Month: November 2016

Residents at Sherborne House Care Home in Yeovil, showed their support for Children in Need by participating in a fun-filled, adventurous eating challenge. All the residents involved enjoyed a wide variety of dishes from around the world.

The residents tasted nine different international dishes and enjoyed bobbing along to music by staff member, Tasha King.

Caroline Sharp, Manager at Sherborne House said, “We always like to find new ways of raising funds for charity and it’s important that residents get the most from each of these activities. Food is always popular and it’s been interesting for everyone to try new dishes that are not normally served on our menu.”

Sherborne House currently has 24 residents and will soon celebrate completion of an additional nine bedrooms to provide residential and nursing care for local people with dementia.

It has been said many times that Dementia is one of the most heart breaking diseases for a person and their family to go through.  The disease is progressive meaning that that the structure and chemistry of the brain become increasingly damaged over time. So a person’s ability to remember, understand, communicate and reason gradually declines. Which means in many cases you lose the person you knew long before you actually lose the person you love.

The statistics that surround Dementia are both staggering and frightful, it is estimated that there are around 850,000 people living with dementia in the UK. And sadly although many charities are working hard to find preventions, prolonging medications and cures – we simply aren’t there yet.

But this does not mean a person should be defined by the disease they are suffering, individual’s progress at different speeds, and should be treated exactly like that, as individuals. At the stage when more regular or more involved care is required there are many considerations needed to choosing the right care home to ensure a smooth move. Dementia sufferers can become confused more easily and when they are confused this can lead to anxiety or outbursts of unintentional aggression.  So communication, reassurance and person-centred care throughout the whole process is key.

At Altogether Care we see the person first not the illness.

Our Sherborne House has been furnished and decorated with dementia in mind, incorporating sensory touches and memory triggers that research has shown really benefits the cognitive process. Person-centred care is principle in our philosophy, believing that those living with Dementia who are well supported by a professional team giving them their time and energy are more likely to lead fulfilling lives for longer. Clinical care is supported with a healthy diet, using fresh ingredients and menus to suit all tastes and requirements and at times we will also call upon various alternative therapies such as; physiotherapy, reflexology Reiki and aroma-therapy to complement clients care needs.

To find out more on how Sherborne House could help you or your loved one visit our website or contact us directly on 01305 300 161/contact@altogethercare.co.uk.

Mara McGregor, a resident at Steepleton Manor Care Home took a trip to see the Queen in Dorchester yesterday which bought back special memories as Mara was once a familiar face within the Royal household.

Mara, 89, has been privileged to paint three portraits of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and two of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, as well as HRH Princess Anne and other members of the Royal family.

One of her pictures, a full size portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth was commissioned to hang in the Houses of Parliament in Sydney.

Mara McGregor was born in Malaysia in 1927, the only daughter of a rubber planter, and moved to South Africa when she was three, where she grew up under the influence of her father’s commercial art studios. Mara excelled at Art while at school but never thought of making it a career as she was interested in acting and singing. She later moved to East Africa to join her parents and while there, she met her husband Alan, an ex-Battle of Britain pilot. They came to England in 1950 and Alan re-joined the RAF in 1952. Sadly, Alan passed away in 1997.

Trying to establish herself as an artist was not an easy task being a serving Officer’s wife as she was continually on the move. However, when stationed in Scotland, she painted a picture of Kenneth McKellar which was displayed in a House of Fraser store. As a result of this, Mara was asked to paint two grand-daughters of Lady Fraser of Allander and she was so delighted with them that it resulted in an introduction to Harrods who held a large exhibition for her from which several commissions resulted.

She was then commissioned to paint Black Rod for RAF Cranwell which led to her being commissioned to paint her first Royal portrait of HRH the Prince of Wales in 1970 while he was a student at the RAF College.  Her portrait of the Queen Mother took place in 1981. Her last royal portrait took place in 1997, which was of the Duchess of Kent.

Mara has lived at Steepleton Manor Care home for the last four years and has two daughters and a son. She lived in Hampshire for a large part of her life before coming to Dorset.

She has also painted various equine portraits including one of the 1981 Grand National winner ‘Aldaniti’ which she donated to an auction in aid of The Bob Champion Cancer Charity.  In 2004 Mara visited Kenya and produced two paintings, one of a cheetah with her cub and one of a lion cub.

Rachel Lewis from Steepleton Manor said, ‘Mara is a wonderful lady with a remarkable talent which has led her to meet many members of the Royal family. She was so happy to see the Queen visiting Dorchester yesterday even though she did not get chance to speak to her. All of her portraits are amazing’.

Residents at Sherborne House Care Home in Yeovil celebrated Hallows’ Eve on 31st October, by carving pumpkins into a range scary faces and spooky creatures. All the pumpkins looked fantastic lit up outside the home, getting everyone in the mood for autumn.

Caroline Sharp, Manager at Sherborne House said, ‘Our residents love to celebrate each special event of the year by taking part in activities including art and craft. They have made a grand job of their pumpkin carving’.

Sherborne House specialises in Dementia care and is currently home to 25 residents. It is owned
by Altogether Care.