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Fruit Salad is Home Made

Residents at Weymouth Care Home enjoyed making their own fruit salad and made the most of healthy eating this month when they tucked into lots of different fruit including melon, banana and raspberries.

 

Employees of the Month – November

We are delighted to reveal our Employees of the Month for November for each of our care homes. Each month, care home managers at Sherborne House, Steepleton Manor and Weymouth Care Home will hand pick team members who demonstrate a passion for their role and go above and beyond to provide excellent standard of care and support to residents.

Our Employees of the Month for November are:

Steepleton Manor

Iain Adshead

Iain is Steepleton Manor’s Employee of the Month. Iain works hard throughout the grounds of Steepleton Manor to ensure the gardens are bright and beautiful for the residents.

Sherborne House

Amy Navey

Amy is Sherborne House’s Employee of the Month. Amy is a true asset to the team who is always happy and covers shifts in any department when she can.  Nothing is a problem for Amy, who goes above and beyond to brighten up the resident’s days with her bubbly personality and smile.

Weymouth Care Home 

Elsa Peneyra

This month’s Employee of the Month for Weymouth Care Home is registered nurse Elsa. Elsa is always ready to go the extra mile for Weymouth Care Home. She has embraced all the new changes that are happening in the home with enthusiasm and a good sense of humour.

Many congratulations to all of our Employees of the Month!

Steepleton Manor featured in Knight Frank’s Luxury Care Home Guide 2018

We are delighted to discover that Steepleton Manor has been selected to be included in Knight Frank’s prestigious Luxury Care Home Guide 2018.  This guide showcases the UK’s finest care facilities within a beautifully presented guide.

Steepleton Manor is our Grade 2 Listed Manor house near Dorchester providing luxury residential, nursing, repite or day care. With impressive substantial grounds, walled garden and our own bus with regular trips out, you can really make the most of an active outdoor lifestyle here. Steepleton Manor also accommodates those who prefer the indoors with a well-stocked library, shop, hairdressing salon, fine food freshly prepared and varied activities to suit everyone.

CEO Stephen Knell says, “We are very pleased to have Steepleton Manor featured in The Luxury Care Home Guide 2018 among the finest care facilities in the UK. We make every effort to ensure Steepleton Manor Care Home feels like home, but with that added touch of luxury to help you enjoy your golden years.”

If you are looking for residential, nursing, respite or day care for yourself or a loved one, come and visit us to see for yourself what makes Steepleton Manor so special. For more information contact us on 01305 300 161.

Women needed for football team

Verwood Ladies Football Team have suffered a difficult season due to players taking maternity leave and suffering injuries and are now looking for new players to join their team of 22 players.

Karla Jordan, a player in the team, said: “We have experienced a difficult season for lots of reasons including losing some good players due to maternity leave and injury.  Women’s football is sometimes tricky as players have to juggle managing their families with career pressures.  We would welcome interest from new players.

We are extremely grateful to Altogether Care for sponsoring our home kit and we have also received great support also from Minster Partnership for our away kit”.

The team has a new assistant manager, Sally Chalk and hopes to attract new players who will assist the team in their mission to win more games and promote women’s football within the community.

Anyone interested in joining should email vtlfc@outlook.com

Remembrance Day at Weymouth Care Home

On Saturday 11th November a special themed lunch took place with residents taking part in the 11am silence which was later followed by a chicken and vegetable pie, decorated with pastry poppies.

Drawings created by the residents were also displayed.

 

Music to the ears

Residents at Weymouth Care Home enjoyed a musical activity in the library this month and got to play various instruments including drums.

Everyone gets the chance to play whatever instrument takes their fancy and make as much noise as they wish– even in what is normally a quiet place, the library!

The much loved ‘Drumba’ activity takes place every two months.

Why Retirement May not be the Time to Put your Feet Up

There is very clear evidence that staying active in older life has enormous benefits for overall health. There are strong links between physical activity and mental and emotional wellbeing.

According to the World Health Organisation, by being more physically active, older people can expect:

  • Lower rates of mortality, coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, strokes, type 2 diabetes, colon cancer and breast cancer.
  • Better bone health.
  • Higher levels of functional health, a lower risk of falling, and better cognitive function.

WHO also reports that physically active older people have ‘reduced risk of moderate and severe functional limitations and role limitations.’ In other words, they are able to cope better and do more.

An Individual Approach

Naturally, the level and nature of physical activity that older people are able to undertake will be different from when they were younger. It’s important for care providers to work closely with health professionals such as physiotherapists to design appropriate activity programmes based on individual needs and levels of mobility.

Dancing, gardening, walking, light aerobics, stretching and yoga can all be highly beneficial. As well as exercising hearts and lungs these activities help to keep joints mobile.

Normally, it’s best to encourage people to do as much as they feel able to take on. For residents who have become accustomed to low levels of physical activity – a programme that gradually increases activity levels can be transformational for their general wellbeing.

Where people receive care at home, awareness of their activity levels and, where appropriate, help and encouragement to join in with community based activity and exercise programmes should be a feature of good care planning.

Physical exercise also promotes independence and social enhancement these are very important for older people in tackling any feelings of loneliness and isolation. An active body and mind alongside a healthy and positive emotional outlook makes a huge difference to your life and those golden years, which is hopefully what everyone should look forward to.

Weymouth Care Home Wins Prestigious Award

Staff and residents at Weymouth Care Home are celebrating after scooping ‘Best Care Home’ Award at The Dorset Echo Care Awards 2017.

The 2017 Dorset Echo Care Awards took place at Weymouth College on Saturday 11th November and included nine award categories, including ‘Best Care Home’. The Mayor of Weymouth and Portland, Councillor Kevin Brookes, was among those attending.

The awards are designed to acknowledge outstanding individuals and organisations in the area who are involved in the care industry.

Mandy Bell, Manager at Weymouth Care Home collected the award on behalf of Dorset based organisation, Altogether Care.

Brian Westlake, Chairman at Altogether Care said, ‘This award is well deserved and reflects the professionalism and commitment of the home’s staff who day on day deliver complex care to very ill and vulnerable people. We are very proud of their achievements and the fact that the award was triggered by relatives and friends of our residents; it came as a complete surprise’.

Altogether Care has three residential care homes and nine Care at Home branches, providing a wide spectrum of care services for those who wish to remain in their own homes.

Photo: Mandy Bell (Manager from Weymouth Care Home) with Dorset Echo’s Editor (Diarmuid MacDonagh)

Taking to the sky for charity

We held an internal competition this year to see which of our colleagues could raise the highest amount for our chosen charity, Hangers Heroes. This charity raises money for local charities in Dorset through many different events and fundraising activities that are thrown throughout the year. Just some of their supported charities include Dorset Search and Rescue, Stella Hayward Rising for the Disabled, Steve Charles Help a Friend Fund and Weymouth Street Pastors.

We are delighted to announce that the winner of this competition is Jessica Thompson!

Jessica braved the skies and completed a tandem 15,000ft skydive raising over £500 for Hangers Heroes. We are extremely proud of her fundraising work; this money will help support Hangers Heroes vital work with local charities.

As the winner, she will receive £150 alongside the incredible memories and stories that she can now share about her brave and exhilarating experience.

Find out more about Hangers Heroes here and like them on Facebook.

Firework Art at Steepleton Manor

Residents at Steepleton Manor enjoyed sketching a variety of fireworks to mark bonfire night this November.

Although sometimes tricky to capture in the form of a drawing, residents created accurate and life-like pictures.

Drawings pictured are by Margaret, Anne and David.

Fireworks at Sherborne House

A colourful and fun firework display was enjoyed by residents, staff and their families at Sherborne House last weekend.

Hot dogs, marshmallows and hot chocolate was served whilst everyone watched a sparkling display in the sky.

A Poppy Wreath to mark Remembrance Day

Residents at Steepleton Manor have created a special poppy wreath to mark Remembrance Day on Sunday 11th November.

Remembrance Day has been observed in Commonwealth of Nations member states since the end of the First World War to remember the members of the armed forces who have died in the line of duty.

The day is observed on 11 November in most countries to recall the end of hostilities of World War 1 on that date in 1918.

Drums please

Residents at Steepleton Manor enjoyed a drumming session with local drummer ‘Magdalena’ this month. The popular musical activity has become a monthly event, with everyone making the most of the opportunity to create some rhythm and fun.

Fast flying bird at Sherborne House

Residents at Sherborne House were treated to a special visit from a bird of prey back in September when Sharandys Birds of Prey visited with a friendly kestrel. Staff and residents enjoyed petting and stroking the bird.

Kestrels are able to fly at high speeds and change direction rapidly. They have exceptional powers of vision and have been recorded diving at speeds of 200 miles per hour.

This was a fantastic experience for the residents to get involved with and has provided them with fond memories.

Bird of Prey Sherborne House Visit

Employees of the Month – October

We are delighted to reveal October’s Employees of the Month for our care homes. Each month, care home managers at Sherborne House, Steepleton Manor and Weymouth Care Home will hand pick team members who demonstrate a passion for their role and go above and beyond to provide excellent standard of care and support to residents.

Our Employees of the Month for October are:

Steepleton Manor

Richard Sowden

Richard is Steepleton Manor’s Employee of the Month and was nominated for his hard work and dedication to going above and beyond to help all his colleagues. Richard always ensures that residents are happy and he always has a cheerful attitude, with a great work ethic and high standards.

Sherborne House

Sacha Kingshott

Employee of the Month for Sherborne House is Sacha who has been nominated as she works amazingly at the home, always taking time to catch up with the residents and plan activities when she has an idea- all while completing her Level 2!

Weymouth Care Home 

Maggie

Maggie is Weymouth Care Home’s Employee of the Month. Maggie works very hard as a kitchen assistant and is always very kind and caring to the residents and staff.

Many congratulations to all of our Employees of the Month!

Halloween art class

Residents at Weymouth Care Home have decorated their surroundings spooky-style this Halloween and created some autumnal art work to celebrate the season.

Using a variety of art tools, pictures included pumpkins, leaves and Halloween greetings.

Photos:

  1. Joyce King creating posters
  2. Jean Murray and her pumpkin picture
  3. Sarah and David during art class
  4. ‘Leaves’ by Margaret White

Some recent day to day activities