Issue 70 18.08.21
The weekly online newsletter for the care sector
Home takes part in pen pal project A HERTFORDSHIRE care home has teamed up with a local girls’ school in a bid to strengthen community connection and form longlasting intergenerational friendships by relaunching its pen pal project – marking the first of several events to celebrate Good Care Month. Foxholes Care Home and Hitchin Girls’ School recently resumed its mission to help foster friendships the oldfashioned way by sharing letters between residents and students, after the scheme which initially launched in February last year had to be paused due to the coronavirus pandemic. To mark the relaunch, residents Shirley Saunders, 82, and Pam Colicott, 73, visited the school to distribute the latest batch of letters from residents, which were for a mix of pupils in secondary and sixth form education. Neil Gandecha, estate manager at Foxholes Care Home, added: “We’re really excited to continue our collaboration with Hitchin Girls’ School on this pen pal project, especially with it coinciding with Good Care Month. “Friendships, especially those formed from our school days,
are sacred, and the same is true for care homes. We wanted to remind the younger generation how important it is to preserve these friendships and wanted to offer them the chance to learn from our inspiring residents. Every resident has lived a full, eventful life with an array of knowledge and wisdom to share.” The project will see 22 residents and students pair up to exchange handwritten letters seasonally throughout the year. The letters contained information documenting key elements of their lives, such as name, age, family information (marital status, number of children/ grandchildren), which served as a mini biography to aid the introductory process. The relaunch included the students’ teacher taking the time to read through each letter and appropriately match them with a pupil, whose interests, background and hobbies align with a suitable resident. The family-run home decided to relaunch the project to coincide with Good Care Month, a campaign in Hertfordshire that aims to raise the profile of the social care sector.
Resident has Covid book published
Barchester Healthcare’s CEO Dr Pete Calveley has been named Influencer of the Year 2021 by RoSPA. The prestigious title is awarded to those who have made the biggest impact in health and safety, either at work or in the community, in the past 12 months. A prominent figure in the health and social care industry for more than 25 years, Dr Calveley is a pioneer in the sector and has used his expertise to lead Barchester Healthcare through the pandemic with resident safety always at the forefront of his decision making. He has also been influential more broadly throughout the Covid crisis and is acknowledged for having spearheaded the call for mandatory vaccination for care workers in order to protect the most vulnerable members of society. His campaigning and early implementation at Barchester resulted in a change in the law – all care workers are now legally required to be vaccinated against Covid.
A BIG THANK YOU
FROM ALL OF US TO ALL OF YOU FOR ALL YOU ARE DOING TO KEEP OUR MOST VULNERABLE SAFE AND HAPPY …
WE’RE IN AWE OF YOUR SELFLESS HARD WORK AND DEDICATION.
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A 94-YEAR-OLD Cardiff man has published a book describing his life as a care home resident during the coronavirus pandemic. Pandemic! My Care Home Diary, tells the inspiring story of how Bob Skinner lived and thrived during the pandemic at Sunrise of Cardiff care home. General manager Sara Reading said: “Bob’s touching account of the COVID-19 pandemic provides a unique and personal record of his experience while living at our care home. “Although a challenging time, Bob’s story of life at Sunrise of Cardiff depicts the reality of this era, including the unexpected joys and community spirit which helped us through the worst public health crisis in a century.” The book is based on Bob’s blog diary, which he began in March 2020 as coronavirus swept Britain. As a former journalist, Bob has a true reporter’s eye for the events of the year that changed our lives for ever, explaining how he recovered after three weeks in hospital with coronavirus. He also recalls his first reunion with his family, shown live on ITV’s Good Morning Britain. Moving and often amusing, Pandemic! My Care Home Diary gives a unique account of what life was like for Britain’s care home residents during the worst pandemic for more than 100 years. Bob’s book will be a lasting tribute to the carers who risked their own lives looking after residents. Pandemic! My Care Home Diary is available as an eBook
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CARINGWEEKLY
Midsummer musical magic delights Jim TEAM members at a Dorset care home were in fine voice as they staged a musical theatre thank-you to a 94-year-old resident who has led weekly services of worship all through the pandemic. A pair of friends working at Colten Care’s Castle View in Poundbury formed a duo to perform specially for a ‘surprised and delighted’ Reverend Jim Cocke, the Church of England’s longest serving priest. Companionship team member Lillie-Marie Harper and Jazmine Ball – a performing arts student at Chichester University who volunteers at the home – based their musical choices on Jim’s personal tastes interspersed with Shakespearian sonnets and lines from the Bard’s magical comedy A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Amid the play’s traditional trappings of woodland flowers and fairies, the singers personalised lines while acting out scenes including the moment the weaver Nick Bottom has his head transformed into a donkey by the elusive Puck. Among the songs they performed was one of Jim’s all-time favourites, Louis Armstrong’s 1960s hit What a Wonderful World. The show of extended appreciation for Jim received an enthusiastic response from the man himself and fellow residents.
Companionship team leader Katja Williams explained that the performance was specially devised to show heartfelt gratitude for Jim’s continued efforts to lead the home’s active worship during lockdown. She added: “Week in, week out, Reverend Jim has led our Sunday services without fail for well over a year. “He has given great comfort and peace to our residents ever since the first lockdown began.” Before he retired in January 2020 and moved to Castle View, Jim had been an ordained priest for more than 67 years. He served as Vicar of All Saints’, Headington, Oxford, beginning his ministry as an assistant curate in 1952 and becoming Vicar there five years later. When the pandemic started, it restricted the scope for external Church representatives to visit and hold services at Castle View, so Jim stepped in. He designs his services at the home as a weekly focal point for Bible reading, prayer, worship, hymns and discussions of seasonal topics and local and global issues. After watching the special show performed in his honour, Revd Jim was presented with a bouquet of flowers on behalf of all at Castle View by Nurse Beverly Welsh.
THE 2021
CARING
UK AWARDS
Indy and Kam Goraya.
Homecare provider goes from strength to strength HOMECARE provider Bluebird Care Solihull & Birmingham West has gone from strength to strength following a takeover and expansion. Husband-and-wife team Indy and Kam Goraya initially took over Bluebird Care Solihull in March 2021, a highly successful office that has been run for over 10 years. The office has recently expanded further into the west of Birmingham. This new development will include Edgbaston, Harborne, Moseley, Kings Heath, Selly Oak, Bournville, Northfield, Longbridge, Bartley Green, Hockley and Stirchley. Kam said: “We want to make a real difference to the local social care sector and make a positive impact on
people’s lives. We were drawn to the fact that we have all the support of the central franchise team, but also the autonomy to run our business in the way we want to, aligned to our core values.” “Our team is dedicated to making an impact on the lives of all those we serve, bringing a high-quality level of care to those in need, allowing families to feel closer together, and ultimately creating a brand that we and our team can be proud of.” Despite only holding ownership for a matter of months, Indy and Kam have already recorded rapid success, welcoming 10 new carers to their team, and a further 10 new customers – a total of 45.
Thursday 2nd December 2021,
THE ATHENA, LEICESTER
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CARINGWEEKLY
A resident at Hillcrest care home in Norwich has marked her 100th birthday in style with a guard of honour and a family celebration. Ruby Baker visited her family to enjoy a small tea party and as she left the home for her visit, staff sent her on her way outside, chapping and cheering while playing Stevie Wonder’s ‘Happy Birthday to Ya’. Ruby has four children, son Stephen and daughters Susan, Elizabeth and Julie. Her wider family includes four granddaughters and eight grandsons. Ruby was married to husband, Chris Baker, for more than 60 years. They lived happily together at Hillcrest care home until he passed away in 2013, on Ruby’s birthday. Ruby was a tailor for many years and also worked in a boat factory, clothing factory and as a cleaner. Joan Hearmon marked her 101st birthday at Featherton House care home with a party with her fellow residents. The event included lots of Prosecco and cake, while the home also treated Joan to a bouquet of 101 roses. Joan’s secret to a long and healthy life is enjoying a glass of sherry every evening. Nowadays she enjoys a good nap as well. Joan is a keen participant in Featherton House activities and particularly enjoys the pamper sessions. She loves jewellery and is rarely seen not wearing it. Joan said: “I’ve had such a wonderful time celebrating my birthday with the staff and residents at Featherton House. Everyone made an extra special effort to ensure I enjoyed myself and my cake was delicious.”
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A resident at a care home in Croydon has reached the age of 107. Annie Reader, who lives at Wilhelmina House, was joined by her family, friends and staff to celebrate the milestone birthday complete with a large cake and balloons. Annie does not know how she has managed to reach 107 but says a glass of sherry a day has helped. Despite Annie’s remarkable age, she still likes to be active joining in with exercise sessions and being wheeled around the home’s landscaped grounds. Annie’s life has seen her go on many adventures to far flung countries visiting her son in all the places where he was a Diplomat such as Nepal, Swaziland, Egypt, and Cambodia to name a few. Alan Nixon celebrated his 100th birthday at Benson House near Wallingford, Oxfordshire. Alan, who was born in Newcastle, spent his school years in Oxford at St Edwards, and he loved his time there. He then went on to serve as a Royal Engineer. On leaving the Army he then started work as a civil engineer and loves to talk about his work and the many bridges he has designed around the UK. He is very close to his family, including his son Nigel and wife Jane who live near the home. To celebrate the big day the home had an outdoor party with a barbecue for all to enjoy. The head chef made Alan a fruit cake decorated with fresh flowers, with everyone singing happy birthday. He received a number of presents and cards including a special card from the Queen.
Acting on behalf of our valued client Consensus Support Services, Walton HPC are pleased to report the sale of: Former Care Home, Glynhir and Pentwyn, Ponthir Road, Caerleon, NP18 3NW A pair of semi-detached houses, forming one large detached Victorian style house, previously operated as a care home.
Former West End Skills Centre, West End, Magor, NP26 3HT A detached 2 storey former day care centre for adults with learning disabilities and complex needs.
england & wales: Paul Burford paul.burford@waltonhpc.com 01926 760 116 | 07808 764 748
Both properties comprise vacant care home premises, located in the Newport area of South Wales. We conducted a short, sharp marketing campaign and both homes were sold to local developers who will use the property for alternative use. Tony Pickering, Commercial and Business Development Director of Consensus commented: “We instructed Paul Burford of Walton HPC to dispose of these properties as he had been highly recommended to us. We were not disappointed as the properties sold quickly and efficiently for the right prices which will then enable us to reinvest these funds in new services as part of our underlying development strategy.” Paul Burford commented: “We were delighted to be able to act for Consensus and we are pleased that both properties will go on to provide alternative uses for the new owners and … a new lease of life. We are experiencing an unprecedented demand for trading care homes, closed care homes and potential care home sites and so anyone thinking of selling should not hesitate to contact us.”
SCOTland: Gary Walton gary.walton@waltonhpc.com 0141 378 1065 | 07554 009 244
www.waltonhpc.com
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