Allenbrook Nursing Home

Proprietors Message
The first three months of the year have passed
us by so quickly. All of us made a special effort to
celebrate Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and St.
Patricks Day with special decorations for each event and a meal that
complimented the occasion. We are now in the throes of preparing for Easter.
ALLENBROOK
We are looking forward to the weather breaking and welcoming a warm spring
and summer so that our residents can appreciate and take advantage of our
gardens.
We have already in our plans to organise a number of summer open air festivities
with some traditional tea and coffee parties. No doubt we will inform you of the
details well in time.
Naturally, we would love you to join us and help us enjoy these occasions.
Thank you
Roger and Margaret Ephraims
We would like to express our deepest sympathy for Harriet Caffrey who
sadly passed away 21st March 2013. She was a very important figure
here at Allenbrook for many years and was a major contributor to its
success and towards how it stands today, twenty six years on.
ALLENBROOK NURSING HOME 209 SPIES LANE HALESOWEN
B62 9 SJ TEL: 0121 422 5844 FAX: 0121 423 2837
www.allenbrooknursinghome.com e-­‐mail [email protected] NEWSLETTER
SPRING 2013
Halloween Party
We love to have a good time here
at Allenbrook and our Halloween
party has been a popular event
over the last three years. This
year, our Witches Brew and
Demons Potion were disguised
bottles of brandy, sherry, port and
several different wines. We had
several potions in our rat’s basket,
chocolates and candies brimming
over the sides. The fun and
games we had drawing the tickets all went towards making a really entertaining
and happy evening. There were lots of fake cobwebs and plastic spiders, the
pumpkins were glowing with their eerie lights inside and even our witches were
friendly. Even spooky cat masks fitted the bill staring out at us all evening. What a
lovely musical and fun filled evening we all had.
There was a fabulous atmosphere and with our live musical entertainment from
Michael Salliss we had a ball. Our ladies and gents dressed for the occasion and
Vicky, who was our good witch, took
centre stage dressed in her golden
witches’ hat, she cast her spells into the
cauldron and loved every minute of the fun
and games watching everything going on
around. She was so happy to be
surrounded by the children. Our fancy
dress visitors, having played wine apple
bowls and bobbed a few apples in a
bucket of water, with hooks and rods,
nobody wanted to get their make-up wet
and all won prizes for taking part. Draculas
and ghosts were the main them for our
mini visitors even though the residents all
thought they were cute and they all had a
prize for dressing up.
Christmas is a special time
The Christmas party was a sensational do, filled
with festive fun and games, wine, sherry and
cocktails. Trevor Santini arrived dressed in his
green elf’s costume. He entertained us for
almost two hours, with seasonal songs and
some old sing along Christmas tunes. We all
joined in even our lovely carers danced and sang
into the early evening. We finished off with a
fabulous Christmas buffet with our tables
weighed down under the gorgeous food with
thanks to our special ladies Helen and Jayne in
the kitchen. There were lots of presents and
prizes for all the winners of our games. Well
done everyone and thank you all for joining in to
make it so special.
The Christmas decorations were
finally finished. We dressed three
lounges, four Christmas trees, three
corridors, five bedrooms, one
conservatory and the foyer. There
has been a flurry of colours but our
favourites this year were our
fabulous red velvet balls, which
hung from the ceilings in three
different sizes, absolutely beautiful.
Christmas had finally arrived.
Our nurse Bev what can we say. She
was so hot throughout Christmas day
but she was keeping her elf suit on
come what may. Away she went
dispensing her drugs and looking after
our patients all through Christmas
afternoon too. She had a smile on her
face and readily joined in all the fun
along with our other elves of the day.
This is what helps to make our important
events here at Allenbrook
just that little bit different,
more unusual to everywhere
else and just
what makes them so
special.
Some of our Christmas visitors.
The children from Howley Grange
performed for us with their own
bouncy versions of favourite
Christmas tunes. There were
about thirty of them, many with
Christmas hats, squeezed neatly
in and with rotations of arms and
hand bells we had a feast of
musical entertainment. The Twelve
Days of Christmas was a
pantomime in itself as we sang our
way through at a stanza pace that
made almost everyone breathless
except the children. They held
their pictures of each day, flying up and down in sequence with pausing at five
gold rings. It was spectacular. We would like to say thank you to the teachers and
pupils for giving up their time for us to be entertained so lovingly by everyone.
Ladies like to sing.
They visit us twice a
year and perform a
wonderful selection of
music and songs and
this time we had our
Christmas tunes and
Carols. With their
Santa hats and tinsels
bobbing, it was song
after song we loved it,
a really fabulous time
on a Sunday afternoon.
Our visitors came in many shapes and
sizes, and many popular disguises this
Christmas and no one just no one was
going to be turned away from our door.
It was mince pies and sherry for all
who knocked on Allenbrook’s door, a
carrot for the reindeer and a cake for
Santa. There were biscuits for the
dogs and sherry and mulled wine for
the singers and not forgetting a fruit
juice for our super fitness instructor.
Entertainers galore, carol singers,
magicians and even Beaver scouts
turned up and sang for us too.
Santa’s little
helpers
Some members of our staff
who have now retired.
Helen Nicholls our chef celebrated her
retirement at the end of December 2012,
and we all bid a fond though rather sad
farewell. We had a collection for her and
also bought her a beautiful fresh Orchid.
There was a gateaux and a Bucks Fizz
toast to wish her all the best in her
retirement. Helen had been with us for
fifteen years and has won many
prestigious awards for Allenbrook for her
food along with her team in the kitchen.
Staff who return and bring the baby
Jess Sice, one of our carers here
at Allenbrook promised to come
and visit when her new baby girl
was big enough to bring in to see
us all. Lucia was delightful,
dressed all in pink and smelling
of baby powder, her lovely smile
and happy eyes delighted
everyone. We had a fabulous
time as Lucia was passed around
many of the staff, it was clear
that Jack was so happy to see
her. Jack loves children and he
got on really well with her mom during her caring days when she was pregnant.
Jess mingled around the lounge and Lucia got treated to many cuddles and
kisses from many visitors especially from Joan’s visitor’s, sister in law Madge and
her lifelong friend John.
Long service awards.
We are very proud of our staff here at
Allenbrook and our long service awards
are always a pleasure to recognise.
Peter Pash who is one of our night
carer’s, here at Allenbrook, received his
five years service award from Jeanette.
We caught him out of his usual
sparkling white uniform, when he called
in for our staff meeting. He knew
nothing of the award being presented so
we did catch him a little by surprise.
A really special presentation
We have two members of our fantastic staff here at Allenbrook who have been
with us since we first
became a care home
and then a nursing
home. Ceri Tyson is
a central figure
amongst us and can
turn her hand to any
task. She has seen
all the changes in
our development and
our extensions and
has a memory of
countless members
of staff who have
worked here at
Allenbrook over the
twenty five years. Jean Burke, our head of housekeeping has also seen all the
changes and both were very emotional at their presentation. They both received
an individual cut crystal engraved fruit bowl in appreciation of their service to
Allenbrook for twenty five years.
Birthdays for this last season
Joan Floyd
Kitty Carter
Joan Kenny & Fun time Theatre
Hilda Worrall
Jack Day
Vera Mort
Dolly Meadows
Gerry Dangerfield
Emily Bowen
Grace Stone
Vicky Bailey
James Walker
Some of our birthdays and many special occasions
Doreen Bissell
Millicent Greaves
Marjorie Webster
Alice O’nions
Joan Waterhouse
Chinese New Year
We enjoy embracing different cultures
and exploring new worlds in our
geography and holiday destinations
afternoons. Chinese New year was the
year of the snake this year and we
celebrated with a fabulous Chinese
meal and fortune cookies. A red letter
day and lots of fun and laughter for
everyone here at Allenbrook, especially
when sorting the years where our
resident’s birthdays fall in the Chinese zodiac.
Valentine’s Day
We are very proud of our menus and
we love to create a special time
accompanied by a special meal for
our residents to enjoy. It certainly
filled the air with love and affection
and some warm feelings. Our
residents enjoyed a glass of Pink
champagne to start, followed by our
fabulous pork loin and baby new
potatoes with seasonal vegetables.
Desert was a very appealing white
chocolate box and raspberry Coulis. The afternoon continued with our residents
and guests relaxing in comfy chairs, with lots of hot coffee, chocolate hearts,
lashings of tea and heart shaped
biscuits.
Shrove Tuesday
We cooked our way through a few
pancakes on Shrove Tuesday and we
practised and practised the careful art of
tossing them. It was such a laugh and it
took such skill and so much talent, to
even get the right angle on the pan.
Never mind the pancakes that did not
make their way to the carpet made their
way from the kitchen instead and they
went down a storm for tea, with a
sprinkle of sugar a bit of fruit and an optional extra a swirl of fresh cream.
St. David’s day.
We love to celebrate our saint days, so it was yellow daffodils everywhere and
leeks on display for our competition. We treated everyone to a glass of sherry or
a drink of their own choice, along with our scones and Welsh cakes before tea.
St Patrick’s Day.
St. Patricks Day is always full of fun and games
and we had all our decorations in place. The
tables were laid in green and white and it was
Baileys and Guinness all round for anyone who
fancied a tipple. The fun continued on TV with
the Irish dancers of River Dance performing
what style and what a treat.
Jeans Birthday
Mother’s Day.
What a fabulous
day we had with
Mothers Day
visitors for lunch.
The room was a
shower of pink
tulips and roses.
There were
balloons and
hearts everywhere
scattered on the
tables and special
floral centre
pieces. Many of
our residents were pleased to see that they were able to share their day with their
families and close friends. Joan and Sam were joined by Diane and Steve and
they thoroughly enjoyed their beautiful lunch, especially the pink champagne was
a real winner for Joan, who enjoyed every mouthful.
Hugh and Brenda Pope
John and Marjorie Webster
Jean was completely bowled
over by all her gifts for her 65th
birthday, surrounded by flowers
and balloons it was too much for
her to take in. She was
speechless and had to dry the
tears from her eyes. She is
always full of fun and laughter
and is always willing to join in the
fun and games. We all enjoy
Jeans lively personality, carrying
out her house keeping duties.
New pair of rubber gloves will be
the order of the day now for Jean
and a new mop and bucket. Well
done Jean and congratulations.
Red Nose Day at Allenbrook 2013
We have some really
good sports here at
Allenbrook and when
it comes to charitable
events we all get
stuck in. The two
Amigos usually are
Jackie our
administrator and
Bruce our
maintenance
manager. The day went well and along with Jan our Activity co- ordinator the
three sported their outfits and red noses all day. Thank you to everyone who
donated we raised a great deal of money for a really good cause.
Snow at Easter time March 2013
They said it would come and it
came all right. One very cold and
icy morning it snowed and it
snowed and it snowed. The rush
hour was turning the roads to
chaos, with grit and salt and people
with spades. The residents looked
on through the windows, they were
warm as toast here at Allenbrook
and were glad to see that almost all
the staff was safely at work. We
had trouble finding where the roads
began and the pathways ended,
though we didn’t mind as the snow
pictures of beauty were out of this
world, even if it meant that we were
a little stranded and having to walk home.
a real triumph!.
Monthly Church Service conducted by the Reverend Peter Beal
Allenbrook’s Church service’s take place regularly now once a month. The
keyboards are set up and the song sheets and hymn books are handed round
the room. Visiting families join us and everyone is usually in fine voice as the
singing becomes louder and louder. Thanks go to the Quinton Church parish who
take time out of their busy schedule to come and conduct our services for us here
at Allenbrook nursing home.
Local Community
Our relationship with our local community is very important to us and our use of
our local amenities all helps in building our bond within this surrounding area. Our
regular connections with our local newsagents, chemists, florists and doctors
surgeries all help us build our strong bond within the local town and Wilkinson’s in
Halesowen and Stourbridge, are regular contributor to all our activity
requirements and donate a very generous gift token as a prize for our Raffle
every Christmas and for our Summer fete. We also have regular performances
from our local school choirs, bell ringers and singing groups from Howley Grange
School.
The summer fete is one of our big events of the year and will be held
on Saturday August 17th 2013.
We do hope that you will be able to come along and enjoy our
barbecue, entertainments and many stalls.
The Allenbrook Snowman,
New members of staff who have joined our team here at Allenbrook
during the last season.
Tamara Gibson. Carer
Jessica Homer. Carer
Dawn Jones.
Carer
Donna Walker. Carer
Jasbinder Vryaparj.
Night Carer
Fahmida Tahera.
Nurse
Melissa Bradley.
House Keeping and Catering Assistant
Anthony Woods.
Assistant Head Chef
Forthcoming events we are hoping that everyone will look forward to:
forgetting our many birthdays, Wimbledon, Ladies day at Ascot and our many
outings planned for this year, without hopefully wearing anyone out.
Easter celebrations and Good Friday Easter bonnets many eggs and a grand
Raffle finishing off with entertainment.
Rolling onwards into April we have our Grand National sweepstake and so much
excitement of the day.
Entertainers who will be visiting us throughout the coming months: Fun time
theatre with Rachael and Will.
Matt Richards, with a George Formby tribute and his nostalgic tunes.
Tom Wenlock and his fabulous singing voice ranging from musical theatre, tunes
through the eras and even opera.
Bedroom refurbishment.
Our renovations continue throughout our home and are more and more exciting
with each one that we develop. Inside on both lower floor and upstairs, we have
had new laminate flooring through many of our bedrooms and hallways, they
have been newly decorated and many have been treated with new soft
furnishings. Our upper floor has been refurbished along with the bedroom
corridors, with special effect mood lighting, soft furnishings and embracing a new
innovative relaxing colour scheme. We have a few more rooms left to do, so we
are advancing rapidly to hopefully complete the work in the spring.
So what is new for Allenbrook?
The landscaped garden.
Our front garden and car park area we are hoping to re design and renovate by
taking out one of our large trees, which has over the years become damaged. We
are hoping to take on landscape gardener skills and have already seen an artist’s
impression, so it is all very exciting. All we need now is some better weather to
start thinking about getting things under way.
Patio window and elevated decking area.
Finally inside our resident’s top lounge, we have a massive window which we are
hoping to extend into a sliding patio door with elevated wooden decking outside.
This would create an amazing amount of extended living space for outdoor use, a
much loved activity here at Allenbrook. This outdoor space is inaccessible at the
moment because of its location. The sun is beautiful in this area in the afternoon
and our residents would benefit greatly from the joys of the sunshine and the
health giving properties of its warmth and the feel good factor of the sun.
Plus our fantastic Nick Rogers and his
exercise class every week keeping
muscle tone and co ordination in good order. Our monthly craft class with Dawn,
stimulating the brain with ideas for nimble fingers and our regular weekly
hairdressing with Rosemary, to help make everyone feel pampered and fresh
with a new hairdo or the seasonal perm, the usual shampoo and set or a cut and
blow dry. We have as much on offer as is possible within our busy days. Not
Finally we would like to thank everyone for their kindness joining in with us, here
at Allenbrook, in all of our ventures throughout the last season. Parties, events
and special occasions were so well supported and with contributions for all our
events and for the raffles and competitions. Without your help we would be
unable to have such fun and games here at Allenbrook with our residents.
Our grateful thanks go to you all.