Avery Life Magazine - Issue 4

TALKING TO YOU NOT ABOUT YOU

NOTES ON

NOSTALGIA

PERENNIALLY

PERFECT

JULIE WALTERS

MYSTERIOUS

MYTHS

OLDER & BRIGHTER

HEALTHY

HABITS

A DVI CE | H EALTH & W ELLN ES S | ENTERTAI NMENT | N EWS

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Autumn Colours Is it really Autumn already? It feels like only a few short months ago that we were working through the difficulties of 2020. Although still full of challenges, I’m delighted to say that 2021 has been a much more positive year for people in our care and the sector as a whole. The changing air and colours of Autumn give me a sense of renewal, and I’m delighted to be able to share this collection of articles from the last few months from Avery care homes and Hawthorns independent living apartments.

There has been a tangible sense of family and community across our homes in recent months. Having been closed to visitors for so long due to the Covid-19 government restrictions, the warmth, happiness and buzz of families coming back together has been a delight. Thanks to the vaccine, residents, relatives, and staff are all relieved to be living more ‘normally’ now. I must extend my thanks to all staff at Avery care homes, the majority of whom have taken the double vaccination. Our vaccine uptake percentage is well above the sector average, and we will be losing very few staff in November when the government’s mandatory ‘no jab, no job’ comes into law. Our staff are our family, and we are thankful for the minimal disruption the change will bring to us and the residents who are very fond of their staff.

It gives me great pleasure to share with you in this edition of Avery Life stories of how our care home environments have been giving back to carers via a fundraising campaign for The Care Workers’ Charity.

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Avery is a Gold sponsor of this important charity, and each year the homes dive into activities to raise much-needed funds for care workers who fall on hard times. This year was ‘Going the Extra Mile’, which saw some of the homes racing around their gardens in inflatable horses, challenging themselves to Sir-Tomstyle walkathons, and a team from our Group Support Centre donned their walking boots to complete a Hadrian’s Wall Trek.

There has certainly been a strong theme of ‘helping others’. Once Going the Extra Mile challenge was complete, the homes embraced Macmillan Coffee Mornings, Mental Health Awareness Day, and Thank You Day. Perhaps we all feel so grateful for the support and camaraderie everyone has shown recently that we are keen to give back to those around us.

I hope you enjoy the articles this Autumn, including some insight into what our ambassador, Sherrie Hewson, does for us when she’s in front of the camera.

As ever, if you have any questions about Avery care homes or Hawthorn’s independent living, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We are here to help.

All the best,

Sharon

Sharon Winfield, Chief Operating Officer, Avery Healthcare

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CONTENTS

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| English Rose... Julie Walters

20

| On Set with Sherrie Hewson

22

| It’s All Greek to Us!

50

| Blooming Marvelous

42

‘Hair’ Apparent

58 | Family Getaway 56

| Technology at Avery

72 | Christmas Gift Guide for Grandchildren is produced by:

66 | Mental Health Awareness

80 | Old Age, New Start

90 | Hospitality Assured...

The Hawthorns

®Care Home Publications Limited

FOR ALL ADVERTISING AND EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES PLEASE CONTACT: andy.clark@carehomepublications.com

A family business, GFF was started in 2007

by Greg Forino. In addition to commercial properties, we specialise in residential flooring, operating from our Stansted showroom and Northampton office, catering for all residential requirements.

We are delighted to have been involved in the completion of the recent project, Avery Park as well as major refurbishments to South Lodge, Miramar and many more within the Avery family. In addition to these refurbishments, we also take care of the general day to day replacements within the care homes.

We work directly with our selected manufacturers to offer the best flooring at the best prices and opt for sustainable companies wherever possible. Some of our preferred suppliers include Ted Todd Wood Flooring, Jacaranda Carpets, Westex Carpets, Kahrs Flooring, Cormar Carpets, Amtico, Karndean, Crucial Trading and many more.

We are proud to have an excellent reputation with building firms, architects and private customers throughout the UK and Channel Islands, supplying and installing top-quality flooring products with a strong focus on friendly and efficient customer service.

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solutions to their construction queries throughout the entire wood for more than 160 years. cycle of their project.

One of the oldest yet more innovative manufactures of engiWith a strong and expansive team of craftsmen and neered wood floors in the world, project managers behind them, Shortgrove Renovation & have been trying, testing Construction can guide you through a varietyKarhs of different and succeeding when it comes services to transform your property: to flooring for generations and generations, yet their goal has Home Automation always been the same; how to make their floors even better When it comes to managing your home, there is no looking, stronger, easier to install simpler solution than home automation, especially when and more sustainable. it’s executed by Shortgrove’s trusted supplier, Tillman Domotics. The two companies work hand in hand to install discreet and innovative technology into a client’s home, transforming the security of the property while never deducting from the overall appearance of it, even within listed properties where antiquity must be preserved.

Offering a range of bespoke systems, Shortgrove can offer more than you could ever imagine from cinema installation and communication systems to CCTV and remote monitoring. When it comes to security, Shortgrove offer a bountiful selection.

Gym and Spa Another of Shortgrove’s trusted suppliers is Escape Fitness, an innovative and global gym provider renowned for their motto of encouraging their clients to escape their limits. Their passion for high quality exercise equipment is infectious, and Shortgrove work alongside Escape Fitness to provide their clients with the luxury of exercising safely and effectively from the comfort of their own home.

And what home is complete without somewhere warm and bubbly to relax at the end of the day? If you’re looking at add something special to your property, look no further than Shortgrove’s luxury spa and steam room designs.

Ted Todd Wood Flooring From bathtubs to saunas, Shortgrove’s network of reliable will ensure that you’ll be to experienceisthe The UK´s leading wood floor company; great designs and aproviders deep-rooted commitment toable sustainability at the highest calibre of at-home relaxation possible.

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The intergenerational wealth transfer – how to plan for it There comes a time in our lives when we turn our thoughts to what we want to leave behind for our loved ones. Unfortunately, HMRC can become the largest benefactor. In 2019/20, HMRC collected over £5.2 billion in Inheritance Tax (IHT) receipts, and it is likely that more estates will now be subject to IHT as properties continue to increase in value, and investments and cash savings build up.

Thankfully, all is not lost. There are a variety of different financial planning options to consider in order to potentially mitigate some or all of this liability.

Firstly, establishing a will ensures that your estate is distributed in accordance with your wishes. If you have one in place already, it is worth reviewing this every two to three years.

It is also worthwhile reviewing the available gift allowances. As a reminder, you can gift up to £3,000 each tax year to whomever you wish and, if the previous tax years’ annual gift allowance is unused, this can be carried forward. There are also certain gift allowances for marriages/ civil partnerships, and you can also make recurring, or habitual, gifts out of excess income to family or friends providing that it does not impact your current standard of living.

Whilst these are useful allowances, they may not be sufficient alone to reduce larger IHT liabilities: 1. Life cover written into trust could be one valuable option. The main benefit of writing life cover into trust is that the

lump sum payment falls outside of your estate for IHT purposes and is usually paid out quickly.

2. Making large outright gifts could be suitable if affordable, but they do run the risk of being caught by HMRC. Gifts to individuals are known as ‘Potentially Exempt Transfers’ and only fall outside your estate if you survive seven years. If you do not, the value of the initial gift is brought back into your estate for IHT purposes, with any potential IHT liability on the gift payable by the recipient(s).

3. If you are comfortable making an outright gift but would prefer to retain some control over how the capital is invested and distributed to your intended beneficiaries, you may wish to consider a trust arrangement. Whilst trusts do require ongoing monitoring and administration by the trustees and, admittedly, can have rather complex tax structures, they provide bloodline protection for your loved ones and would fall outside of your estate either immediately, or after seven years (depending on the type

of trust chosen). The trustees control how the assets are managed and distributed, which can help reduce the worries over money being spent unwisely if gifted directly.

4. Lastly, should you prefer to retain full control of your hard-earned money, you could consider investing into certain AIM-listed or unquoted companies.

This is a relatively simple option with no complex legal structures that aim to fall outside of your estate after just two years, as opposed to seven. However, your capital would be at risk and it may fall in value.

With IHT planning there is no ‘one size fits all’ solution. It very much depends on your personal circumstances and objectives, and may involve a mixture of the aforementioned options. IHT planning, ideally, requires periodic ‘sense checks’ to ensure that the arrangements remain suitable.

If you are to take anything away from this article, we would suggest that it is this; the earlier plans are put in place, the better.

If you would like more information on Cave & Sons and our investment management services, please get in touch using the contact details on the opposite page.

Cave & Sons Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Financial Services Register number 143715. Tax and Estate Planning Services are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The value of an investment and the income generated from it can go down as well as up, and is not guaranteed, therefore you may not get back the amount originally invested This communication is for general information only and is not intended to be individual product/investment advice, tax or legal advice. The views expressed in this article are those of Cave & Sons and should not be considered as advice or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a particular investment or product. You are recommended to seek professional regulated advice before taking any action.

QUINTESSENTIALLY ENGLISH

JW

ulie alters

Born in Edgbaston, England on February 22, 1950, Julie Mary Walters was the youngest of three children and the only daughter of Irish-born postal clerk Mary Bridget’s and Thomas Walters, a builder from Birmingham.

She expressed a desire to act from an early age, but her strong-willed mother disagreed and pushed her towards a nursing career. Reluctantly applying to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, the acting bug eventually became too strong, and Julie walked away from her medical career.

Studying English and Drama at Manchester Polytechnic, she joined the Everyman Theatre Company in Liverpool and began performing stand-up comedy, making her London stage debut in ‘Funny Peculiar’ in 1975.

Teaming up with writer and comedienne Victoria Wood, the duo appeared together in sketch comedy, and some of their most famous works were transferred to television, receiving rave reviews. Eventually, the twosome landed their own TV series ‘Wood and Walters’ in 1981.

In 1980, Julie enjoyed huge solo success in Willy Russell’s ‘Educating Rita’, winning both the Variety Critic’s and the London Critic’s Circle Awards. In 1993 it was transferred to television, and Julie starred on the big

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screen alongside Michael Caine, collecting a BAFTA, a Golden Globe Award, and an Oscar nomination.

Movies included Personal Services in 1987, Buster with Phil Collins in 1988 and Stepping Out in 1991. In 1998 she began appearing in Victoria Wood’s comedy show ‘Dinnerladies’ in which she played Petula opposite Shobna Gulati, Anne Reid and Celia Imrie. In 1999, her services to acting landed her with an OBE before it was raised to CBE in 2008.

2001 saw Julie awarded a Laurence Olivier Award for Arthur Miller’s ‘All My Sons’. She then won a BAFTA and an Oscar nomination for portraying the abrasively stern but encouraging dance teacher in ‘Billy Elliot’ opposite Jamie Bell. The same year Walters began her portrayal of Molly Weasley, the matriarch of the Weasley family, in the Harry Potter series. She went on to star in every movie in the series, except Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, and was voted by the BBC as the second ‘Best Screen Mother’ in 2003.

In 2001, she ranked first in the Orange Film Survey of Greatest British Films actresses before appearing alongside Helen Mirren, and Ciaran Hinds in the Golden Globe-nominated ‘Calendar Girls’ in 2003.

During the summer of 2006, Walters published her first novel, Maggie’s Tree, which followed a group of English actors in Manhattan. It was published

by Weidenfeld & Nicolson and is described as “a disturbing and thought-provoking novel about mental torment and the often blackly comic, mixed-up ways we view ourselves and misread each other.”. Another reviewer, Susan Jeffreys, in The Independent, described the novel as “the work of a writer who knows what she’s doing. There’s nothing tentative about the writing, and Walters brings her experiences as an actress to bear on the page. ... you do have the sensation of entering someone else’s mind and of looking through someone else’s eyes.”

In more recent years, Julie portrayed Mrs Bird, the Brown’s Housekeeper, in the critically acclaimed Paddington and reprised the role in Paddington 2 in 2017, which also received critical acclaim. Mary Poppins Returns and The Secret Garden with Colin Firth are some of her more recent triumphs. Due to a difficult struggle with stage III bowel cancer, Julie had to be cut out of certain scenes in The Secret Garden but thankfully entered remission. She has since stepped back from large and demanding acting roles but will be returning for Mamma Mia 3! which is currently in production.

Walters’ relationship with Grant Roffey, an Automobile Association patrolman, began after a whirlwind romance. The couple have one daughter, Maisie Mae Roffey, who was born in 1998. Julie took a 7-year break from acting to look after Maisie when she contracted leukaemia at the age of two. The couple married in 1997 and now live on an organic farm run by Roffey near Plaistow, West Sussex.

With an illustrious career spanning over five decades, her passionate, down-to-earth portrayals on screen, stage, and television, as well as her infectious spirit and self-deprecating sense of humour, Julie Walters is a true English icon.

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THE BATTLE of the BINGE As the frostier weather settles in, hibernation season is nearly upon us, meaning we all tend to have a lot more quality time with our televisions. Strong viewing material is a comfort, and why we have rounded up our top picks of the best TV shows to cosy up with over the coming months.

Stay Close Starring: Cush Jumbo, John Nesbitt, Poppy Gilbert, Bethany Antonia, Richard Armitage, Jo Joyner, Daniel Francis Where to watch? Netflix An adaptation of Harlan Coben’s #1 New York Times bestselling novel of the same name, Stay Close, is the author’s fourth Netflix adaptation with The Stranger, Safe, and The Five already triumphing. Cush Jumbo and John Nesbitt star in his latest thriller. The eight-part drama follows three people living comfortable lives who conceal dark secrets that even those nearest them would never suspect. Megan; a working mother of three, Ray; the once-promising documen-

tary photographer, now stuck in a dead-end job, and Broome, a detective who is unable to let go of a missing person case. An old friend from Megan’s past delivers some shocking news that will impact the trio, and as the past comes back to haunt them, threatening to ruin their lives and the lives of those around them, what will be their next move?

The Unlikely Murderer Starring: Robert Gustafsson, Joel Spira, Emil Almén, Shanti Roney Where to watch? Netflix This five-part Scandi drama is based on the award-winning book of the same name, written

by Thomas Pettersson. The fictional series is an interpretation of how Stig Engström, the graphic designer who was named as the most likely murderer of Sweden’s prime minister Olaf Palme, managed to avoid justice right up to his death through a combination of audacity, luck, and a bewildered police force. Engström did everything wrong from the beginning, and almost no one believed his lies about what really happened on that fateful night in 1986 in Stockholm, so how did the police let him get away?

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Do you have questions about dementia?

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Registered charity numbers - 1077089 & SCO42474

The Beatles: Get Back Starring: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr Where to watch? Disney+ This six-hour documentary, split into three episodes, features the band’s last live performance as a group at Apple Corps HQ on Savile Row, shown for the first time in its entirety. Director, Peter Jackson has spent the last three years restoring and editing 56 hours of unseen footage and over 150 hours of unheard audio captured in 1969 when The Beatles recorded their album, Let It Be. The documentary contests long-time assertions that the original project was entirely marked by illfeeling and that the friendship between the group had dissipated.

All Creatures Great and Small: Season Two Starring: Nicholas Ralph, Rachel Shenton, Callum Woodhouse, Anna Madeley Where to watch? Channel 5 Based on James Herriot’s real-life memoirs, Nicholas Ralph stars as Herriot, a newly trained vet who moved from Glasgow to the Yorkshire Dales to work for Siegfried Farnon in the village of Darrowby. As soon as he arrives, he falls head-over-heels for local woman Helen Alderson, who’s already engaged to be married.

However, following the dramatic Christmas special last year, James returns to the Yorkshire Dales after spending Easter back in Scotland, deciding whether to stay or take a job at his old mentor’s practice in Glasgow.

Colin in Black & White Starring: Jaden Michael, Nick Offerman, Mary-Louise Parker Where to watch? Netflix Co-created and executive produced by Selma director, Ava Duvernay and Colin Kaepernick, the series follows Kaepernick’s experience as the

black adopted child of a white family. Colin, a former National Football League (NFL) quarterback, and the first sportsperson to take the knee to protest racial injustice narrates the story, bringing you on an astounding journey through his own eyes. He shares how he lacked guidance growing up on navigating some of the negative experiences he went through as a person of colour. Through the series, Colin and Ava hope to inspire people to examine their own origin stories.

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T: 01761 422198 M: 07393 765864 W: www.halsall.co.uk E: adam.davies@halsall.co.uk

TRUSTWORTHY, INNOVATIVE, FAMILY-OWNED CONSTRUCTION & DEVELOPMENT GROUP Halsall is an established South West construction and development business with over 40 years of experience delivering quality projects in the care and retirement living sector

As an approachable and dynamic construction partner,

WE ARE COMMITTED TO BUILDING STRONG COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIPS AND PRODUCING TOP QUALITY, AWARD WINNING PROJECTS. Our focus on customer satisfaction throughout the lifecycle of a project, ensures customers trust us to deliver time and time again.

WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON OUR FLEXIBLE AND COLLABORATIVE APPROACH TO BUSINESS.

We have had repeat business within the care and retirement living sector due to our strong, long lasting reputation and relationship with our valued customers.

Halsall Construction is a regional contractor trusted to deliver high quality construction solutions.

The care homes we have constructed don’t feel like care homes. They provide a luxury and high level environment. The design and layouts are created to ensure that the residents still feel like they retain an element of independence within a controlled environment.

GREAT CONSTRUCTION & GREAT RELATIONSHIPS!

We have successfully completed a number of care and retirement living projects throughout the region, of which we are extremely proud and look forward to building on our already excellent reputation in this sector.

Nothing beats a

GOOD BOOK

The season of reading is upon us, where there is nothing quite like curling up with a good book. From emerging to established authors and from short stories to politics,

we’ve got you covered. So, if you’re in the market for your next book, here’s our selection of the best page-turners. Sit back, relax, and get stuck in.

Oh William! by Elizabeth Strout

The Dark Remains by William McIlvanney and Ian Rankin

In this sizzling crime prequel, New York Times best-selling author Ian Rankin and Scottish crime-writing legend William McIlvanney join forces for the first-ever case of DI Laidlaw, Glasgow’s original gritty detective.

When Mcllvanney died in 2005, he left a handwritten manuscript setting out DC Laidlaw’s, the scourge of 70s gangland Glasgow, first case. Scotland’s leading contemporary crime novelist, Ian Rankin, one of the few who could live up to Mcllvanney’s tales, finished it… and here it is.

The Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times bestselling author trails the enduring bond between a divorced couple in a moving novel about love, loss, and the family secrets that can explode and bemuse us at any point in life.

Elizabeth Strout has captured readers’ hearts with her exquisite insights on family, relationships, and loss for many years.

Strout’s iconic heroine Lucy Barton, of My Name Is Lucy Barton, recounts her complex, tender relationship with William, her first husband and long-time, on-again-offagain friend and confidant. Strout’s portrayal, can only be described as stunning in its subtlety, remembering their time through college, the birth of their daughters, the painful ending of their marriage, and the futures they formed with other people.

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The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman This is the second gripping novel in the recordbreaking million-copy bestselling Thursday Murder Club series

by Richard Osman, soon to be a major motion picture from Steven Spielberg at Amblin Entertainment.

Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron, and Ibrahim—the Thursday Murder Club— are still riding high off their recent real-life murder case and are looking forward to a bit of peace and quiet at Cooper’s Chase, their fancy retirement village. But things don’t go quite to plan. An unexpected visitor arrives in need of help. Later that night, a body is found, but it is not the last. The group is against a brutal murderer who wouldn’t bat an eyelid at knocking off four septuagenarians. Can these four friends catch the killer before the killer catches them?

Life Without Children by Roddy Doyle These ten short stories about isolation and connections of life during the pandemic from Irish author, Roddy Doyle offer a brilliantly warm, witty, and poignant portrait of the recent years.

Love and marriage. Children and family. Death and grief. Life touches everyone the same. But living under lockdown, changes us alone. Booker Prize winner Roddy Doyle paints a collective picture of our strange times told with his extraordinary eye for the richness that underpins the quiet of our lives. Life Without Children touches the heart and reminds us how we are all navigating loss, loneliness, and the shifting of history underneath our feet.

Chief of Staff: Notes from Downing Street

by Gavin Barwell The former aide to Theresa May reveals in his own words, ‘what really went on in the corridors of power’ from Brexit to Trump and the ways that the government operates ‘in times of crisis’.

Since the EU referendum of 2016, British politics has experienced crisis after crisis. Most turbulent of all had to be Theresa May’s time in office. In her darkest hour, she turned to Gavin Barwell to restore her authority.

He became her chief of staff for the next two years, working alongside her during Brexit negotiations and intense political dramas. In this riveting memoir, Barwell sheds light on May, the most enigmatic of modern prime ministers.

Snow Country by Sebastian Faulks Set in Vienna in between the first and second world wars, this novel uncovers individual tales of love and longing at a time of historic upheaval.

Snow Country tells the story of Lena, a girl born with nothing but her strength of character to an alcoholic mother in a small town in southern Austria in 1906, and Anton, the restless son of a middle-class family who sets out to make his fortune in pre-First World War Vienna. As it recovers from one war and hides its face from the coming of another, Snow Country is a story of the dreams of youth and the sanctity of hope.

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On Set

WITH SHERRIE There’s nothing like a touch of celebrity to help bring a marketing video to life. Residents at Droitwich Mews Care Home had an interesting day watching our ambassador, TV actress and media personality, Sherrie Hewson, film at the home. She arrived on a bright, autumn day, and we quickly got to work setting up the camera equipment, lighting and walking Sherrie through the set.

Sherrie has been Avery’s ambassador for 3 years, and is passionate about the senior adult social sector and is a prominent voice in the quest for quality care for those needing support in the senior years. It’s a close relationship where she actively engages with our residents and brand values to make a difference.

Using film to showcase our homes has become a popular communication method and is well received by our new families. Without leaving the

comfort of an armchair, viewers can take a tour of our buildings and get a sense of the high-quality fixtures and fittings, textures, and colours. Sherrie adds her own personal style to these films by talking us through what really makes the home – the people, the care, and the community.

On set, with a comfortable lounge or busy kitchen behind her, we capture Sherrie talking about the dining environments and how Avery chefs can modify foods to meet individual’s needs. She places a lot of emphasis on explaining to the viewer the importance of community within the home. For example, this could be showing our intergenerational links with schools, how local hairdressers use the facilities and information about Avery homes’ involvement in all sorts of local and national fundraising and community activities.

Closing the film, Sherrie says, “Coming to live with new neighbours at Avery care homes doesn’t mean the end of enjoying your old life outside.

It’s a place where new relationships can be built, and old relationships can flourish, but all in the safe knowledge that the environment is safe and care is available 24 hours a day to meet your needs, now and ongoing as your needs change. Speak to the team today – I can tell you they are all wonderful people and completely understand the journey you are on. Ask lots of questions – they can help you with advice about funding through to lots of detail about the home, residential or nursing care, dementia care and short-term respite care if you need a break… but better than anything is to get a feel for the home yourself. Come and meet the home manager and the team, and some of the wonderful residents who live here. That’s the right way to help you make a decision that is right for you and your loved one.” We couldn’t put it better ourselves!

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Harniss is an established Mechanical and Electrical Consultancy and Installation contractor, delivering high quality projects in the residential, care and retirement living sectors. We pride ourselves on our collaborative and open approach resulting in repeat business and strong working relationships with all of our valued clients.

23 Paterson Road, Finedon Road Industrial Estate, Wellingborough, Northants NN8 4BZ 01933 636850

Info@harniss.co.uk

WWW.harniss.co.uk

IT’S ALL

TO US! Greek mythology has beguiled and entertained us for thousands of years; before Homer Simpson, there was just plain old Homer, he of the Illiad and the Odyssey fame. The myths perform an aetiological function, solving the world’s mysteries and explaining significant cultural or natural phenomena. Ancient Rome had its version too; Ovid’s Metamorphoses and the epic poems of Virgil served the Romans didactic fables and allegories. The etymology of many of our words, and some of our phrases, can be traced back to Ancient Greece and Rome.

The tale of Persephone is one of the best origin stories; she was the daughter of two of the twelve gods of Mount Olympus. Demeter, goddess of the crops (Roman name Ceres, from which we derive the word cereal), was her mother. Persephone’s father was Zeus (Jupiter to the Romans), King of the gods and Demeter’s brother – these gods really should have had a reality tv show. Persephone was the goddess of vegetation and springtime and Queen of the Underworld. One

fine day Hades (Pluto), King of the Underworld, stole her away in his chariot and hid her in his realm.

Meanwhile, Demeter searched high and low for her beloved daughter, months passed, and no crops grew as Demeter neglected her duties out of grief. Finally, the sun Titan, Helios, turned informer and told Zeus what he had witnessed. Zeus demanded that Hades return Persephone to the upper realm, as the gods were fed up with the mortals wailing and lamenting about the famine. Before she returned, Hades persuaded Persephone to share some pomegranate seeds. It was an Underworld decree that whoever tasted the fruit of hell must never return to the mortal world.

Since Zeus wasn’t one to be angered, and as she had only eaten six seeds, it was agreed that Persephone would spend six months with Hades and six months with Demeter back on the surface. So, every year when Persephone went to Hades, the earth was barren and the people of Greece had to rely on canned goods (or not), and when those six months were up, Persephone returned to her mother, Demeter made the earth fecund again and the crops grew. That is how and why, according to Greek mythology, we have the seasons.

Rachel Carr lives in Norwich with her boyfriend of 17 years, Sean, and their tabby and white cat, Walter - who is her best boy. After graduating with an English degree, aged 45, she is beginning a new career as a writer. She once wrote an essay about Greek mythology, and her tutor quite liked it, so she thought she would share what she has learnt. She loves animals and nature, books, and laughing at silly things on the internet.

She also enjoys drinking cocktails, but not too many - they’re expensive - with friends, and her older siblings.

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Myths are more than just entertainment.

They reflect our history, imagination, curiosity and fears. Different cultures have their own versions, of course.

In Norse mythology, it was Odin, and in Chinese mythology it’s Yuhuang Shangdi, The Jade Emperor.

Despite the different gods and deities, common threads running through all mythologies; themes of jealousy, pride, hubris, fate and vengeance, and, of course, metamorphoses. Greek gods were always changing into different animals to trick or pursue mortals, and they often changed mortals into creatures as punishment or pity. When Arachne hanged herself, ashamed at her own hubris, by arrogantly challenging the goddess Athena to a weave-off, the goddess took pity on her and turned her into a spider, the very first arachnid, so she could spin and weave until her heart’s content. The morals of these stories have echoed through the ages, evolving for the times and sometimes under the titles of fairy tales, folklore, and plays. Ovid’s Metamorphoses is one of the most influential works of literature. Shakespeare wrote his own version of the doomed Babylonian lovers Pyramus and Thisbe, naming Romeo and Juliet his ill-fated lovers.

also told creation myths, which religion is rooted in swapping pomegranate seeds for Eve’s apple and Elysium for heaven.

In recent times, Rudyard Kipling told us the origins of How the Elephant got his Trunk, but myths give us the beginnings of the cosmos, and they reach for the stars, immortalising people and animals into constellations.

They personified fate by making it into three goddesses, who portion out life.

There are several lighthearted ways to ingest the Greek myths, and no one needs to spend their time reading epic poetry unless they want to. Stephen Fry has written a lively and fast-paced read on Mythos, and its followup Heroes. For a bit of humour and leaving the patriarchy behind, the poems of Carol Ann Duffy in The World’s Wife view the myths through the female perspective of their male counterparts of mythical, fictional, biblical or historical figures. Her poems Mrs Midas and Pygmalion’s Bride are particularly recommended.

Humankind has always looked to myths and legends to explain behaviour; and to look for signs and symbols in nature to mirror their own lives. We have always asked questions, why is there thunder and lightning? Why are ravens black (ask Apollo!)? We also use the myths as cautionary tales, like ‘don’t fly too close to the sun’ (the story of Icarus getting a bit too ambitious).

Hans Christian Anderson and The Brothers Grimm are masters of didactic storytelling, but the Ancient Greeks

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SUSTAINABLE

SEATING

In a bid to transition to more sustainable methods of manufacturing furniture, new Avery care home builds are implementing ethical furniture into their homes, which sees pieces crafted quite literally from tree to chair, with each step of the journey taking sustainability and environmental concerns into consideration.

the needs of each market sector we serve specifically. Our success is built upon a commitment to meeting and exceeding the needs of our customers and confirming their trust. Not only in terms of quality and comfort but also in terms of style and functionality.”

Sustainability and ethical manufacturing are at the heart of all jobs at Knightsbridge Furniture.

For every acre of forest cut down for wood supply, two further acres are planted in its place. All offcuts and waste used throughout the process

With years of experience crafting innovative and design-led British contract furniture, Knightsbridge Furniture in Bradford, West Yorkshire, offers a range of bespoke furniture for healthcare, hospitality, care homes, workplaces, and challenging environments underpinned by a deep understanding of sector needs.

“We are one of very few British contract furniture companies to invest in an in-house design and development team, allowing us to commit to British market-led design. Many of our products have been designed and developed following extensive research working closely with customers, allowing us to meet

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Avery Healthcare

For every acre of forest cut down for wood supply, two further acres are planted in its place.

are burned onsite and used as a source to heat the factory, creating an almost zero waste operation. In addition, every product is handmade to an excellent standard, rather than imported.

Having recently taken a tour of the fascinating factory in Yorkshire, Neil Stanway of Kilworth Flooring & Furnishing Company Ltd commented, “We are delighted to be supporting companies such as Avery Healthcare. Our design team is working closely with organisations to provide quality UK made furniture, with a sustainable and ethical back story.”

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HEALTHY

HABITS for seniors As we get older, tuning in to how we feel and embracing new habits becomes more essential as our bodies change.

Being more mindful and adopting healthy lifestyles can boost the immune system, improve our mood, and keep our bones and muscles strong for many years to come.

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SWEET DREAMS

TAKE IT EASY Stress affects us mentally, physically, and emotionally. Our capacity to deal with stress tends to decrease as we mature, and prolonged stress in the elderly can result in low spirits, memory loss, fatigue, hypertension, and heart-related issues.

Stress also reduces our body’s immunity and makes us more vulnerable to disease. Effective methods to alleviate stress include listening to music, being active, meditation, talking to someone, and simple breathing exercises.

Our body repairs itself as we sleep, which is why it is crucial that we get 7 to 9 hours of rest every night.

Having enough sleep helps your immune system grow stronger and improves memory and concentration.

Frequent waking in the night and insomnia are common among seniors. Therefore, it is recommended to turn down the lights before bedtime and create a comfortable, peaceful, and quiet space to promote a pleasant night’s sleep. An inadequate amount of quality rest can lead to increased memory issues, irritability, and a higher risk of falling.

KEEP MOVING Regular exercise helps boost our mood, controls weight, keeps our body strong, and helps with insomnia. Staying active by doing light exercise such as walking can positively affect our health if completed regularly. Try walking for 30 minutes every day, 15 minutes twice each day, or 10 minutes 3 times a day. When we exercise consistently, it puts us at less risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. In addition to walking, other activities that you could try are dancing, gardening, fishing or yoga.

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WE ARE WHAT WE EAT Preserving an ideal weight and following a balanced, nutritious diet can lower the risk of being diagnosed with chronic health conditions such as heart disease and diabetes. We need more fibre as digestion becomes slower over the years. Drinking enough water every day and eating high-fibre fruits and vegetables, as well as whole-grain foods, is fundamental.

Another suggestion for easier digestion is to add delicious smoothies, soups, and other moist meals to your everyday diet.

Consulting your doctor is pivotal to be more educated about your specific nutritional requirements since they may vary from person to person.

THE PROS KNOW BEST Always speak with your doctor if you have concerns about your health. Schedule regular check-ups with your GP, as conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure can often go undetected.

Additionally, if you have any cold or flu symptoms, see your doctor immediately.

Our immune systems weaken with age, and viruses can lead to serious complications over the age of 65.

YOUR BRAIN NEEDS TO WORK OUT, TOO Executive function is a set of mental skills that we use in our daily lives, such as attention, retention, memory, organising and planning. To prevent these skills from gradually declining, certain activities can stimulate our minds and become helpful in keeping our brains active every day. Learning a new language, playing a musical instrument, reading a book, or even taking dance lessons are mentally stimulating activities we can enjoy in our free time. Similarly, playing brain games such as chess, crossword puzzles, or Sudoku can also be beneficial and fun!

There are several ways to maintain a healthy, joyful lifestyle as we age. Adopting new, suitable habits, following the correct diet and understanding our bodies enables a basis for positive growth, allowing us to feel better mentally and physically as time passes.

MAKE SURE TO MINGLE Socialising is a commonly overlooked healthy habit, although it is considerably more complicated to do so during these difficult times. Spending time with friends and family members whilst following safety measures can boost happiness and quality of life, providing mental and physical benefits. Maintaining social connections and interactions, even virtually, can also help reduce stress and feelings of despair.

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Avery Healthcare

AVERY HEALTHCARE JOINS

#FairKitchens MOVEMENT

As advocates of fairness, development and support in the workplace, Avery’s Simon Lawrence and Gareth Cartledge recently joined as ‘friends’ of the #FairKitchens movement, cofounded by Unilever in 2018.

The movement promotes a positive working environment that reflects on values, people and communities. Simon Lawrence, Avery’s Head of Culinary and Hospitality, and Gareth Cartledge, Avery’s Regional Culinary and Hospitality Manager, are now encouraging Avery chefs across the business to join the movement too.

Alongside showing their dedication to the cause, ‘friends’ of the campaign are also supported with downloadable starter kits when they join so they can share their involvement with their own networks.

The #FairKitchens website also provides advice and tips from other chefs and training videos to make the workplace a more resilient and sustainable place.

To join the movement is as vital as ever; in fact, the foodservice industry has been among the sectors hit hardest by the pandemic. Research by Unilever Food Solutions conducted in 2017* already revealed a severe well-being issue within professional kitchens: 74% of chefs were sleep-deprived to the point of exhaustion; 63% of chefs felt depressed, and more than half felt pushed to the breaking point.

Members are encouraged to share their experiences using #FairKitchens on social media whilst simultaneously spreading awareness on the cause.

The Fair Kitchen website provides valuable training, tips, and guides to further support chefs in the sector.

We look forward to continuing the work to create a healthy kitchen culture. *Source: Unilever Food Solutions (2016-2017) – findings from qual and quant research conducted in Brazil, Indonesia. China, US, UK 30

Market-leading pay rates Supportive induction programme Career development with apprenticeship opportunities Workplace pension Discounts for retailers, restaurants, and days out Paid holiday

A V E R Y

H E A L T H C A R E

Join Our Team Our ambition is simple. To provide the very best care and a fulfilling life to all our residents within a warm and friendly community - the most important part of this aspiration is you!

We are seeking high-quality people to join our enthusiastic and dedicated team. Whether you join as an experienced professional or this will be your first job within the care sector, we are committed to your continual learning and development, regardless of role.

• Care, Senior Care & Well-being • Office Support & Management • • Catering, Housekeeping & Maintenance •

Staff well-being programme Refer a friend & refer a resident benefits

Avery Healthcare Group 3 Cygnet Drive | Swan Valley Northampton | NN4 9BS

Visit averyhealthcare.co.uk/careers for more information

Avery Healthcare

International Year of Health & Care Workers Appointed by the World Health Organisation (WHO), 2021 has been dubbed the year dedicated to Health and Care Workers across the world – a poignant and timely tribute after what has been a difficult and challenging period in the sector.

At the beginning of 2021, WHO launched a year-long campaign under the theme: Protect, Invest, Together, which “highlights the urgent need to invest in health workers for shared dividends in health, jobs, economic opportunity and equity.”

PROTECT Health and care workers have protected the world during Covid-19, so we have a moral obligation to protect them too.

INVEST The world is facing a global shortage of health workers. We must invest in education and jobs to protect the world from disease and achieve universal health coverage.

TOGETHER We all have a role to play to ensure that our health and care workforces are supported, protected, motivated and equipped to deliver safe health care at all times, not only during COVID-19.

CELEBRATING AVERY CARE WORKERS By way of celebration and as a thank you for all the work that has been evident throughout the pandemic, our care workers have been treated to boxes of chocolates and a special letter of thanks, reiterating that their hard work is greatly appreciated not only by Avery but by our residents and their families too.

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Avery Healthcare

Royal British Legion Launches

Centenary Cookbook As part of the Royal British Legion’s Centenary, the Cooking With Heroes: The Royal British Legion Centenary Cookbook has been launched to highlight the Royal British Legion’s (RBL’s) contribution and the British Armed Forces over the last 100 years.

Written by serving military personnel and veterans, it marks the centenary by celebrating 100 regions worldwide in which the RBL has operated – from Antrim to Australia, Guyana to Glasgow, Swansea to Singapore. An authentic and delicious recipe represents each region, as well as a profile of a regional hero whose valour, conduct and commitment deserves to be remembered.

James’ House, has worked on two previous bestselling charity cookbooks – one for Help For Heroes in 2009 and another celebrating the centenary of the Royal Air Force in 2017. Continuing this history of helping the military to raise funds for the military, the book features a team of writers from across the Royal Navy, the Army and the RAF – including serving personnel, veterans, reserves, and families and friends – all working in support of the RBL.

Established in 1921, the RBL is the UK’s largest Armed Forces charity.

It sits at the heart of a national network of partner organisations, public support and 200,000 members. Best known for organising the annual Poppy Appeal and Remembrance Day services, the RBL works to support current and exservice personnel as well as their families.

The team behind the book, published by St

Cooking With Heroes: The Royal British Legion Centenary Cookbook celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Royal British Legion.

Each regional recipe is accompanied by a fascinating profile of a hero specific to that region – a service man or woman, or an important civilian volunteer – whose contribution will be remembered through the ages.

The beautifully illustrated recipes include contributions from many well-known supporters of the RBL, including celebrity chefs Rick Stein, Jamie Oliver, Ainsley Harriott, Cyrus Todiwala and the Hairy Bikers.

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Avery Healthcare

And the Win

r Directo n Avery’s ha e e h kS ic M , IT of

ners Are…

Yet again, the hard work and dedication by staff throughout the Avery group have been recognised by prestigious national awarding bodies.

Run by Care Home Management, The Care Home Awards for 2021 were held at the National Conference Centre in Birmingham on 8th October.

A wide range of the care sector’s leading providers gathered to celebrate all the best in the UK care sector. Against worthy competition in all the categories, Avery scooped the award for Best for use of Technology and a High Commendation in Best for Communication.

Avery’s Director of IT, Mick Sheehan, commented, “We have invested considerably in many technologies that have been invaluable in keeping our residents connected and sociable, particularly during difficult lockdown periods.”

Commenting on the high commendation for Best for Communication award, Avery’s Head of Marketing, Jo Wright said, “Never before has communication been as important as the last 12 months, not least from a care protocol and safety point of view, but also as a way of lifting spirits and bringing communities together. Avery Healthcare added in better technologies and innovative tools, aiding communications from highly motivated staff,

residents, families and care sector co-workers who, together, shared important updates, news and stories.”

Knight Frank 2022 Luxury Care Home Award Leading global property adviser, Knight Frank, has revealed the winners of the sixth edition of its UK Luxury Care Home Awards. It lists the UK’s top 100 luxury care homes and recognises three overall winners, each of which are judged on the quality of care they provide, the design of their homes and the strength of any renovation and refurbishment work undertaken.

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Avery’s Head of Marketing, Jo Wright

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Avery Claims Fifth Top 20 Care Home Award The 2022 Renovation and Refurbishment Award, recognising the preservation of heritage and the quality of redesign and repositioning works, was awarded to Avery Park Care Home in Kettering, Northamptonshire. The local planning authority for the site required that the building retain the original Victorian Villa within the site. Therefore, the build involved the demolition of existing building units (except the villa) and the erection of a Residential Care Home for the elderly.

Avery has reached carehome.co.uk’s Top 20 Rated Care Home Groups in the UK for the fifth year in a row. Based on over 109,000 reviews received from residents and their families and friends, this coveted recognition is a fantastic achievement for the organisation and a credit to all the hard work and dedication put in by our staff over a difficult period.

Julian Evans, Head of Healthcare at Knight Frank, commented: “Knight Frank’s Luxury Care Home Guide continues to go from strength to strength each year. The prestige of the Guide, which is well regarded as the gold standard of luxury care home recognition in the UK, is illustrated by the consistently high number of submissions received and the £2 billion in assets represented by the Guide’s top 100 care homes. All care homes recognised in the Guide have delivered outstanding levels of care over the past year. They continue to innovate, with resident wellbeing front-of-mind, to future-proof their homes and protect against future shocks to the industry.”

A special mention also went to Astbury Manor Care Home in Bracknell, and Crispin Court Care Home, in Stafford, who were recognised as part of the regional Top 20 Care Home 2021 Awards.

Lisa Soper, Deputy Chief Operating Officer at Avery Healthcare, comments, “The combination of these accolades demonstrates the consistent, sector leading best practice that Avery maintains in its delivery of quality of care, for our residents and their families services. All of this ensures that our resident’s lifestyle and quality of life is the very best and that our staff are supported to deliver first-class care.”

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Avery Healthcare

GETTING A HANDLE ON YOUR( love)HANDLES What makes losing weight hard as we get older, and how can we get a handle on it?

There are a few reasons - mostly to do with the natural ageing process of our bodies. After about the age of 35 (we’re all different, though), there are a number of hormonal changes going on in the body which can contribute to weight gain.

For both men and women, sex hormone levels drop.

With less testosterone in the body, we have a lowered ability to synthesis new muscle tissue. From this age, we’re losing roughly 3 to 5% of our muscle mass per decade with a resulting progressive drop strength.

It’s a double-whammy, our muscle tissue is degenerating, and our hormonal balance is no longer primed for regeneration.

metabolically active and that we’re losing that too, and you can see that we’ve got a cataclysm of metabolic sluggishness.

Throw increased stress into the mix (mid-lifers are known as Generation Squeeze - careers, kids, parents etc.), and you can be looking at raised cortisol levels too. This is linked with increased body fat (particularly abdominal fat), not to mention a host of other negative health indicators - both physical and mental.

Our bone density also lowers (partly thanks to lower oestrogen levels). While this won’t affect our weight per se, it’s important to note this for the fixes we’re going to recommend.

Likewise, our collagen production lowers as our age increases (yes, wrinkles!) but also less elastic tendons and ligaments.

On top of this, our metabolisms also slow as we age, meaning we burn less energy than we used to. Now factor in that muscle is highly

So, let’s recap: our metabolisms are slowing, we’re losing muscle mass (slowing metabolism further), strength, flexibility and bone density.

We’re probably stressed too, leading to more fat gain and our lifestyles mean we’re not moving as much as we should.

Claire and James Davis are the husband and wife team behind multiaward winning coaching and fitness company 38 Degrees North. The couple have a successful midlife health podcast The Midlife Mentors and run The Midlife Method 8 week transformational programme. themidlifementors.com team@themidlifementors.com

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Avery Healthcare

We’re probably eating too many of the wrong things at the wrong times too. That’s why losing weight is more challenging as we get older.

All is not lost - far from it! And it doesn’t take a massive lifestyle overhaul. We need to address three factors movement, nutrition and mindset.

As we age, it’s great to keep moving for all kinds of health reasons, and if you can, a couple of highintensity interval training (HIIT) sessions a week are going to be great to boost your cardiovascular fitness, burn body fat and raise your metabolic rate. If you need to ease into HIIT, then standard cardio is fine. It’s about moving regularly.

If you can pursue the HIIT route, you need to train for 15 - 20 minutes twice a week - do-able!

These sessions don’t have to be in a gym, or even using weights at all. Again, a 20 to 30 minute bodyweight workout can work wonders.

We also want to not only preserve but increase that muscle mass, so a minimum of two sessions of resistance training a week is your prescription for increased muscle, increased strength, better bone density, higher metabolic rate.

There we have it, some of the things that are happening to us as we get older, and solutions for dealing with them to get to, then stay, in the mental and physical shape we want to be in.

These sessions don’t have to be in a gym, or even using weights at all. Again, a 20 - 30 minute bodyweight workout can work wonders.

Moving more burns more calories too, which is going to help with your fat loss. Address your nutrition. Knowing what to eat, and when makes a huge difference, and it’s not about restriction or foregoing your pleasures.

This is something we spend time coaching our clients on and help them with their nutrition, making sure they’ve got a firm grasp of the essentials for sustainable, long term healthy living.

With the right knowledge, it’s not that hard, it’s not that timeconsuming, but the results can be lifechanging, and prevention is better than cure. It’s not too late to start, and imagine how good you could be feeling a month from now.

Add some stretching post-workout for those tendons and ligaments, or a regular yoga class, and when you put it all together, you’re helping future proof your body for old age.

Finally, mindset. It’s key we address the stress.

Start habits and rituals that help move you to a more positive space. Practice meditation and mindfulness. There’s a lot you can do for yourself but working on your mind is definitely an area where getting help can make a big difference. We use neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) techniques or patterning based on hypnotic symbolism to help clients reduce stress and shift towards positive habits and thoughts.

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Brighter days are coming...

By Rachel Mary Carr

As the temperature starts to drop and autumn descends upon us, our mood is usually reflected in our clothes, with warming colours like burnt orange, deep reds, dark brown, and muted greens taking centre stage. But after a dire 2020 and a rocky start to 2021, which saw us locked down with zero social life, the fashion gods have decided to colour our lives with a vibrant autumn/winter palette - so you can put your oversized black jumpers to the back of our wardrobe.

Fashion designers are giving us a bit of colour therapy with their new season launches: bright reds, purples, shades of blue, yellow, and pink have all been seen on the runways of London, Paris, New York and Milan, and similar (affordable) pieces are already appearing on the high street.

Why the sudden change in style? Bright colours promote optimism and energy; last autumn and winter were so dark - figuratively and literally - but this year, designers are keen to make sure positivity stays high.

Fashion house Loewe has combined yellow with pale blue and pink for a cheerful, head-turning effect. If the core brights feel a little too bold, temper with more neutral colours instead of wearing them head-totoe. Consider pairing cerise or orange with cream and grey or pink with navy or white.

High street brand Zara will be stocking more blues and purples this autumn than other years, and brands Max Mara and Jaeger will also be channelling more uplifting shades into their classic, timeless pieces.

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PHOTO: @GRECEGHANEM

Off-colour hues such as lavender and rust, mustard, and lemon, bubble gum pink and marigold have also been seen in collections by Jill Sander, Prada, Miu Miu, and Oscar de la Renta. Expect to see these contrasting shades in high street stores soon.

When it comes to florals and prints (animal print seems to be an all-year-round style these days), this season is all about the ‘ditsy floral’. In a mixture of dark and light tones, flower-patterned t-shirts, dresses, blouses and trousers are in full bloom.

Knits are always a staple in any autumn wardrobe, and with good reason. Still, this September, the chunky luxe jumper, usually reserved for the festive season, will be making an early appearance. Twopieces have been simmering in the background for the last couple of years but this summer they’ve truly come into their own - and they’re sticking around for autumn/winter too.

From matching knitted jumpers and shorts to cardigans and skirts made from super soft wool,

loewe.com

this is one trend there’s no escaping from. They’re ideal for day or evening, depending on how you dress them (think shoes, jewellery and other accessories).

For ideas, look to Gucci and Valentino’s latest pieces: classic buttoned-down and belted coats, tailored trousers, turtlenecks and fitted jackets paired with loafers and ‘boyish’ shoes, offering a sophisticated, tailored look.

You can also rely on retailers like Marks and Spencers and Next to bring quality, on-trend pieces at affordable prices. Then there’s the ever-growing number of independent brands, with online marketplaces like Not on the High Street and Etsy offering individual garments by small shops and designers. Oliver Bonas is worth a look too. The nationwide lifestyle shop now sells quite a few clothing items alongside its accessories and homewares. Or for something a little different, try Joy. For tried and tested, affordable pieces that will have people in disbelief at the bargain you got them for, head to the supermarket - seriously. Sainsbury’s TU range is coming up hot on the heels of Marks and Sparks, with on-trend, well-made clothing.

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oneofone.world derek-rose.com

@BRITISHGQ

Autumn/Winter trends for men

ralphlauren.co.uk

For men, it’s less about bright colours and more about textured and tailored looks. Think tweed, corduroy, and wool in versatile pieces like belted coats and single and double-breasted jackets. Pair with a smart pair of chinos and some Chelsea boots for a look you can wear all day - if you want to inject some colour, turn heads with some bright trousers.

Patterns are also in, especially Black Watch tartan, buffalo and windowpane checks. Subtly work it into your outfit in the lining of your jacket or with the pop on a collar or go bold with a shirt.

If you’re more into comfort, one good thing that’s come from the pandemic is that loungewear is now entirely acceptable to wear outside the house. There are several emerging brands making high quality, luxe loungewear, with loose-fitting tees, drawstring pants, oversized shirts and hoodies, all making the cut - as comfortable as pyjamas but more socially acceptable.

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MANE ATTRACTION As we age, our hair tends to become dry, brittle, dull and of course, grey. If you are searching for ways to maintain more youthful-looking locks, you may have to evolve your haircare regime.

Embracing the Next Chapter There should be no rules about women’s age and hair length. Why should we all resign ourselves to a long bob and become clones when we reach the age of 50?

You only have to look at some icons who have kept their length - Debbie Harry, Diane von Furstenberg and Sophia Loren to see this theory isn’t true.

Nicola McGeorge has specialised in health and beauty journalism for over a decade. With a keen interest in the wellness movement, Nicola works hard to spread awareness about the benefits of healthy, mindful living.

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Hair loses pigment, changes texture, and becomes thinner as we get older. It tends to need more looking after which is why older women tend to chop it all.

Now yes, if you wander around looking like Rapunzel at aged 50, you might unnerve people, but there is nothing more flattering than a softly, layered shoulderlength cut on a mature lady. The key is to keep it well cut and well maintained. Ladies of a certain age should try to avoid one-length styles as it drags the face down.

There should be no rules about women’s age and hair length. Why should we all resign ourselves to a long bob and become clones when we reach the age of 50?

If you fancy going for a big chop, you and your stylist can have a great time playing around with different looks. Start with the pixie cut, a short textured look that Dame Judi Dench totally rocks. This style has been worn by some of the biggest, boldest, and bravest stars throughout history. Audrey Hepburn, Halle Berry and even Pamela Anderson.

Chop, Chop Nothing except a good cut will mend split ends.

Split ends happen when the cuticle of your hair is almost non–existent, exposing the cortex of your hair, which unravels and causes a frayed end that can travel up the hair as a giant split. They can be stuck together temporarily with products such as the Redken Extreme Length Bundle which smoothes and seals it, but this only lasts so long. The only way to be rid of them for good is to cut them off.

Weak hair can be defined as limp, droopy, thin, or falling out. Split ends, extreme dryness, or excessive oiliness can all be signs of weak hair. Over-processed and excessive heat from styling tools can cause weak hair and breakage.

To nurse fried strands back to optimum health, you need to introduce Olaplex into your life. Especially beneficial for chemically coloured hair, it has the potential to restore the health of all damaged hair types, given that hair bonds are broken during thermal, mechanical, and chemical service.

Feeling Flakey?

Irritated scalps can be dry and flaky, or oily, but there are products designed to work with each type.

The Kerastase Bain Clarifiant is a targeted clarifying hair bath for over-active oily scalps and oily hair.

If your head is itchy and you regularly find flakes on your shoulders, you may have dandruff. Nothing kills a good look quicker than a shoulder covered in scalp snow, so if dandruff is a problem, the Kerastase Bain Exfoliant Hydratant soothes and rehydrates the scalp, offering long-lasting protection.

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50 Shades of Grey Men are often scared about having their hair coloured due to rockers such as Paul McCartney and Ronnie Woods’ poor attempts at hanging on to their youth.

When you get to a certain age, people expect you to have greying hair, and if you try to dye your hair an all-over dark hue, it will never look natural. If you want to do a DIY job, you need to comb through the product rather than go for a full head tint. This will allow some of your natural colour to peek through, giving you a yummy salt and pepper effect rather than a full-on Elvis.

stages of hair loss, try the Nioxin range, specifically formulated for thinning hair.

Guys with comb-overs are only fooling themselves.

In almost every circumstance, growing hair longer makes the thinning and baldness appear much more noticeable. Growing a few hairs and then strategically arranging them to cover up a bald spot is like a HUGE sign pointing out your hair loss. A comb-over may occasionally work until the wind catches it. At all costs, avoid the Donald Trump look.

When men suffer from stress, the first place it shows is the hairline.

Hair loss is also influenced by genetics.

If you are in the initial

And remember, just because your hair doesn’t look the way it did when you were 25, it doesn’t mean it’s not gorgeous. There’s a beauty to embracing your age, and you don’t need the beauty industry (or anyone else, for that matter) to convince you otherwise.

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03452 999 999 support@24nrghealthcare.co.uk www.24nrggroup.com

SCAMDEMIC Rip-off merchants and snake oil salespeople have always been an issue, but as we become more digitised, scams have hit an all-time high. Scammers are finding new and more innovative ways of reaching us and our bank accounts, and the pandemic has only worsened the situation.

We are all vulnerable to scammers, which means it’s important that we’re on high alert and know how to decipher the real from the fake. Action Fraud, the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud and cyber crime, has received over 700 reports from members of the public who have been sent fake NHS emails offering them vaccine passports, promising quarantine-free travel around the world, but the link takes them to an online form asking for financial details.

The scary part is it looks very similar to the NHS website. The NHS will never ask for bank account details, personal identification numbers (PINs), banking passwords or credit card details. They will also never turn up on your doorstep unannounced to administer a vaccine; a 92-year-old woman from Surbiton was told to pay £160 for a fake vaccine by a fraudster claiming to be from the NHS.

RECOGNISING A SCAM Scammers will try different mediums to con us, including emails, text messages, phone calls, letters, in-person calls, and social media, but you can become adept at spotting fraudulent demands if you know what to look for.

If you are asked to transfer money quickly or through a different source, for example, a money transfer service, alarm bells should start to ring.

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If it seems too good to be true, like winning a competition you haven’t entered, it most likely is.

There should be a postal address for the company that you are dealing. Details of companies should be listed on gov.uk.

If you are asked to give away personal information such as passwords or PINs. If there are spelling mistakes and out of place wording in correspondence.

If you receive aggressive and persistent telephone calls, especially from unknown numbers.

If you’re contacted unexpectedly, for example, a pop up on your computer or a phone call telling you that your laptop or computer has a virus. The internet provider/computer company has no way of knowing if your computer has a virus.

Social media is also a huge target for scammers.

People’s Facebook accounts have been hacked, fake friend requests sent, and statements posted from the hacked account saying they have invested in Bitcoin and that you should do the same. There are plenty of fake celebrity endorsements for Bitcoin too, amongst other things, to watch out for. The celebrity will usually put a statement out on their website to say it’s not them and their image has been photoshopped onto a TV segment or advertising page.

PROTECTING YOURSELF Be careful about giving personal information away without a legitimate reason, even harmless-looking Facebook posts asking for pets’ names, or the year you were born, for example. You could be unwittingly assisting hackers in accessing your passwords.

Whilst it can be a minefield to navigate, some scams stand out more than others; text messages from the Royal Mail telling you to pay to have a parcel delivered, especially when you haven’t ordered anything, is a tell that you’ve been a victim of phishing (when fraudsters mimic reputable companies). HMRC, Apple, Amazon, and PayPal are all government bodies and companies that scammers regularly send bogus emails from, either saying that the account has been blocked, that you owe money, or someone has been using your account. There is usually a tell-tale sign in the shape of an unprofessional error or manner.

Find out how your bank operates and what type of security questions they ask if they phone you.

Use strong passwords. Some companies will give you the option of adding two-factor authentication for extra protection. If you are worried about remembering too many passwords, you could try using a password manager.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE SCAMMED Let your finance provider know straight away. Bank accounts and credit cards are generally protected, and money recovered. PayPal has purchase protection if disputes are filed within 180 days or 60 days in the case of unauthorised charges, and eBay has a money-back guarantee which covers most transactions. Report any scams to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or via their website, which has different categories for fraud and cyber-crime. If in doubt of any correspondence you have received, it is wise to check with the company that they were the sender, and check out a company if you have not come across them before.

Do not click on any links that you do not trust.

Sign up to Trading Standards for email alerts about the most recent scams.

Make sure any insurance taken out is through a trusted provider.

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Memory Lane

By Ian Greenland

We’ve all experienced the bittersweet emotions elicited by a smell that transports us back to our childhood or a song on the radio which stirs long-held feelings, signifiers of a time and place we once inhabited. In 1688 the Swiss Physician Johannes Hofer wrote a dissertation detailing the anxieties afflicting Swiss mercenaries fighting far from home. Derived from the Greek word nóstos, meaning “homecoming” and álgos, meaning “pain”, nostalgia was the term he conceived to describe this “cerebral disease”; a type of melancholy which became an altogether familiar trope of the Romantic era its conception preceded.

view, establishing that nostalgia serves many valuable functions, predominantly acting as an emotional experience which unifies. It unifies our idea of who we are, our sense of self and identity. In many ways, we change as we age, and nostalgic remembrance encourages our brains to reflect on who we were and how we felt at previous times in our lives. This unites us with our authentic selves and gives perspective to who we’ve become and who we might like to become further along life’s road.

According to the psychological scientist Clay Routledge, “Nostalgia is one of the self-regulatory tools we use to remind ourselves that we matter.”

He characterises nostalgic memories as typically following the pattern of occurring at a relatively distant point in time – Even if it was particularly delicious, you’re not “nostalgic” about breakfast Today, as the world changes so come lunchtime; you’re just hungry We change as we rapidly, in some ways for the worse again. Give it a few years, though, and and others for the better, some view age, and nostalgic those fried eggs might have become nostalgia with a touch of derision, the stuff of cognitive legend, though remembrance seeing it at best as a misremembered probably more because of who you deification of a flawed past (and encourages our brains shared them with than the richness of a cynical way to sell countless to reflect on who we the yolks, since nostalgic memories products). At worst, as an insidious usually feature a social component, political and cultural tool for were and how we felt be that family, friends or romantic impeding humanity’s progress and at previous times in partners. Nevertheless, small details of widening inequalities as we march our lived experience that might seem our lives... towards the future (“Make America trivial to others, such as the richness Great Again” indeed...) of those yolks might resonate deeply with those whose context is personal – if your eggs According to the writer George W. Ball, “Nostalgia is a once came from your dad’s chickens, their coop in the seductive liar”, his peer Angela Carter is referred to as garden next to your favourite swing set, get ready for “...the vice of the aged”. Psychologists, neuroscientists some serious nostalgia inducement throughout life. and researchers have taken a considerably kinder

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Smells can be particularly evocative “Nostalgia is one of Meanwhile, Chinese test subjects triggers for nostalgia. The olfactory bulb in a month-long study group were the self-regulatory discovered to nostalgise more on cold is directly connected to the amygdala, a portion of the brain responsible days, the same for those occupying tools we use to for processing emotion, and the colder rooms. The study found humans remind ourselves warm themselves (at least subjectively) hippocampus, an area associated with memory. Smells from childhood can form with nostalgic remembrance. The that we matter.” especially strong connections for us as implication is that long before those youth may be when we first experience displaced Swiss soldiers were buffering and log them. They’re also common features of the themselves with thoughts of home, cherished memories deeply resonant social dynamic that underpins family helped sustain survival by increasing physiological life, such as the smell of mum’s Sunday roast or comfort, allowing us to press on that bit further for grandad’s aftershave when he hugged you. food, shelter or company in adverse conditions.

The tinge of sadness or sense of loss we feel when we experience nostalgia is that intrinsic understanding that we can’t go back to that actual moment or be with the people it features, but nostalgia also elicits positivity. In the case of those Swiss mercenaries, as with countless soldiers deployed before and since, nostalgia for home helped to mitigate feelings of fear and stress, allowing downregulation of psychological threats. In my own experience, my father, whose present is a difficult struggle with Alzheimer’s disease, appears to be at his happiest whilst recalling memories of the past.

Nostalgia as a sort of shield is an intriguing concept, especially when further research has shown it can reduce the experience of pain, including from chronic conditions. The 2020 edition of Frontiers in Psychology found that writing about happy memories directly served this function in research subjects, creating an enlightening and poignant legacy for participants’ descendants.

In the last 18+ months of pandemic madness, nostalgia has no doubt played a huge part in keeping us going, and not just through the old TV shows and music many of us returned to as comforters and boredom relievers through the months of lockdown (Friends was a particular favourite in our house!). As a highly social emotion, nostalgia drives us to connect with others, reminding us who and what is important to us and motivating us to get to where we want to be. It can help to cut through the noise and clamour of an increasingly crowded, fragmented world. I personally picked up the phone to a few people I hadn’t seen or spoken to in years, but I had shared experiences that have shaped the person I am today.

Nostalgia (with a bit of help from a highly transmissible, deadly virus) reminded me to appreciate that which matters.

You matter. Don’t forget that.

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Avery in Bloom

It is well documented that being outdoors surrounded by nature or even spending time in the garden can benefit the body and mind and provide healing properties. Gardening has so much potential for people with defined mental health needs or those simply looking for a new hobby, offering an enormous range of activities and options, more so than any other type of therapeutic activity. There’s growing evidence that it can benefit our mental health, an essential consideration when many have been mentally affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

For the elderly in particular, gardening can be highly beneficial, as it can aid muscle strength and joints, improve relaxation, and enhance overall well-being.

And that’s why Avery’s care homes are purpose-built with beautiful, landscaped gardens, equipped with raised beds, bird feeders, herb planters and potting sheds, which residents can take full advantage of all year round.

Recognising the importance of gardening for the elderly, Avery’s Well-being and Activities team host their own competition each year, ‘Avery in Bloom’.

Run throughout the summer; the competition sets out to find the best gardening display across our homes.

Our residents were jumping for joy after becoming one of the winning homes for Avery in Bloom this year.

All residents are encouraged to participate, whether they have an eye for colour, artistic flair, a love for gardening, or simply want to join in the fun. This year’s categories included, Best Overall Impression, Fancy Flower Pot and Grow Your Own Micro Herb Garden.

With the tough job of deciding who came out on top from an impressive 25 entries were Sharon Winfield, Chief Operating Officer, Lisa Soper, Deputy Chief Operating Officer, and Zahid Kahn, Head of Wellbeing. Speaking of the exceptional standards from this year’s entries, Zahid commented, “I know these have 50

Avery in Bloom

Best Overall Impression Cliftonville Care Home, Northampton Astbury Manor Care Home, Bracknell Loxley Park Assisted Living, Sheffield

Fancy Flower Pot Hawthorns Aldridge Care Home, Aldridge Amarna House Care Home, York been difficult times for everyone. It’s nice to see that Avery in Bloom has brought people together to share ideas, build relationships, smile and have some fun!”

Aran Court Care Home, Birmingham

Grow Your Own Micro Herb Garden

To their delight, the winners from each category were presented with gardening vouchers to spend on new plants and materials, enabling them to grow their beautiful displays further. Speaking of their win, Cliftonville Care Home Manager, Rex Pudol said, “Our residents were jumping for joy after becoming one of the winning homes for Avery in Bloom this year. They loved coming together to share their creativity and see their ideas bloom! Plans have already begun to make sure next year is even bigger and better.”

Grove Park Care Home, Leeds Derby Heights Care Home, Derby Astbury Manor Care Home, Bracknell

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Scholars Mews

Care in the Heart of

Shakespeare’s Town

It doesn’t matter which way you approach the town of Stratford-upon-Avon, you will enter quintessentially English streets with Tudor facades, exposed timber posts and white panelling that epitomises our vision of William Shakespeare’s home town.

Tucked away in a secure street is Scholars Mews Care Home, its small entrance hides a large, modern 63-bed care home that feels like it’s created its own space. The reception area is large and bright and opens out onto sunny corridors and equally welcoming lounges where the residents come together to engage in activities.

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Scholars Mews

Stratford-upon-Avon is indeed visited by thousands of international visitors every year, but it still feels like a small English town. It’s no surprise that Scholars Mews Home Manager, Rukmi Silva, and her team don’t need to go far to find interesting and an ever-changing host of entertainment on their doorstep.

The town has some of the most famous tourist sites in the UK, all homage to the playwright’s life, but there is a local community spirit with many fetes, events and festivals bringing people together throughout the year.

Rukmi, known in the care sector for bringing Care Quality Commission (CQC) rated ‘Good’ homes to ‘Outstanding’, says a large part of a happy home is living and working together within the community. She says, “Our town is really important to us. Most of our staff are local, and we are fortunate to have so many interesting things to see and do with our residents. We have a big family feel here at Scholars Mews.”

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Avery Healthcare

Shakespeare Fact File

Shakespeare was lucky to survive the plague.

As an infant, he was surrounded by more than 200 people in his local area. William was very lucky to make it out of infancy, but the plague would haunt his life for years to come - it’s thought his son, Hamnet, died from the disease.

VIP Father

Shakespeare was no stranger to a bit of pomp and ceremony. His father, John Shakespeare, was a glovemaker for high socialites of the day and then rose to become mayor of Stratford with all its glamour. His social standing would have helped with William’s excellent education.

AWOL Will

He may be our most celebrated writer ever, but historians have no idea where Shakespeare was for a significant period of his life. 1585 to 1592 are known as the “lost years”, and it’s particularly frustrating because knowing what happened during this time would reveal how Shakespeare went from an unknown man in Stratford to a major figure in London’s artistic scene.

The Country Bumpkin

When the young Shakespeare came head-to-head with London’s poets and playwrights, there was a fair share of handbags at dawn with one character, Robert Greene, describing young Will as an “upstart crow, beautified with our feathers” - the “our” meaning more established writers. He was accusing Shakespeare, a provincial peasant, of swanning in and stealing their glory. And that he did.

His Grave is Cursed

Shakespeare is buried in a church in Stratford, and there’s a good reason his body has remained undisturbed. A rather eerie epitaph promises to bring bad luck to anyone who dares to open it up, saying, “Blessed be the man that spares these stones, And cursed be he that moves my bones.” The words are thought to have been written by Shakespeare himself and intended to ward off the graverobbers who plundered corpses during his era.

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TECHNOLOGY AT AVERY

Since the pandemic, the feeling of togetherness

and well-being has been paramount across our Avery homes. Our dedicated Well-being and Activities teams work hard to ensure that our residents remain connected whilst physical visits are limited, investing in great communication technologies during the past year, including more iPads for Skype, Teams and Zoom calls and large, interactive tablets on wheels.

With an all-electric hi-lo trolley and electric tilt, the interactive tablets offer many benefits for Avery residents, including greater inclusion and engagement and providing new opportunities in supporting residents through sensory activity, reminiscence and life story work. Avery’s Head of Well-being and Activity, Zahid Khan, said: “I think during this period of Covid-19, having touchscreen technology in our homes has been invaluable. It has assisted in keeping families connected with loved ones as well as assisted in meaningful one to ones for the resident when group activities had to be limited.”

Virtual Connections

Socialising is such an important part of our lives and plays a vital role in supporting mental well-being. Our staff have done a fantastic job adapting to the current times, continuing to keep our residents connected,

whether virtually or within bubbles. The introduction of video calls has enabled our homes to maintain their friendships with one another.

Two homes enjoyed a virtual coffee morning, whereby those involved sat down with a slice of cake and a cup of tea as they introduced themselves online.

Residents at both homes discovered their shared passion for drawing and have since agreed to send each other pictures each month at their virtual meetups, which now take place every Wednesday.

The virtual coffee mornings are particularly special for resident Eileen, who recently moved into Edenbridge Manor from Wales to be closer to her family. Customer Services Manager at Edenbridge, Tina Jeffery, said, “Eileen loves to sing and even started an impromptu sing-along in one virtual session with Droitwich Mews.”

Coming together over music, ten residents from Astbury Manor and Merlin Court’s choir formed one voice and sang with each other over a video call. They performed four songs, including ‘Wouldn’t 56

Avery Healthcare

It Be Lovely’. The choirs plan to meet every Tuesday virtually and are aiming to host a concert once they can safely meet in person. Merlin Court’s Home Manager, Michael Berkley-Blezard, mentioned, “This has been a fantastic social opportunity to develop relationships between two groups of residents and develop meaningful friendships.”

Around the World

Across Avery, we recognise that travelling is an important part of life, something many of our residents enjoy reminiscing on. Be it if they spent time living abroad, were frequent travellers in their youth, or love spending time in different countries. That’s why many of our homes have taken on the initiative of a virtual ‘Around the World’ adventure, whereby each week or month, the home ‘travels’ to a different destination to experience the country’s culture, including food, music and pastimes.

One home, Rivermere in Kent, embarked on a ‘Trip Aboard the Rivermere Express’ this year. The inhouse automotive pulled into the home to begin its ‘journey’ at the end of April, encouraging the residents to explore different cultures and spark conversation.

Each week, the train virtually travelled to a foreign country, venturing to Spain, Italy, France, and Bulgaria.

Residents at Grove Park Care Home in Leeds have also been virtually exploring the world, having visited Hawaii, the USA, and Mexico so far.

Going Forward

During the next year, Avery will also focus on sourcing a more technology-based way of communicating with staff in the homes to receive important updates, news, celebrations and fun in the same place. The first stage towards improved internal communication is sourcing a TV channel platform with TVs in each staff room where videos, slides and photos can be shared from one central point at head office.

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FAMILY GETAWAY The Rise of the Multi-generation Holiday Trend Multi-generational holidays are trending and growing rapidly in popularity. Taking time out from busy lives, reconnecting with family and exploring new territory are major factors in seeking a holiday away with loved ones.

Working parents rarely have much free time, the children’s lives also being filled with activities, parties, and school, and grandparents, while potentially being retired, also have lives of their own that may not be in close proximity to their family. So taking a break all together sounds like a great opportunity for everyone to get what they need out of a respite from reality, as well as time connecting with one another.

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Children need constant entertainment and attention, teenagers may request the opposite, parents of said children probably need a well-earned rest, and the grandparents want quality time with all of the above.

How on earth do you fit all that into one holiday?

Renting a stunning villa or country house may sound extravagant, but when sharing the cost across the generations, it doesn’t work out much different to a regular hotel room. This way allows you to have the whole place to yourselves to cook meals together, share living time in a neutral, beautiful, specificallytailored-to-your-needs space whilst still having plenty of room and privacy when required.

How about trying one of the following ‘something-foreveryone’ destinations curated by specialists in multigenerational vacations within the UK and France.

As recommended by award-winning, well-respected and experienced travel organisers, Oliver’s Travels, compromise and flexibility are key to the success of such a trip, and a little bit of luxury lends a helping hand! None of the locations are long-distance, access is easy, and there are no complicated travel plans to tackle. All the houses are spacious and lend themselves to entertainment for the whole extended family. So here are the top five for you to take your pick or simply get an idea of what a multi-generation holiday could look like for you and your family.

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Villa Jolie, Cote d’Azur First, we take you to the Cote d’Azur, or the French Riviera as it is fondly known, to Villa Jolie set just below the stunning hilltop town of Grasse (famous worldwide for perfume) and its magical surrounding landscape.

Only 30 minutes drive from Cannes, and 45 minutes from Nice, there are plenty of coastal beauty spots to explore if you feel like getting out and about.

The four-bedroom, four bathroom stone-cottage style villa has a private lagoon-shaped pool, luxurious outdoor lounging areas, pizza oven, a gym. All rooms are air-conditioned and have ensuite bathrooms. Beautiful open-plan interior and exterior spaces provide plenty of room for all the family to play, relax, socialise or snuggle up in a nook and read. Gorgeous high beam-lined ceilings, spotlights, plush soft-furnishings and decadent yet comfortable decor all serve to make this a delightful home from home.

Stunning countryside views surround the pool area, and shaded seating amongst the indigenous plants and vines provides a dappled light for afternoon tea or sundowners. Airy interior dining, grand bedrooms and bathrooms, a fully stocked wine cellar, spoiltfor-choice terrace lounging/dining, outdoor bar and bbq area, top-of-the-range modern kitchen, plus children’s play area, what more could you want from your multi-gen family holiday home?

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Dyrham House, Cotswolds A closer-to-home ‘stay-cation’ could take you to this delightful country home in the Cotswolds. Dyrham House boasts a quintessential British countryside setting, with extensive green lawns rolling down into an on-site river, and a gorgeously decorated property with light-filled spacious bedrooms and living areas, featuring some classic English pieces, stand-alone baths, kitchen range, open fireplaces, old leather luggage trunks and original wood flooring. It is cosy and feels like home with an air of luxury and prominence. With six bedrooms and three bathrooms, there is plenty of room for the whole family to have their own space and at the same time come together and enjoy their time away.

Just a short drive away are the wonderful cities of Bath and Bristol, which have plenty of amenities for the whole family should you wish to get out and explore.

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£52 per person per night.

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From: £111 per person per night.

Avery Healthcare

Chateau Lignol, Brittany Now we head back to rural France, and your very own chateau tucked neatly behind Breton farmland and grandeur with gold embellishments. only five minutes from the bustling village of Geumene Sur Scorff. Chateau Lignol The garden is immaculate and features a heated is quite simply magnificent. You will be hard-pushed swimming pool, and there is an endless supply of not to completely relax here, take in the peaceful indoor games to entertain the entire family. surroundings whilst swanning around the majestic If this isn’t enough to keep everyone busy, the chateau. neighbouring village offers a weekly market, cinema, The house is an incredible 14th-century hunting lodge and some incredible boulangeries to feast on all the with a grand, plush, yet cosy interior. You will feel regal local pastries café-au-lait, and cakes. with a touch of familiarity as you roam the rooms, the country kitchen, white-washed beams, and hints of 10 From: £36 per person per night.

County Meath Castle, Ireland Our next adventure brings us back to our Irish roots, immerse yourself in Celtic culture at County Meath Castle. It may not be swimsuits and sunshine holiday every day, but the castle and its grounds will not disappoint for adventure and ambience. A historically rich region overlooking the famous Lough Sheelin and its brown trout, grab a rod and try your luck. More suited to slightly older children - only as they will have more opportunity to enjoy the activities and outdoors - clay pigeon shooting anyone? Or how about a spot of horse riding across the fields?

After all the fresh air and adventure settling down by the roaring fire, finding your own cosy corner and truly relaxing in style will be a welcome retreat. The traditional six-bedroom, five-bathroom castle sleeps up to fifteen guests and offers an antique-rich interior with clear links to the owner’s love of hunting!

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From £39 per person per night.

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L’Oustal Des Fleurs, Languedoc And just like that, we are back in France - specifically the major wine-producing region of Languedoc (you’ll find two complimentary bottles on arrival!). Here you will be very pleased to see L’oustal Des Fleurs, a highly charming villa in an authentic rural French village. The aptly-named home boasts gardens surrounded by a vast array of flowers and a lot of delightful places to relax - you’ll find hammocks dotted around the outdoor patios, sun-loungers just where you need them, and a sumptuous interior with a harmonious pallet. The villa is exactly what you picture when you think French country cottage; throw in a little luxury imagination, and you’re at L’Oustal Des Fleurs.

The owner is an interior designer, and it shows, the style is comfortable, combined with style and panache.

The neighbouring park (one minute walk away) offers tennis courts, a beautiful rose garden, a children’s play area, and a wildlife-filled pond. You can venture into the neighbouring village of LacJouarres and participate in some more active water sports and absolutely beautiful surroundings. The villa itself is

situated in a beautiful village offering all the traditional fare of France, boutique shops, restaurants, cafés, but does not feel as though it is immersed in town life. It remains blissfully tranquil in its countryside settings with a view of the old church from the lounging patio.

There is a stone BBQ and comfortable outside dining area and covered pool to offer year-round swimming.

Sleeps: 8

www.essexwalks.com

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From: £35 per person per night.

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Avery Healthcare

Mental Health Awa re n e ss

Sunday 10th October marked World Mental Health Day, an international day for global mental health education, awareness, and advocacy against social stigma. The World Health Organisation (WHO) states the day “provides an opportunity for all stakeholders working on mental health issues to talk about their work, and what more needs to be done to make mental health care a reality for people worldwide.”

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Avery Healthcare

Avery Healthcare understands that making a positive change can seem hard, especially during uncertain times.

And sometimes, it can be hard to know where to start.

Whether you want to take the first steps towards getting some help or learn more about helping those around you, today’s a great day to start taking the steps you need to improve your mental health.

Mental Health in Later Life There are many reasons why a person of a certain age may not be feeling quite right, including the prospect of retirement, bereavement, and poor health. Still, the coronavirus pandemic has had an immense impact on the well-being of many people of all ages. In fact, 1 in 3 older people is feeling more anxious than they were before the pandemic.

Retirement For many people, work can bring a sense of purpose and provides a boost to their self-esteem. It can also provide structure and routine. At Avery, we work hard to remind residents of their values. In doing so, some of our residents even continue to work whilst residing at our homes. Be it assisting with maintenance, helping out in the kitchen or supporting our receptionists. We understand the importance of maintaining purpose and routine in one’s life.

Bereavement Grief is natural and can last a long time. How you feel can be influenced by several things, such as personality and connection with the person who has died. As well as your mental well-being, grief can have a strong physical impact. Therefore, it’s essential to immerse in self-care to stay on top of your physical health. Even if you’ve lost your appetite, it’s important to keep eating and drinking healthy. And if you feel yourself neglecting your own care needs or you notice loved ones neglecting theirs, then talk to someone such as a loved one or a professional.

Health

Poor physical health can affect your mental well-being and quality of life. It can make it harder to get out and do the things you enjoy, making you feel depressed or anxious. Of course, you can do things to help maintain physical health, including regular exercise, eating well, and attending regular check-ups with your GP. Avery’s Head of Well-being and Activities, Zahid Khan, says, “Learning about each of our resident’s lifestyle preferences, the activities they enjoy, and how they wish to spend their days is an integral part of our care system.

At Avery, we understand and appreciate that each resident’s mental health is important. We strive to support them positively through our activity planners and wellbeing strategy, which promotes opportunities to engage in activities they enjoy doing and has a positive impact on their mental well-being.”

How We Advocate Mental Well-being

At Avery, we encourage conversations around mental health; speaking up, be it with a manager, a friend or even a resident, talking and sharing is an important aspect of taking care of ourselves and each other. We work hard to incorporate ways of taking care of our staff in our everyday lives at Avery, including encouraging nourishing lunch breaks, regular exercise throughout the day, getting outside in nature and keeping a to-do list. For Home Managers, we understand the importance of communication, and that’s why regular check-ups with staff are paramount at our homes, and feedback is thorough and consistent.

Care team members across the group are required to complete a Mental Health Awareness course. During the sessions, participants are trained on how to look out for signs and be the first line of support during a mental health crisis within their setting, and direct staff to appropriate services, along with supporting staff’s day to day mental well-being within the workplace. Diane Lomax, Avery’s Regional Training Officer, North & ASC Programme Co-ordinator, says, “We also cover how senior members of staff can recognise their own signs of needing support, how to implement positive self-help, and seeking support for themselves.”

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Avery Healthcare

Caring for our Care Worker’s The Care Workers’ Charity (CWC) was founded in 2009 to support current and former care workers through financial, professional, and mental well-being. To date, they have significantly helped the lives of almost 2 million care workers in the UK with crisis grants to help those experiencing unforeseen or lifechanging circumstances never face financial hardship alone. Their exceptional Mental Health Support Programme offers free treatment with qualified therapists.

As a charity, the CWC would not be able to provide fantastic support to our nation’s carers if it wasn’t for the sheer generosity of donations from corporate partnerships and members of the public. Avery Healthcare, which shares a remarkable bond with the charity, is delighted to have been the CWC’s gold sponsor since its foundation. It continuously commits to helping care workers through events and promotions by joining in with its fundraising initiatives.

Speaking of this partnership, Lisa Soper, Deputy Chief Operating Officer at Avery, said, “The Care Workers’ Charity provides some incredible support for people in the sector who are facing extreme hardship. Without

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Avery Healthcare

their support and intervention during difficult times, many families would face significant challenges. We are proud to support the CWC in their work.”

One such fundraising initiative that gets Avery’s residents and staff members exhilarated each year is ‘Going the Extra Mile’. Celebrated this year between 5th – 11th July, the annual event calls for the supporters to fundraise for the charity by completing as many miles as possible, be that walking, running, cycling or even dancing! And in true Avery fashion, the care homes really did go the extra mile. Across the group, there were many fantastic ideas, from sponsored cycles to car washing; staff and residents got their creative juices flowing and had a blast raising money for the worthy cause.

Knowle Gate in Knowle and Acer House in Westonsuper-Mare got in the spirit by hosting their own sports days. Activities included an egg and spoon race, sack race, and even some hula hooping! The team at Glenmoor in Corby went ‘the extra mile’ by hopping on their bikes and cycling 100 miles between them. By the end of the week, staff had managed to surpass their target and reached an impressive 136 miles in total. As staff dressed in hilarious inflatable animal costumes, Royal Ascot arrived at Avon Valley in Bristol and raced around the home to raise money. Despite the pouring rain and getting drenched in the process, the team had a brilliant time. After a week of activities and, of course, lots of fun, Avery Healthcare raised an incredible £5,725 for the charity and look forward to surpassing this next year!

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Avery Healthcare

Not wanting to miss out on the fun, Avery’s marketing team volunteered themselves to take on this year’s big fundraising event, ‘Trek Hadrian’s Wall’. Stretching 73 miles between Wallsend, North Tyneside to Bownesson-Solway, Northwest Cumbria, Hadrian’s Wall was built by the Roman army on the orders of the emperor Hadrian, following his visit to Britain in AD 122. It was the northwest frontier of the Roman empire for nearly 300 years. Taking six years to complete, the wall was designed to separate the Romans from the Barbarians.

Although primarily used as a border, Hadrian’s Wall was a rich and vibrant place where soldiers and civilians from across Europe and North Africa met, traded and served together at the north-western

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Avery Healthcare

frontier of the Roman Empire. Many settled in this wild, foreign place across the sea, adopted local customs and even worshipped native gods while preserving their own traditions.

Donning their very best walking boots, coats and rucksacks, the 5-strong Avery marketing team, aptly named ‘Avery Paces’, set off to Carlisle to take on the trek with 50 other supporters. Setting off at 7:30am, the team battled the elements as they ventured from Housesteads Roman Fort to Wall Town National Park Centre, totalling 13 miles. Completing the walk in just over 8 hours, Avery Paces raised over £2,000 in the process, exceeding their original target of £1250.

Speaking of this footslog, Jo Wright, Head of Marketing at Avery Healthcare, said, “It was certainly wet, windy and at times unkind, but we did it! I’m proud of myself and the team for managing to complete the trek before the sun started to set. It was a beautiful opportunity to experience together.”

Commenting on the day, the CWC’s Partnership and Events Manager, Emily Barnett, said, “We crossed the finish line soggy but still smiling. A huge thanks for being Hadrian’s Wall Heroes and to those who sponsored them, thank you.”

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We all know Christmas is about the kids, but with endless toys and gifts in the shops, it’s often hard to know where to start. What will they like, and what will make you Grandparent of the Year? Here’s a little helping hand…

Stack Them Up

Ethically handmade using sustainable beechwood from PEFC certified forests (for any trees cut, trees are planted) and un-varnished for a truly natural toy. These beautiful stacking games are ideal for open-ended play. With a detachable head and three stacking rings on a base, little ones will love to play over and over again. Plus, any wood waste from the production is used as fuel at facilities and for nearby households to save energy and CO2 emissions. bluebrontide.com

Little Rockstar

Do you have an aspiring musician in your family? This wooden toy guitar is a wonderful gift for a creative child. Featuring a starshaped sound hole and strings that can be played, this cute gift will have your grandchild rocking out in their room. Why not opt for the matching drum or xylophone and start a band together.

Imagine the memories… cuckooland.com

Clip-pity Clop

Dressed in beautiful geometric print, Harper the Rocking Horse is guaranteed to turn heads. His super-soft velour saddle and a scrunchy mane and tail complete the look.

Plus, tucked inside his pocket is his little friend Chase, a huggable dog with a rattle in his tummy. His sturdy wooden frame is built to last, meaning it can be passed down from generation to generation, and he comes with rocking rails, handles, and detachable footplates. therockinghorsetoyshop.co.uk

First Bites

Designed to make family mealtimes more enjoyable, this handcrafted wooden bear plate for children is ideal for those early years. Made from naturally anti-bacterial wood in the UK, this would be ideal for a baby’s first Christmas dinner and use through the weaning journey. sirgordonbennett.com

Chef in Town

Step aside, Gordon Ramsay, there’s a new chef in town! Perfect for creative kiddos, this Wooden Toy Kitchen will encourage stimulating, imaginative play. Featuring dials, a clock, and even an oven door that can open and close, see what surprises they can serve up. With pots, pans, spatulas, and spoons all included, they will love to invent new recipes and creations for you to try. If you have a budding chef or baker in the family, this will keep them entertained for hours. cuckooland.com 72

Make it, Bake it

The Big Wide World

Kids can colour and discover the world with this fun world map tablecloth and wash-out pen set - a great one for keeping the kids busy during family celebrations. The ink washes out on a warm machine cycle so it can be reused again and again. eatsleepdoodle.com

Do you love to bake together?

A batch of gingerbread boys and girls will certainly warm tummies on a winter day.

Perfectly sized for little hands, these will make a fun addition to Granny and Grandson or Grandad and Granddaughter afternoons. nordicware.com

Story-time

We all know story time is full of magical memories but imagine how your grandkids will feel if the story is all about them!

Personalised with everything from eye colour and skin colour to hair colour and even a choice of clothes, Personalised Stories offers over 200 variations to transform your grandchild into the hero in the novel. personalisedstories.co.uk

Lace & Learn

This natural wooden lacing toy has been lovingly designed to encourage children to create patterns with the rope by weaving it throughout and coiling it around the crevices. Patterns are everywhere, and they provide a sense of order in what might otherwise appear chaotic. They help children learn to make predictions and sequence, both of which foster the development of mathematical and logical skills and hand-eye co-ordination. bluebrontide.com

Imagination Game

A child’s imagination is a beautiful thing. Spending time outdoors is great for mental and physical health, growth, education, and understanding the world and our place in it.

Children thrive in an outdoor environment, which offers them an enduring connection with nature and the freedom to realise their potential. This Forest Den Kit is designed for camouflaged adventures amongst the trees. Guaranteed to inspire creativity, test bushcraft skills, and clock up some splendid outdoor hours, this is one the whole family can enjoy together. thedenkitco.com 73

Two for One

We all know a teenager’s worst nightmare is running out of phone battery and having to wait until it has charged up to use it again. Introducing the Gamebank, bringing together a power bank and a games console. This awesome Gamebank offers up to 240 retro arcade-style games to play while they wait for their phone battery to charge up. With a 2.4” screen for a great gaming experience, the Gamebank can provide two full battery charges! prezzybox.com

Construction King

This construction kit contains everything you need to make four different vehicles, including transporter and crane, helicopter, truck and a digger. Watch your grandchildren build, fly, dig and drive. rexlondon.com

Hello from Granny

This gorgeous piece of room décor could be the perfect reminder to your grandkids that you are always around when they need a little chat, whilst also looking stylish and practical for storing jewellery or scarves. The neon pink adds a pop of colour, and it arrives with colour matched screws ready to go straight on their wall. bombayduck.com

Sleep & Listen

This pillow will have you in your teenage grandchildren’s good books. With speakers built into the pillow, they can relax with no headphones and listen to music, podcasts or even audiobooks.

The pillow allows them to drift off slowly and will switch off when the song or story is complete. They could even use it to assist with studying or to learn a new language. The options are endless! prezzybox.com 74

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www.ilove7thheaven.com 77

THE MYTH OF

MULTITASKING

By Lee Eldridge

So many of us believe that multitasking is the key to being efficient and getting as much done as possible with household jobs, family commitments and our leisure time. But are you completing those tasks to the best of your ability? Are you really engaged in the process?

Think about what you’re doing right now. You’re sitting down reading this piece in Avery Life magazine, but you might also be texting or listening to music in the background. That’s ok. Multitasking is not so much of a problem in our leisure time, but can we expect to multitask and perform at our best when it comes to important tasks? The research says no. Studies have shown that multitasking can reduce productivity by between 30-40%.

We have been tricked into thinking that we are accomplishing multiple tasks efficiently, but we are just task-shifting and moving our focus from one job to the next.

There are many issues with this: Increasing the cognitive load (wastes mental energy) Opens us up for distractions between tasks Leads to increased anxiety Decreases creative thinking Impacts short term memory Stops us from getting into a “flow state” which helps performance Let’s look a bit deeper into multitasking as there are, of course, different types, the three most common being:

1

Multitasking

The most common. Answering emails, sending messages, checking out social media, talking to a friend, all while trying to finish a project. Inevitably, the tasks interfere with each other, we slow down, make mistakes, and problems start to arise.

2

Context Switching - Switching back and forth between tasks

Our brains bounce between tasks very quickly, as this would have been essential thousands of years ago as hunter-gatherers. The time between each switch increases the brain’s cognitive load, leading to massive amounts of fatigue and stress. Research shows that task switching may use up to 20% of our productivity, leading to underperformance.

3

Attention Residue

This is when we take on multiple different tasks in quick succession. The issue here is that these activities might be very different. This affects the part of the brain that controls how, when, and in which order you complete tasks, known as executive functioning.

Psychologists have found that people typically spend almost half their time thinking about a different task than the one they are trying to complete.

So, how do you improve your productivity and reduce multitasking?

Plan your focused work Plan when you will get your most important tasks completed for that day or week. Schedule this time in and protect it. Start with 20-30 minutes and then try to increase to a maximum of 90 minutes. If done correctly, you will complete vast amounts of work during this time. Ensure that you have a small break after.

Understand emails Emails are one of the biggest problems affecting multitasking and, therefore, productivity. Ensure that you schedule in time for email checking during the day, as it can be easy to check for emails constantly.

Be confident that someone will call you if there is an urgent problem.

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Think like a professional athlete

Optimise your environment for focus

When training professional athletes, I would always plan out the day, week, month and year to include recovery time. It is impossible to train all day, every day. We need rest and recuperation.

Optimise spaces for productivity and reduce distractions. Make sure that you are free of both physical and digital clutter. Put your phone in the other room, invest in noise-cancelling headphones, turn off notification sounds and remote messaging apps from computers.

I always tell my clients to think like cognitive athletes.

To keep the intensity up during the day, you need regular breaks, moments to refuel and refocus. How you do it is up to you, consider 25 minutes on and then 5 minutes off.

Remember that we are aiming for progress, not perfection. Gradually develop these habits and create a better environment to focus.

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LATE BLOOMERS Never give up reinventing yourself…

The only thing that is more inspiring than a great success story is one that happens later in one’s life. Some celebrities are born famous, some achieve childhood success, but there is something impressive about the stars who saw their persistence pay off well into their careers. Like a fine wine, success tastes sweeter when it’s taken some time. Meet the late bloomers who didn’t hit it big until later in life.

Larry David Larry started as a writer for Saturday Night Live in his late 30’s, but he wasn’t an instant success. “The sketches would get cut,” he shared. “I only had one sketch on the entire year.” But his luck changed when he turned 42, and he co-created Seinfeld. Larry was the head writer and executive producer for the first seven series of the popular TV show and success onscreen in Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Samuel L. Jackson His films may have grossed over 16 billion dollars worldwide, but Jackson didn’t hit the big time until he was well into his forties. After being suspended from college for holding members of the Board of Trustees hostage during the post-King civil rights movement, Jackson later returned to study marine biology and architecture. Moving to Los Angeles a few years later, he fell into heroin and cocaine addiction, a life that helped him land his role in Jungle Fever before making his mark on the movie world in Pulp Fiction. We all know the story from there!

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Ang Lee

Julia Child

Ang Lee was a stay-at-home dad before becoming one of the most celebrated directors in the world at 41. Ang put his career to one side to stay home for six years to care for his children, while his wife, a molecular biologist, advanced her career. Achieving success first in Taiwan, Lee’s big break in America came in 1995 when he directed ‘Sense and Sensibility’. He has gone on to become one of the world’s most accomplished directors thanks to films such as ‘Brokeback Mountain’ and ‘Life of Pi’.

Julia Child was 49 before she changed cooking in America. Best known for her cookbooks and television show, Julia didn’t publish her first cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, until almost 50. She was 51 when she landed her first cooking show, followed by three decades as a US TV star. She went on to become the first woman to be inducted into the Culinary Institute of America’s Hall of Fame.

Melissa McCarthy Actress Melissa didn’t become a household name until she was 41 with her hilarious work in Bridesmaids. If you watched Gilmore Girls, you would know Melissa paid her dues in the industry for a long time before becoming the big-time star she is now.

Steve Carrell Before he was Michael Scott on The Office, Steve’s first major movie role was Anchorman in 2004; the movie was released the year Carrell turned 42. Since then, Carrell has gone on to star in countless successful films, including The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Crazy, Stupid, Love.

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Martha Stewart Known for her two dozen books, The Martha Stewart Show and publishing magazine, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, amongst endless other achievements, this businesswoman didn’t achieve stardom until she passed 40. Her first book, 1982’s Entertaining, didn’t hit shelves until she was 41.

Liam Neeson Liam Neeson worked primarily as a stage actor during the 70 and 80s. It wasn’t until his breakout role in Steven Spielberg’s Oscarwinning Schindler’s List at the age of 40 that he became a big Hollywood star. The actor then went on to star in Taken and Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace and various other box office triumphs.

Vera Wang The world’s most sought-after bridal designer originally trained as a figure skater, she then tried her hand at journalism, working for Vogue and Ralph Lauren before designing her first wedding dress, which just happened to be her own, age 39. The following year she opened her first bridal boutique. Since then, the designer has dressed the likes of Gwen Stefani, Mariah Carey, Victoria Beckham and Kim and Khloe Kardashian.

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R I G H T- S I Z E YOUR RETIREMENT Live safe and well in the comfort of your own luxury studio, 1-bed or 2-bed apartment at The Hawthorns, a warm and friendly rental retirement community for the over 70s.

One simple monthly fee includes home-cooked, quality dining, housekeeping, property upkeep, and utility bills with no worry of property purchases or exit fees.

S E E I F I T ’ S F O R Y O U T R I A L S TAY Experience an apartment, restaurant-style dining, and Hawthorn’s lifestyle for yourself.

Book a trial stay and make new friends.*

ONE MONTH RENT FREE Enjoy your seventh month at The Hawthorns on us. Celebrate the beginning of your free month with a complimentary bottle of champagne. We’ll have one on ice for you - cheers! *

EASY MOVE Enjoy a worry-free move with £1000 from us towards your packing and moving costs so you can settle into your new apartment with minimal stress.*

Call today to book a safe, guided in-person or virtual tour

0800 0125260 hawthornsretirement.co.uk

* Terms and conditions apply

The Hawthorns

ONE SIMPLE,

ALL-INCLUSIVE Monthly Charge COMPARISON MADE EASY In yourself recenthow years, there has been amonthly lot ofrental See for our worry-free all-inclusive compares to your current potentialofoutgoings. coverage about the feasibility retirement village property purchases and hidden YOUR MONTHLY THE HAWTHORNS fees. COSTS The Hawthorns model is completely different, offering only rental options instead £ Rent or mortgage Rent of complicated sales, and an all-inclusive £ where there are Water, Water, gas, and electricity gas, and electricity costs, package no extra service maintenance charges or exit fees. £ Building insurance & Council Tax Building insurance & Council Tax

✓ INCLUDED

The only extra is a one-off ‘apartment preparation’ Maintenance (roofing, gardening, maintenance andof repairs charge£ for deep cleaning orAllreplacement carpets plumbing & other repairs)

✓ INCLUDED

and other furnishings at the beginning of your rental.

Breakfast, lunch & supper

£

✓ INCLUDED ✓ INCLUDED

✓ INCLUDED

Breakfast, lunch and supper

With no long-term commitments, you can enjoy £ In-apartment or communal area or laundry life without worrying about property prices restrictions over property purchases. The Hawthorns Daily refreshments (tea, coffee, Daily refreshments (tea, coffee, rental £apartments are a transparent and easy to juices, biscuits, fruit, etc) juices, biscuits, fruit, etc) manage option for the over 70s. And for such a luxury environment and lifestyle, The Hawthorns Weekly housekeeping including is Weekly housekeeping £ surprisingly affordable. fresh bed linen and towels Laundry

✓ INCLUDED ✓ INCLUDED ✓ INCLUDED

Transportation (your car, insurance, repairs, petrol & oil)

£

Scheduled local transportation with our own private bus

✓ INCLUDED

House-owners association (fees, club, dues, etc)

£

All activities, trips & events organised by our event coordinator

✓ INCLUDED

Security/night guard

£

Staff on hand 24/7

✓ INCLUDED

24 hour emergency aid

£

Emergency call system

✓ INCLUDED

Cable TV service

£

Freeview TV and in-house cinema

✓ INCLUDED

TV licence

£

TV licence

X NOT INCLUDED

Telephone landline and mobile phone

X NOT INCLUDED

Telephone landline and mobile phone £ WiFi

£

WiFi (communal areas)

Contents insurance

£

Contents insurance

Total

£

Total for your apartment

86

✓ INCLUDED X NOT INCLUDED Contact your preferred service for apartment availability and pricing

The Hawthorns

COMPARISON MADE EASY See for yourself how our worry-free all-inclusive monthly rental compares to your current potential outgoings.

YOUR MONTHLY COSTS

THE HAWTHORNS

Rent or mortgage

£

Rent

✓ INCLUDED

Water, gas, and electricity

£

Water, gas, and electricity

✓ INCLUDED

Building insurance & Council Tax

£

Building insurance & Council Tax

✓ INCLUDED

Maintenance (roofing, gardening, plumbing & other repairs)

£

All maintenance and repairs

✓ INCLUDED

Breakfast, lunch & supper

£

Breakfast, lunch and supper

✓ INCLUDED

Laundry

£

In-apartment or communal area laundry

✓ INCLUDED

Daily refreshments (tea, coffee, juices, biscuits, fruit, etc)

£

Daily refreshments (tea, coffee, juices, biscuits, fruit, etc)

✓ INCLUDED

Weekly housekeeping

£

Weekly housekeeping including fresh bed linen and towels

✓ INCLUDED

Transportation (your car, insurance, repairs, petrol & oil)

£

Scheduled local transportation with our own private bus

✓ INCLUDED

House-owners association (fees, club, dues, etc)

£

All activities, trips & events organised by our event coordinator

✓ INCLUDED

Security/night guard

£

Staff on hand 24/7

✓ INCLUDED

24 hour emergency aid

£

Emergency call system

✓ INCLUDED

Cable TV service

£

Freeview TV and in-house cinema

✓ INCLUDED

TV licence

£

TV licence

X NOT INCLUDED

Telephone landline and mobile phone

X NOT INCLUDED

Telephone landline and mobile phone £ WiFi

£

WiFi (communal areas)

Contents insurance

£

Contents insurance

Total

£

Total for your apartment

87

✓ INCLUDED X NOT INCLUDED Contact your preferred service for apartment availability and pricing

The Hawthorns

At the Heart of the Community Across the Hawthorns group, we are lucky enough to collaborate with many fantastic organisations within the local area. Our residents love getting involved in community projects, be it charity events or arts and crafts; it is a wonderful way to get out and about and socialise with one another.

The Hawthorns Northampton, who have several residents still active in golf, were delighted to be given the opportunity to sponsor junior member, Josh Pritchett and present him with a bursary cheque at Northamptonshire County Golf Club in Church Brampton. Kelly Coleshill, Deputy General Manager

at The Hawthorns, had the honour of presenting Josh with his bursary and was joined by Junior Section Co-ordinators, Brian and Marianne O’Connell, professional Adam Myers, last year’s recipient Joe Quinn, and Hawthorns Group Commercial Director, Mark Danis.

Josh said, “I’m delighted to be this year’s recipient for the Hawthorns Northampton junior bursary. It will help towards the annual costs of match entry fees, travel, hotels and equipment. I’m very grateful to the Hawthorns and will put their support to good use in the coming year”.

88

The Hawthorns

Last year’s recipient Joe Quinn added, “I would like to say a big thank you to everyone at Hawthorns for supporting me over the last year and helping me achieve my goal of being able to turn professional by the age of 18.”

They join together frequently, providing residents with the opportunity to engage in some exciting activities on the pier and for representatives from the pier to come into the Hawthorns when government restrictions allow, offering talks on the attraction’s history.

For many years, The Hawthorns Clevedon and Clevedon Pier have held a strong relationship. The Hawthorns Clevedon is a proud sponsor of the attraction, which sees thousands of visitors each year, including our very own residents who cite it as one of their most popular points of interest.

In June of 2021, several residents from The Hawthorns were invited to plant flowers across the pier, an excellent treat for the avid gardeners, who were delighted to help improve the look of the historic landmark in their town.

In addition to organised activities, residents benefit from membership passes, allowing them to visit the Pier free of charge throughout the year. Aggie Jasinski, Customer Services Manager at The Hawthorns Clevedon, said, “The hospitality from the staff at the pier is always outstanding, and we thoroughly enjoy getting together. We, alongside Clevedon Pier and Poets Mews, are now exploring future events and opportunities and how we can support each other to benefit our residents.”

Our residents are also regularly involved in charity events, including Jean Flynn at Clevedon, who earlier this year completed a walk in support of Parkinson’s UK. General Manager of the Hawthorns Clevedon, Steven Bryant, commented, “It was not an easy task for Jean, especially towards the end in the heavy rain and wind, but she completed it. We are all very proud of her.” Jean managed to raise an incredible £1,530 for her efforts. Resident Helen Hughes also completed a sponsored walk for Children’s Hospice South West and Acorns Children’s Hospice in Birmingham – walking the equivalent of three marathon laps in the community’s garden. Sally Porter, Acorns Supporter Services Coordinator, said Helen’s dedication to the task at hand has been unbelievable, and her “gift is so special and means so much to every child and parent who comes to Acorns.” Tamara Downes, Head of Fundraising at The Children’s Hospice South West, added, “Helen’s kind donations brought moments of happiness to families across the South West who remain in lockdown and isolation due to Covid-19.”

89

The Hawthorns

All of the Hawthorns Retirement Group has been accredited with the prestigious Hospitality Assured Award.

Hospitality Assured is the national quality standard created and licensed by the Institute of Hospitality, specifically for customer-led, service-orientated hospitality-focused businesses. The process enables

and encourages organisations to look at their operation through the customer’s eyes at every level of the organisation, identifying what is excellent about the customer service and what could be improved.

This respected award looks at the excellence in the overall resort. It supports services at a specific site, delving into the services from the front of house, food and beverage, culinary and housekeeping services.

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The Hawthorns

Dining In,

Hawthorns Style!

Hawthorns’ dining rooms are the social hubs of the retirement communities. At lunch and dinner, three courses along with a glass of wine are served, and a continuous supply of hot drinks, fresh fruit and tasty home-made biscuits and cakes are on hand throughout the day.

The menus reflect the time of the year, using seasonal produce that is locally sourced where possible, giving variety and balance to each meal. It is evident that the chef and hospitality team at Hawthorns’ restaurants are highly trained and passionate about food, and you get a sense of luxurious surroundings, high-quality food and what the Hawthorns’ lifestyle is really about, from the atmosphere that oozes out of the dining rooms.

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Silver Service Avery Healthcare delivers a comprehensive package to residents within a premium care setting providing a wonderful later life experience within home-from-home surroundings.

All are registered to offer residential, dementia, respite, and convalescence care, with many also offering nursing care.

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wide range of healthy exercises, nutritiously balanced diets, and freshly prepared cuisine, along with daily activities and outings, help residents enjoy life to the full. A dedicated team of well-being and activities staff is also on hand to provide a daily calendar of events and regular trips in private minibuses. Skype and social media are available to help maintain contact with family and friends, and internet access is free to all, including visitors. There is table service, and all meals are of high quality, plus a private dining room where residents can host a private lunch, afternoon tea or celebration with family and friends. The dining options also include a wide range of vegetarian and vegan choices to ensure that residents’ preferences and dietary needs are met and maintained.

Residents’ well-being is a top priority for the professional staff team to ensure that residents have the highest quality and tailored support for mind, body and soul. There are regular exercise classes, as well as a wide range of activities and clubs.

Residents are also encouraged to get out into the fresh air and enjoy the grounds, be it getting involved with gardening or one of the many other outdoor pursuits.

The focus on care delivery through a professional staff group is underpinned by a sector-leading training and development programme to attract and retain only the best staff. All staff have Avery career pathways, including a detailed in-house

appointment in the salons, a therapy treatment in the spa rooms, or even catch a film in the cinemas.

two-year Apprenticeship scheme, NVQs from Levels 2 to 5, and a City & Guilds accredited Advanced Senior Carers’ course.

The spacious and airy rooms at Avery care homes are furnished to a high standard and have luxury en-suite wet rooms; there are even companion rooms for couples wishing to stay together in care.

Residents can enjoy the all-day free cafés, relax in one of the quiet lounges, book a hair or nail

Visiting family members has become an important issue in recent months due to the effects of the pandemic. Avery homes have been at the forefront of stringent hygiene regimes and sanitisation protocols, enabling their communities to open to visitors, firstly with garden visits, then with visits inside to rooms accessible from the gardens and with glass screens, and more recently, for visits in loved ones’ bedrooms. Avery has worked hard to ensure that their homes are some of the safest places to bring back a slice of normality for everyone.

Call 0800 012 9113 to book a tour averyhealthcare.co.uk Avery Healthcare Group | 3 Cygnet Drive Swan Valley | Northampton | NN4 9BS

Find your Care Home

Abbey Court

Acacia Lodge

Acacia Mews

1 Heath Way, Heath Hayes, Cannock, WS11 7AD T. 01543 277358

90A Broadway, New Moston, Manchester, M40 3WQ T. 0161 688 1890

St Albans Road East, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL10 0FJ T. 01707 278160

Acer Court

Acer House

Acorn Lodge

172 Nottingham Road, Nuthall, Nottinghamshire, NG8 6AX T. 0115 977 7370

141B Milton Road, Weston-super-Mare, BS22 8AA T. 01934 637350

132 Coventry Road, Nuneaton, CV10 7AD T. 02476 642680

Adelaide

Aire View

Albion Court

35 West Street, Bexleyheath, Kent, DA7 4BE T. 020 83043303

29 Broad Lane, Kirkstall, Leeds, LS5 3ED T. 0113 388 5440

Clinton Street, Winson Green, Birmingham, B18 4BJ T. 0121 554 7261

Alder House

Alma Court

Amarna House

172A Nottingham Road, Nuthall, Nottingham, NG8 6AX T. 0115 975 8110

2 Heath Way, Heath Hayes, Cannock, WS11 7AD T. 01543 273860

Rosetta Way, Off Boroughbridge Road, York, Yorkshire, YO26 5RN T. 01904 798509

Aran Court

Ashurst Mews

Astbury Manor

Braymoor Road, Tile Cross, Birmingham, B33 0LT T. 0121 770 4322

Northampton Lane North, Moulton, Northamptonshire, NN3 7RQ T. 01604 493233

Crowthorne Road North, Bracknell, RG12 7AU T. 01344 359100

averyhealthcare.co.uk

Avonmere

Avalon Court

Avery Park

1 Glendale Way, Tile Hill, Coventry, CV4 9YQ T. 02476 470246

231 Rockingham Road, Kettering, NN16 9JB T. 01536 851745

339 Badminton Road Downend, Bristol, BS36 1AJ T. 0117 9579210

Avon Valley

Birchmere House

Birchmere Mews

Tenniscourt Road, Kingswood, Bristol, BS15 4JW T. 0117 428 8800

1270 Warwick Road Knowle, Solihull, B93 9LQ T. 01564 732400

1270A Warwick Road, Knowle, Solihull, B93 9LQ T. 01564 732660

Birchwood Grange

Bourn View

Clare Court

177 Preston Hill, Kenton, Harrow, London, HA3 9UY T. 020 83851115

47 Bristol Road South, Bournville, Birmingham, B31 2FR T. 0121 516 3500

28 Clinton Street, Winson Green, Birmingham, B18 4BJ T. 0121 554 9101

Clayton Manor

Cliftonville

Rood Hill, Congleton, Cheshire, CW12 1YZ T. 01260 299622

Cliftonville Road, Northampton, NN1 5BE T. 01604 238850

Crispin Court

Darwin Court

Derby Heights

Droitwich Mews

Wissage Road, Lichfield, WS13 6SP T. 01543 250824

Rykneld Road, Littleover, Derby, DE23 4BU T. 01332 540060

Mulberry Tree Hill, Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire, WR9 8QS T. 01905 958716

averyhealthcare.co.uk

385A Stone Road, Stafford, ST16 1LD T. 01785 785900

Find your Care Home

Dukes Court

Elvy Court

Edenbridge Manor

159 Northampton Road, Wellingborough, NN8 3PN T. 01933 445690

200 London Road, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME10 1QA T. 01795 437449

Mont St Aignan Way, Edenbridge, Kent, TN8 5EG T. 01732 927469

Glenmoor House

Grove Park

Hanford Court

25 Rockingham Road, Corby, Northamptonshire, NN17 1AD T. 01536 205255

100 Grove Lane, Headingley, Leeds, Yorkshire, LS6 2BG T. 01132 789612

Bankhouse Road, Hanford, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 8EN T. 01782 645140

Hawthorns Aldridge

Hempstalls Hall

Highcliffe

Erdington Road, Aldridge, West Midlands, WS9 8UH T. 01922 452087

Hempstalls Lane, Newcastle-under-Lyme, ST5 9NR T. 01782 349320

Whitchurch Road, Witherwack, Sunderland, Tyne & Wear, SR5 5SX T. 0191 516 0606

Hinckley House

Horse Fair

Knowle Gate

Lavender Lodge

Tudor Road, Hinckley, Leicestershire, LE10 0EH T. 01455 639710

Horse Fair, Rugeley, Staffordshire, WS15 2EJ T. 01889 571980

1331 Warwick Road, Knowle, B93 9LW T. 01564 332233

10 Bruntile Close, Reading Road, Farnborough, Hampshire, GU14 6P T. 01252 517569

Milton Court

Miramar

Tunbridge Grove, Kents Hill, Milton Keynes, MK7 6JD T. 01908 699555

165 Reculver Road, Beltinge, Herne Bay, Kent, CT6 6PX T. 01227 374488

Loxley Park Assisted Living Merlin Court Loxley Road, Sheffield, S6 4TF T. 0114 2321583

The Common, Marlborough, Wiltshire, SN8 1JR T. 01672 512454

averyhealthcare.co.uk

Newcross 378 Prestwood Road, Wolverhampton, WV11 1RH T. 01902 866890

Pemberley

Poets Mews

Priory Court

Grove Road, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG21 3HL T. 01256 632000

2 Cherry Avenue, Clevedon, Somerset, BS21 6DY T. 01275 404840

Rivermere

Rowan Court

Scholars Mews

Seagrave House

64-70 Westerham Road, Chipstead, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN13 2PZ T. 01732 748400

Silverdale Road, Newcastleunder-Lyme, Staffordshire, ST5 2TA T. 01782 622144

23-34 Scholars Lane, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 6HE T. 01789 297589

Occupation Road, Corby, Northamptonshire, NN17 1EH T. 01536 270400

Silvermere

South Lodge

Spencer House

St Giles

Redhill Road, Cobham, Surrey, KT11 1EF T. 01932 576650

307 London Road Leicester, LE2 3ND T. 0116 2748000

Cliftonville Road, Northampton, NN1 5BU T. 01604 619960

122 Tile Cross Road, Birmingham, B33 0LT T. 0121 770 8531

The Hawthorns Braintree Meadow Park, Tortoiseshell Way, Braintree, Essex, CM7 1TD T. 01376 335500

Priory Road, Stamford, South Lincolnshire, PE9 2EU T. 01780 766130

The Hawthorns Clevedon 18-21 Elton Road, Clevedon, North Somerset, BS21 7EH T. 01275 790060

The Hawthorns Eastbourne

The Hawthorns Northampton

4 Carew Road, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN21 2BF T. 01323 644111

Weedon Road, Upton, Northampton NN5 4WR T. 01604 684920

hawthornsretirement.co.uk

Avery Healthcare

THANK YOU day 2021 July 2021 saw the first-ever Thank You Day, an idea that came from a grassroots campaign to hold the country’s biggest ever thank you party across local communities as a way of building on the inclusive spirit that so many felt during lockdowns. The campaign won tremendous nationwide support from hundreds of organisations ranging from the NHS to the Scouts and from high profile individuals including Gary Lineker, Michael Sheen, Dame Judi Dench, and Raheem Sterlin.

Avery’s Silvermere Care Home was invited to shoot some promotional footage to advertise the campaign alongside the charity, Together with Music, who were tasked with leading the UK in a ‘music moment’ where musicians and groups up and down the country sang Fleetwood Mac’s iconic ‘Don’t Stop’. The home residents were joined by local school children and the London Gospel Choir. Singing is a large part of care home life because of its known benefits of lifting spirits and helping with retrieval of memories, especially with residents living with dementia.

Silvermere’s residents got involved with gusto and thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon of song.

The event took place on Sunday 4th July 2021, with numbers reaching over 2 million people saying ‘thank you’ to one another, including neighbours, teachers, faith leaders, small businesses and of course, the NHS and our care home workers.

Of those who attended a Thank You Day event or activity:

88% 62% 63% 62%

said they talked to someone from a different background to themselves

said it made their area feel more united said it helped them meet someone new in their area said it helped them feel more positive about their local area

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