What a wonderful way to celebrate VE Day at Bluebell House in Westward Ho! All of the staff and residents came out of the home at 2pm, to wave to friends and family who drove slowly past. The weather was perfect, flags were flying, ice-cream and lemonade served and some great music played. A truly emotional day for all.
Betty Coe, resident at Bluebell House in Westward Ho! celebrates 75 years of marriage to husband Peter. Peter will move into Bluebell House for a week over Christmas to celebrate with Betty. Wonderful!
Spotted this Halloween masterpiece at Bluebell House in Westward Ho! yesterday, which I love! Looking forward to some spooky fun at all our homes today. Happy Halloween!
The residents at Bluebell House and Primrose House, our homes in Westward Ho! enjoyed a visit from a very lovely owl today. For most it was the first time they had actually held an owl. It was fantastic to see their faces and listen to them talking about her with her owner Nick.
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.
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.
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, 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’ 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!
Over the summer, our Westward Ho! homes, Donnington and Primrose, took part in the Cardboard Boat Race as part of the Bideford Regatte. The boat did amazingly well, completing over two-thirds of the course before it began to sink! Terry did a fantastic job with the design and the construction of the boat. We came home with the award for the best decorated boat – well done to the residents who painted the decorations – it truly was a team effort! £120 was raised for the residents’ fund whch will go torward even more fun and entertainment!
