Welcome to the Summer issue of The Sydmar Sun, a look back at all the news from Sydmar Lodge. Residents have had an action-packed few months, and in this bumper issue you will read reports and see photos of the residents engaging in a variety of activities. Sit back, put your feet up, have your cup of tea at hand and enjoy this issue of The Sydmar Sun.
ACTIVITIES AND WELLBEING IS THE COMPLETE INTEGRATION OF BODY, MIND AND SPIRIT
The people living in a care home should be given the opportunity to live enriched lives. Which is why no two days are the same at Sydmar Lodge. Every resident in Sydmar Lodge is unique, and should be treated as suchespecially where their well-being is concerned.
Meaningful activities such as outings, hobbies and community engagement are crucial to residents' lives, in ensuring they continue to feel enriched and stimulated. At Sydmar Lodge we celebrate life through everything that we do, and are keen to make sure that life in our home is more than just about the care needed. Meaningful activities are personal to each individual and often refer to any physical, social and leisure care home activities which are tailored to the interests, needs and abilities of individuals.
This could be anything from creative activities such as art sessions, reading, flower arranging and drawing to physical pursuits such as keep fit exercises, walking, gardening and mindfulness. It can also include sharing personal stories and memories, and engaging with fellow residents.
Maintaining residents' independence is a fundamental factor in ensuring their well-being is met, and daily activities such as helping around the home, watering the garden, laying the tables are all vital forms of meaningful activities in care homes. Not only does this enhance their life skills, but gives them a sense of purpose.
Meaningful activities in care homes are crucial in order to help maintain social health and wellbeing. It is important for older people to have an active social life, that they feel stimulated and are having fun.
Care homes are ready-made social environments, with a plethora of sociable areas and residents to enjoy activities with. It is important that residents are offered the opportunity for one-to-one activities too, to ensure their hobbies and interests are fully looked after.
There are numerous benefits of meaningful activities at Sydmar Lodge, both for mental and physical health. Not only can meaningful activities alleviate loneliness, but they can offer both stimulation and a sense of purpose.
Physical activity can help with balance, coordination and muscle strength, whilst also lowering any risks of heart disease, strokes and dementia. Moving around more also helps with thinking skills such as problem-solving and decision-making, and decreases feelings of stress and boredom.
Sleep is likely to improve thanks to a number of factors, and the feeling of restlessness will decrease. Older people are at risk of needing increasing help with things such as moving unaided and are prone to falling, but regular physical and mental stimulation are hugely beneficial in helping to keep health problems at bay.
Life-enriching activities are a key part of life at Sydmar Lodge. We make sure that no two days are ever the same, and our residents have access to a calendar of activities and events designed to support their mind, body and soul.
Group activities such as outings to local places of interest, live entertainment and the opportunity to engage with the local community all play a huge part in our timetabled events. But we believe that meaningful activities should be available to residents every single day, and so outside of their specified timetable, they have access to plenty of activities and sources of entertainment in their day-to-day life.
We have strong links with all the local schools and many nurseries and baby groups to provide intergenerational and community engagement, and partnerships with organisations such as the Pets As Therapy, Museum of Brands and Championing Social Care.
Keeping the mind active is an important part of each day, and so activities which stimulate memory and encourage problem solving and logical thought processes are key.
Socialising is a vital part of day-to-day life, and meaningful activities at Sydmar Lodge ensure that our residents have the opportunity to maintain sociable and fulfilling lifestyles.
TERRIFIC TASTY TRUSTY TOMATOES
Multi-beneficial: sensory (taste, smell, touch, sight), reminiscence, creative arts, social, ‘use-it-or lose-it‘ (chopping tomatoes and making cocktails).
"Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad"
Brian O'Driscoll
SLÁINTE MHATH! OIDHCHE BHLAS BURNS!
Cranachan, Scottish whisky and Scottish dancing in honour of RabbieBurns
BEER DAY BRITAIN
We have celebrated Beer Day Britain at Sydmar Lodge since 2016 and have built a close relationship with the organisers of the annual event and many breweries. Each year they generously donate ample supplies of beer so that the residents and staff can celebrate this most British day.
This year, we received generous donations of beer from Timothy Taylor’s, Brewdog, Brixton Brewery, The Ramsgate Brewery and Wiper and True. Beer Day Britain at Sydmar Lodge is always a fun and interactive event, with multiple benefits - sensory, educational, emotional, creative, social, intellectual and reminiscence. Beer Day Britain is an annual celebration on June 15th for all beer lovers and it celebrates all beer including traditional ales, mainstream lagers, and limited edition craft beer and everything in between no matter where it is brewed or who owns the brewing company.
June 15th is significant because that is also the date Magna Carta was sealed in 1215. The great charter mentions ale in Article 35.
‘Let there be throughout our kingdom a single measure for wine and a single measure for ale and a single measure for corn….. ’
Ale was so important in England in 1215 that it was cited in one of the most significant legal documents in history. Today beer and pubs are still central to British life and seven out of 10 drinks sold in a pub are beer.
Britain has a dynamic brewing scene and an unmatched heritage in spreading the love and knowledge of beer around the world. More styles of beer first brewed in Britain are now brewed overseas than those of any other brewing nation. These include India Pale Ale, Pale Ale, Porter, Stout, Imperial Russian Stout, Mild, Bitter, Barley Wine, Brown Ale and Scotch Ale.
LET’S GET INTERGENERATIONAL
Intergenerational activities can be beneficial to both groups. They can help build confidence, challenge assumptions and prejudices and help tackle social isolation and loneliness in both groups. Sydmar Lodge has a large emphasis on intergenerational interactions having formed meaningful relationships with many local schools (both primary and secondary), mother and baby groups, nurseries and youth groups. Below are some of the interactions where residents have bonded with children.
Residents have had intergenerational interactions with children from: Mathilda Marks-Kennedy Primary School, Rosh Pinah Primary School, Etz Chaim Primary School, Menorah Foundation Primary School, Beit Shvidler Primary School, Sinai Primary School, Yavneh Primary School, Deansbrook Junior School, The Orion Primary School, Goldbeaters Primary School, The Big Time Group, Wolfson Hillel Primary School, Bright Little Stars Nursery, Shannon Child Care nursery, Mother to Mother baby group, Edgware Synagogue, Edgware Adath Yisroel Synagogue and Mill Hill Synagogue. We also love it when family members (of all ages) interact in the various activities including music, arts and crafts, keep fit exercises, quizzes, and discussion groups. We also welcome family members to join us on outings.
IN ISRAEL, IN ORDER TO BE A REALIST YOU MUST BELIEVE
IN MIRACLES - DAVID BEN GURION z”l
John F. Kennedy said “Israel was not created in order to disappear - Israel will endure and flourish. It is the child of hope and the home of the brave. It can neither be broken by adversity nor demoralised by success. It carries the shield of democracy and it honours the sword of freedom.
Residents commemorated Yom Hazikaron before celebrating Yom Ha’atzmaut with Jewish and Israeli music, and then enjoyed a feast of Israeli produce and delicacies including pitta bread, houmous, olives, pickles, tehina, falafel, Israeli salad and Goldstar beer.
Residents were also invited to Mathilda Marks-Kennedy Primary School for their Yom Ha’atzmaut party with live music
ARTS AND CRAFTS GALLERY
SUN, SEA AND SOUTHEND
The first day trip this summer visiting Leigh-on-Sea, Westcliff and Southend. Perfect weather, just the right amount of sunshine and sea breeze made for a lovely day out. First up was Leigh-on-Sea for the best fish and chips at our favourite restaurant. Then it was on to Westcliff for the obligatory ice cream from the iconic Rossi’s Ice Cream Parlour on Westcliff Esplanade, which was enjoyed whilst sitting looking out over the Thames Estuary.
PURIM - JOY AND CELEBRATION
“Purim is a way of saying: ‘Remember the past, but then look at the children, celebrate with them, and for their sake, put the past behind you and build a better future.’”
Lord Rabbi Jonathan Sacks z”l
For the first time ever, and in response to requests by the residents, an evening reading of the Megillah was arranged with thanks to GIFT and the youth who drove from Golders Green to be at Sydmar. During the day, local youth visited to do a hamantaschen-making activity before the second reading of the Megillah by Rabbi Schochet.
PESACH: THE ULTIMATE STORY OF HOPE, MIRACLES, SURVIVAL AND FREEDOM
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks zt”l wrote: Pesach is the oldest and most transformative story of hope ever told. It tells of how an otherwise undistinguished group of slaves found their way to freedom from the greatest and longest-lived empire of their time, indeed of any time. It tells the revolutionary story of how the supreme Power intervened in history to liberate the supremely powerless. It is a story of the defeat of probability by the force of possibility. It defines what it is to be a Jew: a living symbol of hope.
Residents tasted a range of kosher l'Pesach chocolate and selected their favourite flavour of Schmerling's chocolate before sampling all of the other flavours, with an optional, accompanying glass of red or white wine ����
During Pesach, Residents participated in a special baking session, producing Lieber's chocolate chip cake and Manischewitz's blueberry cakes and coffee cakes. These were then served on the tea trolley for all residents and visitors to enjoy.
POST-PESACH PICKLING PERFECTION WITH MIRIAM AND PAMELA
SHAVUOS MEANS WEEKS
The festival of Shavuos was celebrated with a full week of events and activities including pre-Shavuos visits from local schools, cheesecake baking, and during Shavuos there were morning Synagogue prayer services on both days, Yizkor memorial prayers, a grand cheesecake taste-off with cheesecakes from 7 local bakeries, Shavuos learning and discussion groups.
SYDMAR LODGE WORDSEARCH
DREAMS CAN COME TRUE, IT CAN HAPPEN TO YOU
Sydmar Lodge has a wishlist for residents to choose anything extraordinary that they would like to do, whether something new or something they used to do. So far, wishes granted have included Sheila going to see Rag’n’Bone Man live in concert, Sylvia going to see 42nd Street in the West End and Vera who went swimming for the first time in 20 years. Look through the Wishlist to start making your dreams come true. What would you like to do?
100 Things to Do in your Lifetime
1. Drive a Ferrari/Lamborghini/ sports car
2. Hot air ballooning.
3. Go quad biking.
4. Water-skiing.
5. Attend the horse-racing
6. Roller coaster ride
7. Drive faster than 100 mph with the windows down
8. Safari tour
9. Walk a mile/ take part in charity run
10. Swimming
11. Bungee jumping
12. Parachuting
13. Learn to surf
14. Skiing
15. See a classical music concert
16. Ice-skating
17. Ride a horse/ donkey
18. Standing on the summit of Mount Everest
19. Drive a car
20. Skipping
21. Make a life video
22. Fly a kite
23. Fly a plane
24. Swim with dolphins
25. Take part in an arm wrestle
26. Go camping.
27. Visit an art gallery (please specify if you have a preference)
28. Go to… Scotland/ Wales/ Ireland
29. Visit these Attractions: Golden Gate Bridge, the Coliseum in Rome, Statue of Liberty, The Cheops pyramids, Stonehenge, Grand Canyon, Iguazu Falls, Milford Sound, Cliffs of Moher, Great Wall, Angel Falls, Ayers Rock, Taj Mahal, Eiffel Tower, London landmark (Tower Bridge, Buckingham Palace, The Riz, The Shard, The London Eye etc.)
30. See these animals: tiger, eagle, gorilla, elephant, lion, crocodile, rhino, grizzly bear, panda, leopard (please circle your choice/s)
31. Watch Northern Lights
32. Say I love you from the bottom of your heart
33. Sleep with a partner under the stars
34. Be the best you can be
35. Lying on the beach with 2 cocktails, watching the sunset
36. Dancing in the rain
37. Play air guitar
38. Go clubbing
39. Kiss a foreigner
40. Get a piercing
41. Drink so much that you can’t remember anything the next day
42. Sing your favourite song in pubic
43. Get a makeover
44. See the 10 best movies of all time
45. Try exotic cuisine (Chinese, Indian, Mexican, Japanese, African, South American, French etc.) - please state your choice/s
46. Go to shul
47. Go fishing
48. Surprise yourself and others
49. Go to the Jewish Museum
50. Visit The Ritz Hotel
51. Watch a game of your favourite sporting team live
52. Skinny dipping
53. Participate in a flash mob
54. Get a Facebook/ Twitter/ Instagram account
55. Make a person laugh so much that they have to howl with laughter
56. Learn to play the piano
57. Cut the lawn
58. Shoot with a gun
59. Roller-skating
60. Play a sport… tennis/ football/ golf etc. (please state which sport?)
61. Visit the property where you lived (perhaps when you were born?)
62. Visit the shul that you were married in
63. Put in a taxi and tell the taxi driver: “Follow that car!”
64. Find out something interesting about ancestors
65. Write a book
66. Give a talk to 100 people
67. Learn another language
68. Plant a tree
69. Meditation
70. Find your mission / passion in life
71. Send a message in a bottle
72. Send a message on a balloon
73. Forgive someone
74. Find fulfilment
75. Get a job
76. Be yourself
77. Gamble £10 - £100 in the casino
78. Have enough money to do all the things on this list
79. Go to the beach
80. Go to the place you love
81. Play blackjack
82. Put £10 on black in roulette
83. Put £10 on red in roulette
84. Have a webcam chat
85. Learn CPR (mouth-to-mouth resuscitation)
86. Invite a poor person to a warm meal
87. Build a well in Africa
88. Help build a school in a developing country
89. Combat racism through a separate project / club
90. Attend Question Time.
91. Visit Parliament
92. Visit The House of Lords
93. See the sunrise over London
94. See the sunset over London
95. Have a glass of quality champagne
96. Eat at London’s top kosher restaurant (please state your choice/s?)
97. Eat at a Michelin starred restaurant
98. Zorbing
99. See a football match at Wembley/ cricket at Lords/ tennis at Wimbledon/ rugby at Twickenham
100. Your own choice…
AWESOME AWARENESS DAYS
National awareness holidays and national health observances are special days, weeks or months dedicated to raising awareness about important issues (e.g. health, political), religious days, food and drink or other topics. Whilst some days are purely for fun, others have an important underlying message, and all the Awareness Days are acknowledged or celebrated to stimulate the senses, imbue a sense of excitement at something new or invoke memories; but mostly they create engagement, smiles and laughter.
Organic September 2023
Tequila Day 2023
Bonfire Night Fireworks Display 2023
World Chocolate Day 2023
SOME OF OUR UPCOMING SPECIAL DAYS
FOR YOU TO LOOK OUT FOR IN 2024:
29th July - International Tiger Day
10th August - World Lion Day
13th August - National Prosecco Day
13th August - International Left Handers Day
1st - 30th September - Sourdough September
1st - 30th September - Organic September Organic September 2023
26th September - European Day of Languages
3rd October - National Carrot Day
4th October - World Smile Day
7th - 13th October - National Curry Week
11th October - World Egg Day
21st October - Apple Day National Curry Week 2023
1st November - World Vegan Day
3rd November - National Sandwich Day
5th November - Guy Fawkes Night
13th November - World Kindness Day
19th November - International Men’s Day
21st November - World Television Day Apple Day 2018
30th November - St. Andrew’s Day
Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year)
- evening of 2nd to nightfall on 4th October
Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement)
- evening of 11th to nightfall of 12th October
Succos (Tabernacles)
- evening of 16th to nightfall of 23rd October Rosh Hashanah 2023
Chanukah
- evening of 25th December 2024 to 2nd January 2025
SYDMAR LODGE’S SUMMER PARTY
Well, it was a British-themed Summer Party, so we shouldn't have been surprised with the inclement weather. However the atmosphere and smiles brought enough sunshine to Sydmar Lodge. And the real sun even made an appearance near the end.
Sydmar residents, relatives and friends enjoy the annual afternoon Summer Party, with burgers, sausages, salads and refreshments, and the super duper Heidi McCaffrey entertaining everyone for a marathon two hours. There was laughter, singing and dancing and we thank everyone who attended - we hope you had as much fun as we did!
If you haven’t already, be sure to join our Private Facebook Group where you can see all the latest news, photos and videos. Also add ‘Sydmar Residents’ as a friend on Facebook. Let me know if you need any help with Facebook or any other technical issue. https://www.facebook.com/groups/sydmar.lodge
A NOTE FROM THE MANAGER
I cannot believe we are over halfway through 2024! Thank you for your continued support.
The TV Lounge on the Ground Floor has been refurbished recently with new decorations, seating, furnishings and 65” television. There are monthly Residents’ Meetings, focussing on activities and wellbeing one month, and a more general, detailed meeting the next month, alternatively.
Many of the bedrooms and ensuite bathrooms have been renovated or decorated, and this is an ongoing process. However, if your loved one’s room requires attention, please let me know and this can be arranged.
It is now a time to look forward to what lies ahead in the second half of the year, with the High Holy Festivals and the year ending with Chanukah and our annual relatives get-together and Chanukah candle-lighting. I wish the residents, relatives, friends and staff continued happiness and health.
