Our new activities coordinator is spending time with residents to get feedback on all aspects of current activities.
Celia Doncaster is keen to ensure Broomgrove is doing the right things and that all residents are happy.
She’s especially keen to find out if there’s anything missing or anything that could be improved on at the moment.
Celia is presently hosting 3 sessions per week like this to gain feedback from all residents.
We recently had the honour of celebrating Betty Richardson’s 100th Birthday. This remarkable lady was born in the middle of the First World War and has lived through the Second World War, poverty, rationing and conditions we can only imagine. She told us that her secret is having her mother and father’s positive attitude to life and having strength and faith. She celebrated with her family with a meal at the Rutland Hotel. We also celebrated with her. We need to thank Liz for the beautiful cake, Celia for the gorgeous handmade flowers and Anita for the food. We’re very proud of the Broomgrove team and humbled by this very special lady. Happy 100th Birthday Betty
At Broomgrove we’re lucky enough to have young volunteers from King Edwards VII School that spend regular time with our residents. Their help and support is invaluable.
The pupils are studying Health and Social Care at either GCSE or A Level. They come to Broomgrove on a weekly basis.
We really feel and see the value of the relationship these volunteers bring to our residents. It also makes you realise just how many lonely older people could benefit from something similar.
The visits bring younger and older generations together.
Many of these school children don’t have older relatives or have that much experience of being around older people. Yet the relationships offer great benefits to both generations.
Older people love to be around younger people and the knowledge they offer younger people is incredible.
One of our volunteers, Hajara Farooq, loves playing scrabble each week with a group of residents and despite the 70 year age gap, they come up with the same words and make a real competition out of it – it is so lovely to see their interaction!
Age UK run a befriending service. If you feel you could spare time for a friendly conversation and companionship on a regular basis, that could really benefit an elderly person please contact Age UK on 0800 434 6105 or e-mail callintime@ageuk.org.uk
Care workers have recently been reprimanded by CQC for calling old people affectionate names like ‘sweetheart’, ‘love’ and ‘darling’.
They’ve said the labels are patronising and demeaning and the care home in question was marked down as a result. They ended up with a ‘requiring improvement’ grading.
Care workers argue that the use of these names make the older people feel loved. I really couldn’t agree more.
As shown in the recent John Lewis Christmas advert, many older people live very lonely lives.
In fact 17% of older people are in contact with family, friends and neighbours less than once a week and 11% are in contact less than once a month.
Over half (51%) of all people aged 75 and over live alone and two fifths of all older people (about 3.9 million) say the television is their main company.
Using terms of endearment makes older people feel loved and cared for and part of a family
But isn’t this more about dignity and respect, not what we actually call older people?
For example, at Broomgrove we have a lady who likes to be called Miss Robinson, and that’s what we call her, but we also have a lady who likes to be called Trixibelle, which was a childhood nickname. Many older people like to be called different names, these may be shortened names, like Peggy, for Margaret or Jim for James. Many use their middle names as their first names.
What this is really about is respecting the individual and asking them how they wish to be addressed and following their wishes. It’s all about effective use of communication. At their time in life it’s about feeling comfortable and loved.
This is also about local dialect. ‘Love’ and ‘duck’ is used extensively throughout Yorkshire, even by total strangers when communicating. You’ll hear the terms from shopkeepers, bus drivers, all sorts of people – it’s common currency and it’s how we are up North! We are a friendly bunch. If we were more formal, wouldn’t that be cold and unwelcoming?
At Broomgrove we are a family and we talk to each other as a family would. Some of the residents call the staff ‘Sweetie’. The important issue is that people are called what they want to be called. Some will really appreciate affectionate terms of endearment, others will not.
Broomgrove residents are now feeling the benefit of regular sessions with a horticultural therapist.
Caroline Cook is visiting once every month on a Wednesday morning.
She’s doing gardening projects with residents throughout the year and, during the winter months, making garden-related products like lavender bath bombs, garden mosaics and flower arrangements.
Her first visit was a real hit and we can’t wait to welcome her again. You can find out more about her at: www.gardeningwithcaroline.co.uk
Horticultural therapy class
