newsletter - Cedars Castle Hill

Friday 12th December
“Knit a Jumper” day for staff to wear festive woollies or t-shirts for
a £2 donation towards Save the Children
Monday 15th December
Christmas Photo Booth, all week at Castle Hill House—Basket to
be found around the house with festive props and camera to
take photographs, residents, visitors and staff, have fun !
Winners of the best 3 photographs to be announced on
Christmas Eve
Furry Party: visit from Ann at “Animals in Education”, Castle Hill
House, 10.30am
Tuesday 16th December
Abbey School Choir, Castle Hill House, 11.00am
Christmas Joy Pantomime at Castle Hill House, 2pm
Abbey School Choir, Cedars Nursing Home, 2pm
Wednesday 17th December
Father’s House singers at The Cedars Nursing Home, 2.30pm
Monday 22nd December
Staff Nativity play at The Cedars, 4pm
Providing dignity and respect also specialising in dementia
NEWSLETTER
Christmas Edition
December 2014
Skype is now up and running at Castle Hill
House! We have had several conversations with
Australia already, only a slight delay in image
and speech which is amazing given the
distance! Anyone wishing to use this facility please have a chat
with Katie Spranklen in the Garden Room for more information.
Please rate us on www.carehome.co.uk or NHS Choices
I wonder why time changes as Christmas approaches? Every year is the same: a determination not to get
caught up in rush and bother, which comes to nothing once December arrives.
On 2nd December staff at Castle Hill spent hours putting up decorations, discovering what was still usable and
actually having a spring clean of old baubles. Now the home looks beautiful and festive as does Cedars. We
hope that new trees this year for both homes will provoke memories of times past when all was not rush and
bother.
And in the bustle and excitement our caring staff are working as hard as ever, not just in looking after and
nurturing our residents, but also in continuing their training. We are delighted to congratulate Serena Underwood who has
gained Level 5 in Leadership and Management during the past week. Other subjects are also being studied and worked on all
the time.
How do they have time to do it? It being the now well established Cedars Nativity Play which involves staff in every way
imaginable and is much enjoyed by all – residents and visitors alike. That’s on 22nd December at 4.00pm.
We have had a year of tremendous change, saying goodbye after 20 years to Mac and hallo to April who is looking with fresh
and careful eyes at our homes which she says are safe for all. She has been very involved in our publicity drive. I hope that
you have noticed it!
One thing which I am sure has not changed is the loving kindness and caring shown to our residents. Next year, we’d like to
increase the support for families through the Family Forum so let’s wait for better weather and then meet up in March.
With my very best wishes for a Happy Christmas to you and your family
Tuesday 23rd December
Residents Christmas Party in lounges at Castle Hill House, food,
music and “Rita the Magician” 3pm - Children welcome
Staff fancy dress day, anything goes at Castle Hill House
Wednesday 24th December
Candlelit Carols with sherry, cheese & nibbles at Castle Hill House
Gary the Organist at Cedars Nursing Home, 2.30pm
Thursday 25th December
Father Christmas arrival at Castle Hill House, 10am
at The Cedars Nursing Home, 11.15am
A festive welcome to everyone, firstly and most importantly I
would like to say a huge thank you to each and every one of
our staff who have all been working so hard caring for our
residents, all your efforts are greatly appreciated. Since I joined
on the 1st July this year, we have faced and overcome a number
of challenges, I’m sure there will be others in the future, but I
am confident with us all working together we can face and
overcome these challenges triumphantly to continue the good work. Wishing you
all a lovely Christmas and a peaceful New Year.
April King, General Manager/Director of Homes
A WARM WELCOME TO OUR NEW RESIDENTS
Russell King, Dulcie Haskings, Joyce Wright,
Daphne Wills, Joan Berry, Kathleen Hunt, Joyce
Rawlingson, Eileen Roberts & Rev. John Painter
at Castle Hill House , Douglas Durdle, Barbara
Bowen, Patricia Day, Christine Applegath &
Clara Thomas at The Cedars Nursing Home
Brian Harding RIP We are sad to tell you that Brian Harding died on December 4, after battling cancer for
several years. He was a true Friend and a vital supporter for Cedars Castle Hill who quietly created and ran a
Friends organization which helped enlist important support through the early years of establishing and
extending the work of the charity’s two homes. In later years, he continued low key fundraising, each year
contributing several thousand pounds to our funds for those little extras which make a huge difference for
residents and staff.
We send our sympathy and our thanks to his family and friends.
Castle Hill House, Bimport, Shaftesbury, Dorset, SP7 8AX Tel: 01747 854699 Email: [email protected] - The Cedars Nursing Home, Angel Lane, Shaftesbury, Dorset, SP7 8DF Tel: 01747 852860 Email: [email protected]
CASTLE HILL HOUSE
A SAD FAREWELL TO:
Pam Wildy, John Easterbrooke, Gwen Fry, Frank Shelton,
Kathleen Leen, Dorothy Doxat, Brenda Reid, David Birch & Gladys
Govier at Castle Hill House and John Smith, Leslie Richardson,
Richard Brockway & David Wheeler at The Cedars Nursing Home.
CONGRATULATIONS
To Jemma & James Ellicott on the birth of their daughter Rosie
Elizabeth on 26th June, to Emily & Dave Forster on the birth of
their son James William on 24th July and to Stacey James & Sean
Dhruev on the birth of their son Oscar Thomas on 8th August.
THE CEDARS NURSING HOME
How refreshing it is, to meet someone who genuinely enjoys their job
and puts one hundred percent effort into it every day. Meet Jocelyn
Tirazona who works at The Cedars Nursing Home. Indeed there have
been celebrations within the home, in recognition of the fact that she
has worked every allotted day for the last ten years. She is a popular
member of a team of carers and is loved and respected by the residents.
Jocelyn was presented with a beautiful basket of fruits as a ‘Thank you’
for her decade of dedication to the home.
GOODBYE TO STAFF FROM BOTH HOMES:
Yvonne Cattermole, Phanee Squire, Alex
Loveland, Jemma Moodey, Gemma Luffman,
Debbie Lee, Shane Randall, Sue Randall,
Jennifer Kent, Alice Arathoon, Sally Smith &
Chloe Ainscough.
DAYCARE AVAILABLE IN THE
GARDEN ROOM AT CASTLE
HILL HOUSE, PLEASE PHONE
01747 854699 FOR DETAILS
SHAFTESBURY IN BLOOM
Charlie Ingram is a much respected gentleman who now lives in
Castle Hill House.
He told me that his parents, Alfred and Jane were living in Berwick
St John when he was born, and Charlie had three sisters. He looks
back on a happy childhood and enjoyed his time at Ludwell School,
despite a three mile walk each way. He was expected to help in the
garden and with six in the house to feed, he soon learned to grow
vegetables.
His father was employed as chauffeur to the family who lived in Donhead Hall and the Ingram
family moved to a cottage in Watery Lane, Donhead St Mary to be closer to work. Charlie
remembers the generous gift of a half crown coin that he and his siblings each received at
Christmas from father’s employer.
He left school at the age of fifteen and believes he is now in his nineties but he is unsure. He
remembers having a medical when he enlisted/ tried to enrol for the army, but he was not
accepted – the doctor painted a cross on Charlie’s chest and also pointed out that he was flat
footed. So Charlie stayed at home and spent those war years growing plenty of vegetables for all
those people who remained in the area.
At some point Charlie met and married a local young lady called Gladys. They set up their home in
Enmore Green and soon had a very productive garden.
He joined firstly Fanners and later on Biddescome Builders, local building firms in Charlton and
Ludwell. He learned many skills of the trade and worked for them until he retired.
Charlie is very happy living in Castle Hill House and on fine days can be found in the garden, where
there are raised beds in which he grows and tends a selection of vegetables. The residents have
enjoyed eating potatoes, carrots and beans, all lovingly grown and freshly picked.
It was a proud moment for Charlie when he was invited to the Town Hall to receive a certificate
from the Shaftesbury in Bloom committee, in recognition of all the hard work he had carried out in
the garden at Castle Hill House.
Padded noticeboards….. every resident has had a cork board on the wall in their
room which could be used to post letters, photos, postcards and memos.
We are now in the process of turning them into much more homely looking
padded notice boards, individually decorated with a choice of fabrics, ribbons
and buttons. Donations of large pieces of fabric or ribbons would be very much
appreciated in the Garden Room to assist in this mammoth task!
She was born and brought up in the Philippines but came to England ten
years ago. Back home she had trained as a physiotherapist and was
experienced in working with people of all ages. In her culture, elderly
relations are looked after within the family home, and she was able to
gain knowledge and help look after her grandparents as they aged.
Jocelyn has passed NVQ exams at levels two and three and is an ambitious member of the team –
one day she would like to become a manager. She tells me that the staff at Cedars are like family
to her and certainly, as a visitor, I was aware of a positive, caring and happy atmosphere.
The Trustees and Director are responsible for the running of Cedars Castle Hill. I
have been a Trustee for 3 years following many years working as a Doctor in the
NHS.
My home town was Poole where I attended Parkstone Grammar School and did
my medical training at Guy’s Hospital in London. Before moving to Shaftesbury in
1974 I was a GP in Macclesfield. Having a young family I was initially a Clinical
Medical Officer in Wiltshire and in 1985 was invited to bring my expertise in
Family Planning and women’s problems as a GP in Shaftesbury Practice where I
Dr Sue Daddy, Trustee
worked for 20 years. This was a very happy time and also included Care of the
Elderly at the Westminster Memorial Hospital.
After retirement I was invited to become a Trustee and this has made me become more aware of the
needs of the elderly, especially those suffering from dementia. I am a frequent visitor to both homes
and never cease to be amazed at the personal care given to the residents, the friendliness and
devotion of the staff and the family atmosphere which always prevails.
Dr Sue Daddy, Trustee
NEW GARDEN ROOM
LEAFLET AVAILABLE
PLEASE ASK FOR DETAILS
CASTLE HILL HOUSE
HOLY COMMUNION
13th January
10th February
14th April
12th May
9th June
14th July
11th August
8th September
13th October
10th November
8th December
We have new staff to introduce at Castle Hill House: Team Leaders: Becky Smith &
Shirley Williams, Care Assistant Supervisor: Sharon Dixon Care Assistants: Radka
Regester, Sharna Horwood, Juliet Windspeaker, Zoe Quick, Hayley McEvoy, LJ
Curamen, Louise Wilmshurst, House Services: Carole Brickell, Sophia Healy, Amy
Shorrocks & Megan WIlliams. At the Cedars we welcome, Care Assistants: Charlotte
Storer & Natasha Colclough, & Office Junior, Laura Haskell. As part of the re-structure
there have been a few changes, Debbie Clarke is now House Services Manager,
Rebecca Ashcroft is now Systems Manager, Nicky Tudor is Care Manager at Castle Hill
House and Sally Ashcroft and Mandi Tobin are Clinical Manager’s at The Cedars.
CHRISTMAS RAFFLE TICKETS AVAILABLE IN BOTH HOMES
NEW HOME BROCHURE COMING SOON
Castle Hill House, Bimport, Shaftesbury, Dorset, SP7 8AX Tel: 01747 854699 Email: [email protected] - The Cedars Nursing Home, Angel Lane, Shaftesbury, Dorset, SP7 8DF Tel: 01747 852860 Email: [email protected]