Lunch at the Golf Club
Residents from The Manor in Exminster like nothing more than a trip out in ‘The Wanderer’ (the Stonehaven minibus), fo a lovely lunch at Exeter Golf Club.
News
Care Home Group of the Year: Caring UK Awards 2018
On Thursday evening last week Stonehaven was awarded the National ‘Care Home Group of the Year’ award at the UK wide ‘Caring UK Awards’. It’s fantastic to have been recognised for the great work that we do. The nomination process for the award was rigorous. It began with a 5-page detailed nomination process. Emily and myself were then interviewed at the Support Office. This was comprehensive. It was clear that the competition was tight and that the judges were looking for those things that would make us stand out from the crowd. Following this interview judges visited a number of our Care Homes and noted what they were like, interviewed people etc.
We were finalists for National ‘Care Home Group of the Year’ as a company and National ‘End of Life Team of the Year’ for the fantastic end of life work that is carried out by the care team at Chollacott House. Over the past few years we have achieved and maintained registration in the ‘St. Lukes 6 Steps End of Life Care’ scheme – this involves a significant investment of time, effort and expertise from the Care Team at Chollacott.
To have won the Care Group of the Year Award was fantastic. Following the award one of the judging panel confided in Emily that, as a company, we really did stand out from the rest. The panel noted our commitment to ‘putting the customer at the centre of all that we do’ and recognised how we do that; by employing the right people and then providing the right training and support to them. It was clear that we prioritise people.
We were described by the judging panel as ‘A confident, customer led group with a winning formula’ – with which we fully agree.
Winning Awards is only possible because of the great work carried out every day by every member of the Stonehaven Care Team – thank you all for making this possible.
Training the Care Team
At Stonehaven, we take team training extremely seriously, to ensure we are providing the very highest standard of care to our residents. A comprehensive training package is provided for all our staff. We ask that all mandatory courses are completed within the first year of employment with us, with ad hoc and refreshers courses continuning throughout their Stonehaven career. Here are some of the Primrose House team, on a recent Safegaurding course with excellent trainer, Deborah Cox.
New name for Donnington – ‘Bluebell House’
Westcountry based Stonehaven Care Group have announced the name change of Donnington House, on Atlantic Way in Westward Ho! to the new name: ’Bluebell House.’ Bluebell House stands immediately next door to Primrose House, which is Stonehaven’s latest new build care home with state of the art care facilities.
Explaining the change, Stephen Stone, Managing Director of Stonehaven said: ”In 2005, just before Stonehaven Care Group acquired Donnington House care home in Westward Ho!, it was a 25-bed home that was giving good, compassionate care we created 10 new en-suite bedrooms, renovated all other areas and converted the lower-ground-floor layout to provide an all-important ‘circular walk route’; a facility that is such a real aid to those living in any dedicated dementia care setting.
”Having very recently further enlarged our Westward Ho! care service with an adjacent new state-of-the-art 30-bed building (named Primrose House), we feel it’s high time for us to give Donnington House a new name that reflects the status that home has achieved… what better than to pair with Primrose House via the new name Bluebell House. So, ‘Bluebell & Primrose’ it now is.”
The group felt that the new name would bring the home into alignment with Primrose House, following the theme of wild flowers. Ildiko Varadi of Bluebell House and Stephanie Johnson Manager of Primrose House, are delighted with the new name.
Ms Varadi said: ”It is lovely to follow a similar theme of wild flowers. The blue bell flower is known for its’ humility. It is also associated with everlasting love and constancy, which is very fitting with the care we provide our residents. We all look forward to Spring and when out walking in the lanes or countryside look forward to seeing the carpets of bluebell flowers in woodlands as they are one of the most glorious sights of the British spring landscape and a popular flower with our residents.”
Both homes are always pleased to show prospective residents and their families around, which is done in a way that does not disturb their current residents.
Halloween fun at Kent House!
Manager at Kent House, Julie Smith having fun at Halloween with residents!
Rat Pack Pete performs at Primrose House
Rat Pack Pete’s performance at Primrose this month attracted over 20 residents. One of our ladies got up and took the stage to sing Frank Sinatra’s hit ‘My Way’. The lady in question was a professional singer and has sang to huge audiences in venues as big as the Albert Hall! She definitely still has that star quality!
Let’s Get Physical
Primrose House in Westward Ho! have recently introduced Move It Or Lose it exercise classes to their weekly activity programme. These are extremely popular, and the benefits to the residents physical and mental well being are great! The residents have all got stuck in and really enjoy these classes which are set to music.
Virtual Dementia Tour at Primrose House
As part of our ‘Dementia Awareness’ Open House at Primrose House on Thursday 1st November 2018, we have invited the Virtual Dementia Tour back to the home to provide guests and members of the local community the opportunty to get a glimpse of life as a Dementia sufferer. The VDT uses patented sensory tools and instruction based on research conducted by P.K. Beville, M.S., a specialist in geriatrics. During a Virtual Dementia Tour experience, trained facilitators guide participants outfitted with patented devices that alter their senses while they try to complete common everyday tasks and exercises. The Tour enables caregivers to experience for themselves the physical and mental challenges those with dementia face, and use the experience to provide better person-centered care.
The training is open to anyone with a link to the home, and will be Stonehaven funded. There are three sessions throughout the day:
9.30am – 12.00pm
12.15pm – 14.45pm
15.00pm – 17.15pm
To book your place on the VDT, please contact Emily Winslow on 01364 644208 or email: emilywinslow@stone-haven.co.uk
Ruth Celebrates her 100th Birthday at Donnington House
Ruth, one of our residents at Donnington House in Westward Ho! celebrated turning 100 years with a big birthday party at the home. Friends and family gathered together to enjoy live music from Bideford Massed Pipe and Drum Band – a real treat! Ruth loved receiving a letter from the Queen – all in all an amazing day. Congratulations Ruth!
Little Blackie visits our Westward Ho! homes
‘Little Blackie’ belongs to one of our carers, Tracy, and was a huge hit with the residents at Donnington & Primrose. One of our residents, Shaun, use to be a jockey and absolutely loved meeting the horse and reminiscing about the days when he use to ride and work in the stables. For another resident, Lesley, it was the first time he had every stroked a horse – despite living near the burrows and seeing horses every day of his life he had never actually got close to one!
