enables residents, home care clients and staff to get involved in a range of activities. These can include weekly seated football sessions, meeting players, coffee mornings, and visits to the stadium.
Making wishes
Flying start to David’s 80th birthday
Retired pilot, David, was joined by his daughter, Kirsteen, and Activities Lead for Dorset House, Sam, for a special experience ahead of his 80th birthday. David sat in the cockpit of one of TUI’s Boeing 737s at Bournemouth Airport.
David chatted to TUI pilot, Captain Richard Griffin, about his career in aviation including 20 years in the RAF, 15 years as a commercial airline captain, and 19 years training the next generation of pilots, before retiring at 75.
At the end of the special event, David was presented with a personalised cake shaped like a TUI plane to take back to enjoy with his friends at Dorset House.
Joe’s motorbike rally
More than 120 motorbikes roared through Dorchester high street in honour of motorbike fanatic, Joe, who lives at Maiden Castle House.
Joe travelled in the sidecar of a motorbike to the Top O’ Town car park where he was surprised to be met by 126 motorbike riders who then travelled with him through Dorchester. Afterwards, the bikers were invited back to Maiden Castle House for tea and cake while chatting with Joe about their shared love of motorbikes, much to the delight of Joe’s daughter, Nicola.
The special event took place in response to Joe’s wish to ride on a motorbike for the first time in 20 years. Emma Norman, Activities Lead at Maiden Castle House, put out a ‘shoutout’ to the local biker community to organise a surprise motorbike rally for Joe and they were only too keen to help.
come true… all year round!
John scores a goal against Cherries captain
Life-long Cherries fan, John, was thrilled to meet AFC Bournemouth’s captain, Neto, during a surprise visit at Elizabeth House.
John, who was a steward at the Vitality Stadium for 55 years, was joined by Neto and Cherries legend, Steve ‘Fletch’ Fletcher, for a kickabout in the home’s communal living room, organised through our ongoing partnership with AFC Bournemouth.
John also got the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to score some goals into a small pop-up goal being protected by Neto, before John’s friends from Elizabeth House got to have a go.
Sheena rides a horse during stables visit
Dorset House resident, Sheena, rode a horse during a visit to the Royal Armoured Corps (RAC) Saddle Club in Bovington.
The visit was organised in response to a special wish from Sheena and fellow Dorset House resident, Susannah, who wanted to get up-close to a horse after taking up horse-riding as children. They were joined by several other residents who took a tour of the facilities and met some of the horses who live at the stables.
Sheena said: “I used to ride a horse called Briar as a child all through the school summer holidays. I haven’t ridden one since then, so I enjoyed it, as I never thought I’d get to do it again.”
Choosing the right care home
It can feel like a daunting decision when looking for a care home for your loved one. Here’s our five-step approach to guide you through the process:
Step 1 – Consider their needs
Focus on your loved one’s specific care needs. Will they need daily assistance with tasks such as eating, dressing and bathing? Would they enjoy taking part in activities? Do they need specialist care such as for dementia or nursing? At Care South, we offer residential, dementia, nursing and respite care in our care homes to suit each resident’s individual needs.
Step 2 – Research and shortlist
Put together a shortlist of care homes drawn up from online research and recommendations from friends, family or healthcare professionals. Contact the homes and ask for costs and room availability. Care South was recognised by the Care Home Awards for being one of the top care home groups in the UK based on reviews on carehome.co.uk from residents, their friends and relatives.
Step 3 – Visit the homes
Take a tour of the shortlisted care homes to meet the manager and care team. Have a look around the facilities, observe how the staff interact with the residents and learn about meal plans and onsite activities. The key is to ask questions which focus on your loved one’s care requirements, so that the manager can tailor the tour to cover these important aspects.
Step 4 – Arrange an assessment
Once you have chosen the right home, you can ask for an assessment to be carried out. Care homes will always carry out an assessment prior to a resident being admitted to ensure that they can meet the individual needs of your loved one. This often takes place face-to-face but can be done over the phone, if preferred.
Step 5 – Moving in
Speak to the care home team ahead of the moving date to find out what can be done to make the transition as smooth as possible. They will be able to offer some top tips and advice such as bringing favourite possessions into the home to create comfortable, familiar surroundings. Speak to our friendly team about how we can support your loved one.
Your frequently asked questions
Emma, Home Manager at St Ives House near Ringwood, answers some of your frequently asked questions
What are the most common questions you get asked by prospective residents/relatives?
The most frequently asked questions we get from prospective residents and relatives are about our activities. During a tour of the home, we can show them our weekly activity planners and photos of recent activities that we have had, which can include live music, crafts, games, and animal visits. They can also meet our dedicated activities team to talk about the hobbies and interests that their loved one enjoys to ensure they’re included in future plans.
How often do you welcome in older people for respite care at the home?
Many of our residents start their journey with a respite stay to meet the team and make some friends before moving in longterm. The care they will receive is the same great level of care given to permanent residents. We can also provide emergency respite stays if an older person requires immediate care and this can be offered seven days a week as needed. Respite care can also be a useful option if their care-giver is going on holiday or needs a break and wants the reassurance of 24hour care for their loved one. Some people specifically join us for respite during the festive season to enjoy all the activities and celebrations with us!
How do you help a resident to feel at home when they first arrive?
We believe that knowing a resident is the key to helping them to feel at ease when they come for respite care or to live at the home. This is part of the pre-admission assessment that we carry out prior to them arriving at the home, which is normally carried out at the person’s current home, at their convenience. It’s about making sure that they feel comfortable and ensuring that their room is just how they would like it, introducing them to the staff and other residents in the home. We are there to support them to find their way around the home and easily access the facilities. At Care South, we pride ourselves on delivering food, fun and friendship, so meeting their needs whilst receiving quality care helps people feel welcomed and settle in quickly within the home.
Do you have any events that I could attend with a loved one for an informal look around the home?
Yes we do. At St Ives House, we host Welcome Wednesdays on the last Wednesday of each month where visitors can join us for refreshments and entertainment. Our residents also play bingo on the first Sunday of each month which is also open to the local community. We host many community events and open days throughout the year such as coffee mornings, open afternoons, summer fetes, and Christmas fayres. Although, you don’t need to wait for an event to have a look around the home as we welcome the community to come in and see us anytime!
Paying care home fees
More than 410,000 people live in residential and nursing homes across the UK. Around half of these residents pay for their own care, with the rest being wholly or partfunded by the local authority or NHS.
How are care home fees paid for?
This is a breakdown of the three different ways that care home fees can be funded, depending on personal circumstances:
Self-fund
The resident, a family member or friend pays the fees for their care.
Local authority
The local authority fund all or part of the care home fees. Sometimes the resident, a relative or friend may contribute an additional ‘top-up fee’ to cover the full cost.
NHS
The NHS may also agree to pay towards the cost in some instances.
How do you find out if you are eligible for local authority funding?
Eligibility for financial support is determined by the local authority through a two-step process. Firstly, they will carry out a ‘needs assessment’ to understand the level of care that the person needs. If the person is deemed to have ‘eligible needs’ then the authority will follow this up with a financial assessment based on the person’s income, savings, and assets. Typically, if the person’s capital falls below a certain threshold, they may qualify for assistance. The latest UK guidelines state that individuals with assets below £23,250 in the UK may receive partial or full funding from the authority. However, the choice of care homes may be restricted to those contracted by the local authority.
When would a top-up fee be needed?
A top-up fee comes into action when a chosen care home’s fees exceed the amount that the local authority is willing to pay, if the person is deemed eligible for local authority funding. If a person prefers a care home with better facilities than the authority will pay for, the person, their family or friends can pay the difference between the local authority’s contribution and the full cost required.
NHS funding
NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) is a package of care funded by the NHS for individuals with significant ongoing healthcare needs with eligibility determined through an assessment of the person’s care needs. If eligible, the NHS cover the full cost of the care home fees. It is aimed at people living with complex medical care needs due to an accident, disability, or major illness.
NHS-funded nursing care is available to pay for nursing home fees, if the NHS deems the person to need nursing care. Neither of these funding forms are means-tested, but both have strict criteria, and many applicants do not qualify, necessitating alternative funding methods.
Foodie fun in the care homes
Following our ethos of ‘Food, Fun and Friendship’, we have a huge focus on providing nutritious, fresh food on our menus for the residents to enjoy. It’s also important that the food the residents enjoy is homely and comforting, so it’s great to see our care homes encouraging them to get involved in some foodie fun...
Fremington Manor residents enjoyed making their own mini raspberry cheesecakes and chocolate cornflake cakes. They agreed that the real fun was in the tasting after.
Dorset House residents have cooked up a storm with the help of the chefs, Bert and Richard. Together, they have made many treats to share, including shortbread, apricot marzipan tarts, cinnamon swirl buns and Cornish pasties.
Castle Dene held a Men’s Club lunch to encourage the male residents to sit and chat together. They tucked into a delicious fish and chip lunch with a beer, which everyone enjoyed.
Fern Brook Lodge welcomed Carole who appeared on Channel 4’s Great British Bake Off to taste cakes made by the residents, relatives and care home team before she took a tour of the home.
Buxton House residents were invited to attend a special Valentine’s Day lunch with their loved ones. They tucked into a three-course meal, with a choice of wine or prosecco, all rounded off with a sweet treat.
Kenwith Castle residents had fun tossing pancakes on Shrove Tuesday. Eileen successfully flipped a pancake seven times before the residents were served up some freshly-cooked pancakes to enjoy with a host of toppings.
the community Supporting
Candles on the Lake
Scores of people turned out for a special commemorative candlelit event at Kenwith Castle.
Our care village in Devon played host to its first Candles on the Lake event in February which was open to the public and local carers who live and work in Bideford, as well as residents and their families from Kenwith Castle and Fremington Manor.
Attendees lit a candle in memory of a loved one with all donations going to North Devon Hospice. In total, the event raised £1,000 for the good cause which provides specialist care support to people with life-limiting conditions.
DJ Jude, the former Mayor of Bideford, played songs during the event which had been specially chosen by the care home residents. She described it as ‘an amazing, very humbling event in a beautiful setting.’
Reverend Jules Harris, Team Rector for Torridge Coastal Mission Community, then gave a blessing before the candles were released onto the lake.
Watch Kenwith Castle’s candlelit ceremony
Lewis-Manning Hospice Care partnership
Teams from care homes across Dorset and their dogs took part in a charity obstacle course in Poole in aid of Lewis-Manning Hospice Care.
More than 20 residents from St Ives House and Dorset House took on the Muddy Dog Dash at Upton Country Park. Staff members got thoroughly muddy competing, whilst the residents enjoyed staying warm and clean cheering them on from the sidelines.
Pat, who lives at Dorset House, said: “It was a wonderful day. I loved meeting the different dogs at the event, particularly the labradors as it reminded me of the labrador I used to have, and meeting the families of the staff who work in our care homes. Everyone did so well.”
Over 400 people took part in this year’s Muddy Dog Dash alongside more than 200 dogs to raise money for
Lewis-Manning Hospice Care, which supports people with life-limiting illnesses and their families across East Dorset.
Care South has an ongoing charity partnership with LewisManning Hospice Care through its Chairman’s 2020 Fund. The fund gives back to community groups, services and organisations which directly benefit Care South’s residents and staff, and our Care South at Home clients.
Care Home Open Week
All of our homes took part in National Care Home Open Week, which is an annual event in June dedicated to showcasing the care, warmth, and vibrant communities in care homes.
The homes welcomed in the community at summer fetes and open days featuring entertainment such as live music, stalls, barbecues, face painting and garden games, with many choosing to raise funds for a chosen cause at the same time.
It offered the chance for visiting families to meet the care home team, take a tour of the facilities available, and enjoy some fun entertainment.
Alexandra House hosted a Hawaiian-themed summer fete with a barbecue, stalls, raffle, and live singer with all profits going to St Peter’s Church. Fairlawn held an open day celebration with afternoon tea and cake, music and dancing, and Buxton House held a ‘Big Bingo’ event for the residents, team and the local community as well as a summer fete.
Chairman’s 2020 Fund Presentations
Over the past four years, our Chairman’s 2020 Fund has made donations to many great charities, not-for-profit groups and organisations who benefit our care homes, residents, care at home clients and staff.
Since our last issue, we have made donations to:
• Dementia Friendly Gillingham
• Friends of MV Freedom
• Linking Hearts Therapy Horses
• Margaret Green Animal Rescue
• Muddy Boots Nursery in Hamworthy
• Weymouth School of Ballet and Theatre Arts
Meanwhile, Talbot View held a summer fete with live music, food and drinks; and Wickmeads hosted an Ascot-themed garden party where they served cream teas and prosecco, with a singer performing a host of tunes to sing along to.
For more information about making an application to the Chairman’s 2020 Fund, go to care-south.co.uk/chairmans-fund
Beauchamp House launches its own Men’s Shed
The team at Beauchamp House care home have launched their own Men’s Shed club to encourage the male residents to socialise together and join in conversation.
Chantal, Activities Lead at Beauchamp House, was assisted by Roy and Terry from The Parrett Community Shed for the first Beauchamp House Men’s Shed session.
It was inspired by resident, Chris, who was previously a member of The Parrett Community Shed before moving to Beauchamp House.
Chantal said: “Through conversations with Chris to learn about his personal interests and hobbies, we heard how much he enjoyed being part of The Parrett Community Shed. We wanted to start our own and were so pleased at the response we got from the other men who were excited to join in. The first meeting was such a huge success as the residents were chatting, singing, telling jokes, and having a laugh.”
During the first meeting, the residents made a wooden flower planter using pre-cut wooden pieces prepared by members of The Parrett Community Shed. Afterwards, the residents sat together to enjoy a beer and a chat while marvelling at their newly-made creations.
Meet the residents
Everything we do is with the residents’ best interests at heart to ensure they live happy, fulfilled lives in our care. Here we chat to some St Ives House residents to hear what they think of the care given to them.
What is the care like at St Ives House?
Jean said: “The care here is excellent. Both in the day and night. You couldn’t wish for anything better. You know when you go to your room at night that the staff will come in and check that you’re okay in bed. I went home after staying here for respite care and knew that I couldn’t manage there, so I came back.”
How does living at the care home give your family peace of mind?
Margaret said: “It’s an added feeling of security for my family that they know I’m alright, well looked after, and no harm will come to me. The staff are very kind and considerate, and you know that you can talk to them if something is bothering you.”
Chris, the resident who helped to create the Men’s Shed, said: “It was so nice to get together with the other residents and lovely to see Roy and Terry. I’ve enjoyed being part of a Men’s Shed again.”
There are around 900 Men’s Sheds across the UK which promote wellbeing while the members use their practical skills to build, fix and restore items.
Tell us the best bit about living in the care home?
Rosie said: “I had a fall and my family thought it would be better and safer if I came into a care home like this. Everybody’s very kind and helpful. The food is very good. Every Sunday we have a roast dinner and my favourite is fish and chips on a Friday. There’s lots of activities going on. It couldn’t be better.”
Watch the residents talk about life at St Ives House
105-year-old Jean tries Muay Thai
boxing
Maiden Castle House resident, Jean, who turned 105 this year, tried her hand at some boxing moves alongside the other residents at the care home.
The activity was arranged by Ashley Smith, Home Manager, in honour of Mental Health Awareness Week held in May. Ashley is keen for the residents to have access to a host of hobbies that they may not have tried before.
The centenarian was guided through a range of moves by Lee Grinrod, a former K1 World Champion, who now teaches K1 and Muay Thai at Valhalla Martial Arts based in Weymouth.
Speaking about her first-time trying boxing, Jean said: “I enjoyed it. I have never tried it before and never thought that I would try it, but if somebody suggests something different at the care home, I’m always ready to give it a chance.”
Asked what the secret is to reaching 105, as well as keeping active, Jean said: “Being happy with my life and believing that people are nice. I’ve got some lovely friends here.”
Dementia information session
St Ives House hosted a dementia information session for the relatives of residents led by Karen Hodges, Group Dementia Lead at Care South.
Karen spoke to the relatives about the symptoms that a person living with dementia may experience, along with an explanation of how the changes in the brain responsible for language and communication can be affected.
She went on to explain how people can adapt their own language and communication to continue having meaningful interactions with their loved ones. The session also gave the relatives the chance to chat to others and share their own experiences.
Karen said: “Everyone told me how beneficial the session was. They described it as giving them a fresh insight into behaviours that they have observed with their loved ones. One lady said that the session has given her a renewed confidence to interact more easily with her mum.”
These sessions are being held in more of our homes over the coming months.
Animal therapy
Kelloggs the mini horse, pictured at Fairlawn care home, is a well-known figure in many of our Dorset-based care homes. He meets the residents in the communal areas of each home and trots into their bedrooms to make sure that nobody misses out.
Loki the therapy cat visited Wickmeads with her owner Louise. Many of the home’s residents are cat-lovers and so were thrilled to meet Loki who enjoyed sitting on their laps.
The residents love welcoming animals into our care homes and going out to visit them in the community. Animals can provide a host of benefits to older people including boosting social opportunities, providing comfort, lowering blood pressure, and a release of dopamine, often known as the ‘happy hormone’.
Care South enjoys a partnership with Caring Canines. The charity brings therapy dogs into our care homes which provide a friendly face for the residents to see.
Dorset House residents took a trip to Longdown Activity Farm where they bottle-fed baby calves, met little lambs and held day-old chicks. They also looked for eggs in the chicken coops and made a fuss of horses, donkeys and pigs.
Castle Dene residents were thrilled to meet Len and Caramac the alpacas. Many of the residents’ faces lit up and they said that it had ‘Made their morning’ to see alpacas walking through the care home doors and into their bedrooms and communal lounges.
Kenwith Castle residents enjoy watching Bella the dog from Pets as Therapy doing her dog agility course in the garden of the care home. She recently entertained them at the home’s Time for a Cuppa event in aid of Dementia UK before coming inside to meet them for a fuss.
The Care South Stars Awards
Every year the team get together to celebrate the contribution they make to the lives of the residents in our care homes and clients in our care at home services.
Residents, relatives and colleagues from across the company are invited to put forward their nominations for individuals and teams who deserve to be recognised for their hard work and dedication to providing a consistently high level of care.
This year’s finalists were announced at a glittering awards ceremony at AFC Bournemouth’s Vitality Stadium. It’s always a great opportunity to reflect on the team’s achievements and feel inspired by their devotion to making each day special for the residents and care at home clients. Watch this year’s Stars Awards ceremony
Our valuesat the HEART of everything we do
Honesty
Always being open, truthful, consistent, and taking ownership of our own actions.
Excellence
Being determined to be the best we can be, and delivering quality care.
Approach
Treating everyone as an individual and focusing on their individual strengths and needs.
Respect
Recognising that everyone comes from a diverse background, with a variety of values and beliefs.
Teamwork
Working together to get things done, sharing information and supporting each other, understanding that everyone has a contribution to make.
Meet the residents Alan
Alan researched and visited a number of care homes with his loved ones before choosing Kenwith Castle care home in Devon.
He said: “It got too much for me to be at home so I came here. We did look at quite a lot of different care homes before I came here and the others were nothing like this. This has got everything I need and that’s why we kept coming back. We would speak to people walking around the grounds before we’d even made it into the care home. It was good to hear nice things about what happens here.”
Alan added: “The staff are very friendly. It’s just a lovely place to be. I’ve got a dual-aspect room, so I overlook the front of the home and the lake. I go out for a walk every morning just before I have my breakfast. When the weather is nice, you’ll find me outside as the grounds are beautiful and the lake is lovely.
“The staff check on you all the time to make sure you’re okay. If you want anything, you’ve got a buzzer to press so that the staff will come along and help.
“I always pop downstairs to see what’s going on and it’s just nice to see people having fun. The activities team are really good, and they organise a quiz night on a Friday night. That’s good, so I always make sure that I go to that.”
Watch Alan talk about life at Kenwith Castle care home
What makes Christmas at Care South so special?
Food
Mealtimes are a very important part of life in a Care South home and even more so at Christmas! Naturally, as we age our appetites reduce so we go the extra mile to keep residents interested in what they’re eating. That’s why at Christmas (and all year round!) we offer a varied menu and make sure there is always something for everyone to enjoy.
Fun
Christmas is always a very busy period for our homes with plenty of events and activities for family and friends to get involved in too. Some of the festivities included in each year’s calendar of events are wreath-making workshops, the big lights switch on across all our homes, Christmas jumper day, coffee mornings with AFC Bournemouth, ‘Elf Day’ for Alzheimer’s Society and our very own Christmas song competition!
Friendship
Christmas is the perfect time to strengthen relationships by embracing this magical time of year with loved ones. Being able to get together with others to appreciate the nostalgic moments associated with Christmas can be a warm and humbling experience, which residents and staff look forward to each year.
A big part of Christmas of course is the gift of giving! The act of showing appreciation by giving someone a present has a positive effect on your physical and mental health. That’s why our homes start their morning on the 25th December with a visit from Father Christmas, whose helpers hand out individual presents (and sherry!) to each resident to make them feel special.
It’s never too early to think about Christmas! Speak to our friendly team about how we can help.
21 Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Throop Road, Bournemouth BH8 0DB 01202 394000 hcbournemouth@care-south.co.uk
22 Somerset South Street, Crewkerne TA18 8AB 01460 270500 hccrewkerne@care-south.co.uk
23 West Dorset Poundbury, Dorchester DT1 3EN 01305 233103 westdorset@care-south.co.uk
