News New Century staff support festive Elf Day


New Century Care homes The Oaks in Lexden, Colchester and Buxton Lodge in Caterham-on-the-Hill,Surreytookpart in ElfDay celebrations, anational festive fundraiserorganisedbythe Alzheimer’s Society.


The aim of Elf Day is to raise awareness


and money to help beat dementia, all while getting everyone into the Christmas spirit. With New Century Care specialising in dementia care, it was particularly important to show solidarity to those fighting the condition. The Oaks’ residents and staff were


treated to a visit by children from a local kindergarten, Lexden Lodge, who enjoyed decorating elf themed cakes and making elf hats for themselves and the residents, with residents joining in with activities. The festive day ended with a Christmas quiz as


well as a showing of the film ‘Elf’. Staff did not hold back as they proudly


expressed their inner elf. While some kept it simple with a red and green outfit, others jingled all the way with curly shoes and pointy ears, all with smiles plastered across their faces. Meanwhile, Buxton Lodge raised over


£200 for The Alzheimer’s Society as it held a fun quiz night in aid of Elf Day. All tickets were sold and Buxton Lodge’s chef, Nina, presented a beautiful buffet for staff, residents and relatives. Chris Shotter was the chief elf quizmaster, while everyone was also treated to some magic from Joe Saxby. Louise Baxter, home manager at The Oaks,


says: “All the staff and residents were happy to take part in Elf Day celebrations. Everyone was in good spirits and feeling the festive mood. It’s such an important cause and we’re proud that The Oaks was able to support it.”


Relationship centred care research


Robert Gordon University (RGU) and Laurels Lodge Care Home will join forces for a year long initiative into relationship centred care for people living with dementia, as part of a Life Changes Trust funding award. The two organisations, along with NHS


Grampian and the University of the West of Scotland (UWS), will focus their efforts on documenting best practice for other care homes throughout the UK. The project will run from November 2018 to


October 2019 and aims to inform best practice not only in the north east, but across the country – with the experiences and views of residents and their families being central to shaping this. Laurels Lodge is run by Four Seasons Health


Care and the project will draw on the organisation’s experience as a leading contributor to advances in best practice in dementia care over recent years, which have achieved measurable improvements in the


wellbeing and quality of life of residents with the condition. Jill Will, a lecturer from RGU’s School of Nursing and Midwifery, says: “Sometimes the human rights of residents living with dementia can be overlooked. It is therefore vital that we ensure that their rights are respected at all times – with this in mind, we are looking forward to collaborating with the staff at Laurels Lodge. “Together we will work on an appreciative inquiry (AI) approach, which will focus on what works well as part of Four Seasons’ dementia care approach and identifies strategies on how to capture, understand and translate these strengths to further benefit the lives of residents nationwide, with a particular focus on anticipatory care planning.” The project is part of a Life Changes Trust


award of £135,000, which has been awarded to a number of care homes across Scotland to fund work into improving the lives and experiences of residents.


Cotswold care development site acquired


A care development site in Moreton in Marsh, Gloucestershire, has been sold on behalf of Mercian Developments to regional care provider Taylor & Taylor. The development includes full planning permission for a high specification 60 bedroom care home, situated on the edge of the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, providing a picturesque setting. Charles Taylor, managing director at Taylor & Taylor, comments: “This site represents a


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wonderful opportunity to expand our group and bring our high quality care offering to the people of Moreton in Marsh.” Jordan Rundle, associate director at Christie & Co, who handled the sale, comments: “Moreton in Marsh is undersupplied with market standard care beds and this, coupled with the strong underlying wealth profile of the town, provided a compelling opportunity for an operator to meet this demand.”


First time entrant purchases Dawn Lodge care home


Dawn Lodge, a care home in Wokingham, Berkshire, has been sold to a first time purchaser with a strong background in the care sector. Dawn Lodge care home is registered for 16


residents and comprises 14 single bedrooms and one twin bedroom, with seven of the rooms featuring en-suite facilities. Accommodation is situated over two floors and the site offers spacious, well laid out and decorated facilities. Graham Casselden, the previous owner of


Dawn Lodge, purchased the property in 1988 and since then has upgraded and refurbished it while maintaining a high quality of care for the residents and staff. He comments: “I have very much enjoyed owning and managing Dawn Lodge for the past 30 years, but felt that it was the right time to sell and retire from the sector. I am pleased to be handing the business over to Vaida and am confident that she and the business will flourish in the future.”


New owner and first time buyer, Vaida


Elliott, owner of Chrome Tree Care Ltd, is not new to the care sector as she runs a successful homecare agency in Berkshire. Ms Elliott comments: “Having owned and operated our homecare agency in Berkshire for a number of years, we felt that a move into owning a care home was a natural step for the company. We are delighted to have purchased a care home so close to our offices in Slough and look forward to being able to offer our clients excellent levels of care.”


www.thecarehomeenvironment.com • January 2019


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