Welcome to the first Northcourt Lodge Newsletter of 2023. We hope this will give you a flavour of life at Northcourt Lodge and help keep you connected with loved ones.
As Manager, I am immensely proud of our team who look after all our wonderful residents as family, with compassion and quality of care. The comfort, safety, and well-being of our residents remains at the forefront of our priorities.
Ileana, our Activities Co-ordinator brings light and joy! Her sense of fun, and creativity, in daily activities never waivers. Springtime and warmer weather will see us emerging to the outdoors. If ever you feel like participating in activities or know someone who’d like to volunteer, please let me know.
Our Chef, Janina, inspires the taste buds of our residents daily with wholesome and varied menus. Relatives or friends are always welcome to dine with a loved one – if that’s something you’d like,
please ask and we’ll make the arrangements.
Northcourt Lodge has been undergoing some refurbishment works. Recently the lounges and dining room have been decorated. Carpets are being replaced by LVT flooring; a healthier method of infection control and wheelchair manoeuvrability, plus we are decorating rooms as and when we can.
I hope you enjoy our Newsletterwe welcome your feedback!
Revathy Registered Manager, Northcourt Lodge
2023
SPRING
Newsletter
More
from
than a home
home…
Employees of the Quarter
Each quarter the Northcourt Lodge Team select two staff members who they believe have gone above and beyond.
Congratulations to…
Charanjit Kaur
Charanjit is one of our Senior Care Assistants and works both day and night shifts. She has been integral to the Northcourt Team for 15 years and knows the ‘ins and outs’ of the home to perfection. That’s because she always helps where needed. Charanjit is friendly, caring, and compassionate towards her colleagues and all the Northcourt residents. She has a special quality of never saying ‘no’. That’s why she gets the vote from her team!
Himali Gurung
Himali has demonstrated her dedication and commitment to learn and support throughout her 5 years at Northcourt Lodge. She has worked her way through being a Domestic, Laundry Assistant and as of January 2023 has become a Care Assistant. She has an adorable demeanour and a wonderful way of communicating with staff and the residents. Himali is hardworking and is always calm and happy – we’re yet to see her upset. That’s why she gets the vote from her team!
Staff Training
At Northcourt Lodge we take our training and development very seriously and are fully up to date with all courses. We invest in all staff for their progression and to provide exemplary care for our residents.
Baby Shower
Congratulations to Gyanu Gurung who has been a Care Assistant for the last 4 years. Who better to celebrate than with her friends and colleagues! We are excited to welcome her baby boy.
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Happy Birthday to you!
17 February 2023
Barbara Abdey - 85 years young!
Always cheerful with a smile on her face!
27 February 2023
Doreen Tegg - 83 years young
Pirate of her own ship!
31 March 2023
Margaret Martin - 87 years young
Always lovely, always smart!
12 April 1932
Patricia Wellsteed - 91 years young
Our laughing queen!
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We don’t sit idle!
We place great importance on Activities for the well-being of our residents, emotionally and physically. Not all residents enthuse about the same activity or have the same capabilities or capacity – that’s why our activities are varied to be purposeful for everyone.
Daily Inhouse Activities
Chair Exercise
Sing-a-long Games
Quizzes
Ball games
Painting
Gardening
One-one time
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22/02 Taster Fitness Session with G Fitness - Get Going
15/03 Gary Romano entertains – Rock ‘n Roll
Coming up... 12/04 Ringing the Bells with Carol Wheeler 18/05 Gary Allen entertains –songs from the 50’s & 60’s 01/06 21/06 Day out to the Garden Centre 12/07 Day trip to Reading 6
Down Memory Lane…
Sylvia Woodley has been one of our wonderful Northcourt Lodge residents since early 2020. Due to celebrate her 90th birthday this year, Sylvia has forged many memories over the years.
Sylvia is the eldest of four, with twin brothers, Reg and Ron, and sister Connie. Childhood was happy, ensconced in the Whitley Estate community. With both parents working, Sylvia aided her mother in childcare. As Connie says,
was in charge and
Sylvia was the more reserved and introverted family member, always with her nose in a book. She attended George Palmer School in Reading – named after the co-founder of Huntley and Palmers Biscuit Factory where incidentally her mum worked for many years.
Sylvia rode a bicycle and made adventurous trips – once to Hayling
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‘Sylvia
serious!’
Sylvia and George Sylvia
Island where she got sorely burnt much to the scorn of her mum! Sylvia continued to cycle or go by foot throughout life.
Leaving school aged 15, Sylvia’s first job was at the Co-Op Printing Works in Elgar Road, Reading. It was when she moved to The Gaumont Cinema in Broad Street as an usherette that she met her husband George whom she married in 1958. George and Sylvia were a good match, homely and content in each other’s company. They shared a love of their garden and pet cat.
Sylvia became a seamstress by trade and worked at Frames men’s tailors by Reading station, later Mr Harry’s on
the Basingstoke Road. This tied in with Sylvia and George’s move from their first flat in Tilehurst to their first house in Margaret Close – back to roots in Whitley Wood.
The last marital home was a spacious house in Shinfield Road where they created a showpiece garden, creatively designed with stunning flowerbeds and large decorative pond.
Sylvia’s passion for entertaining was met with equal enthusiasm from family members who were fortunate to sample Sylvia’s exemplary cuisine! Not only were roasts a firm favourite but her Victoria sponges could not be rivalled! Sylvia took pride in presentation with her finest china.
Despite Sylvia’s quiet demeanour, often
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Married in 1958, Sylvia and George were a partnershipgreat
SylviaandConnie
Sylvia and George’s garden
observing and listening, her knowledge from years of reading came to the fore at family quizzes - she always won!
‘Sylvia, the queen of quizzes!’
George died aged 64 after which Sylvia was dedicated to caring for her ailing mother. Her compassion and devotion remained constant until her mother’s death in 2003. At 71, life needed new purpose. She spent hours creating exquisite ornamental eggs and putting her needlework skills to good use.
Sylvia was blessed to have the love and support of family with Connie, Tony, Dean and Darren by her side. They shared Mediterranean holidays, weekly family outings and eventually
Sylvia moved a stone’s throw away from Connie and Tony in the same retirement housing block.
Sadly, Sylvia suffered dementia and finally required nursing support. Northcourt Lodge wasn’t the first home Sylvia went to, but Connie was determined to rehome Sylvia who has now resided at Northcourt Lodge for three years. A regular visitor, Connie is thankful to the Northcourt team for their excellent care and supervision, ‘we really believe Sylvia is happy in her own world’.
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DeanandSylvia
Sylviawithhermother
Michael is our fabulous hairdresser who has been working his wonders in hair wash, cut and styling for over 15 years at Northcourt.
Michael visits Northcourt Lodge every Thursday. If you would like to ensure your loved one has an allocated space, please do let us know in plenty of time.
Hairdressing
Price List
Gentlemen
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Introducing … Michael Ludford
Ladies Shampoo and set £18.00 Shampoo, cut and set £26.00 Shampoo and blow
£18.00 Shampoo,
Ladies
Perm
dry
cut and blow dry £26.00
cut £20.00
- cut/set/blow dry £60.00
Cut
Beard
£8.50
trim £3.00
Dates for the diary... at Northcourt Lodge Nursing Home
FAMILY MEETING
24 May 2023 at 2.00pm
Your views are important to us, and we will always try to accommodate your wishes.
Please join us for tea and cakes where we can exchange ideas and plans.
Indra Narine
Indra is a qualified podiatrist and we cannot enthuse about her enough! Indra is forever the chatterbox! She communicates kindly with the residents, puts them at ease and nothing is ever too much trouble.
Indra visits Northcourt approximately every 6 weeks. The next dates scheduled are: 27 April, 8 June, 20 July and 31 August.
Each session costs £25
If you would like your loved one to have a chiropody appointment, please advise Northcourt Lodge in plenty of time.
SUMMER BBQ!
05 August 2023 starting from 2.00pm
We welcome you to join in the summer party and BBQ at Northcourt Lodge.
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We’ve been out and about to talk to people about Northcourt Lodge. You can also help spread the word by completing the carehome.co.uk questionnaire on the following link: https://www.carehome.co.uk/reviewsubmit/3035/rcsid/1012/ We appreciate your support. Rated: Good DOCTORS SURGERY South Reading and Shinfield Medical Practice T: 01184029177, 01189313515 More than a home from home… 65 Northcourt Avenue, Reading RG2 7HF 0118 987 5062 manager@northcourtnursinghome.co.uk www.northcourtlodgenursinghome.co.uk
Spreading the word…
