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Jan

Winter Newsletter : To a happy and active 2016!

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We had a packed activities programme over the Christmas period and thoroughly enjoyed the festivities! We had a great start with a wonderful Christmas party, the residents invited their friends and family to celebrate Christmas with them. It was a super event with delicious food and lots of Christmas cheer and laughter.

We were entertained by Rietta and Kat; two talented singers who helped us get into the Christmas spirit. There was also a fabulous pantomime, this year it was “Jack and the Beanstalk” performed by “PARTYTIME PRODUCTIONS”. We were very impressed by the show and look forward to welcoming them back next year.

A high point of December was trips around Zone 1 to see the Christmas lights and sights of central London. We drove around lots of landmarks and enjoyed reminiscing, sharing fond memories of London and the festive season.
Valerie read us her and the resident’s favourite seasonal poetry and we made pomanders with Phillippa during our Christmas reminiscence workshop.

We had a fantastic carol concert held in our Orangery performed by our friends at Richmond Community Choir, this was a real highlight.

We have lots planned for coming months and New Year. We have already had a delightful concert provided by Live Music Now and look forward to our friend Brian coming to play the saxophone for us, farm visits and visits from the children who attend the local Beavers.

All the regular weekly activities continue, including Rock and Roll guitar with John, Music and Movement with Serena, jigsaws and games with Teresa, piano recitals with Dr Higgins and art class with Sadia. Fortnightly poetry with Valerie and monthly “News and Reviews” with Phillippa and concerts are also in our diary.

Here’s to a happy and active 2016!

Jun

WHELD (Improving Wellbeing and Health for People with Dementia) research programme

Categories: news

Tags: care home, dalemead, dementia, residential

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The National Dementia Strategy for England highlights the need to provide effective psychological and social approaches and person centred care practice to improve the well-being of people with dementia. Dalemead Residential Care Home is one of the homes that is participating in the WHELD (Improving Wellbeing and Health for People with Dementia) research programme. This is a National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)-funded programme involving Kings College London, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, North East London Foundation Trust, North Wales Organisation for Randomised Trials in Health (NWORTH)/ Bangor Clinical Trials Unit (CTU) and University of Hull.

The WHELD project will evaluate whether staff support and coaching to provide person centred care and effective person centred activities for people with dementia living in care homes are more effective in improving the mental health and well-being of residents compared to their usual care. During the next 9 months a research therapist will work with nominated members of staff (“Dementia Champions”) in the homes receiving the intervention, to provide training on person centred care, promote person centred activities and interactions and to provide care home staff and general practitioners with the latest best practice information regarding the optimal use of psychotropic medications for people with dementia.

The findings from the research will be shared locally through training events and articles and published in academic journals. If the WHELD approach is effective a further aim will be to develop a system to roll this out nationally.

Jun

Summer Newsletter

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We made the most of the nice weather with a visit from the ice cream van.

We sat outside, enjoyed the sun, each other’s company and a 99! We have enjoyed a plethora of enjoyable activities in the last few weeks. A big highlight was a superb concert courtesy of LIVE MUSIC NOW. Two very talented musicians; Lara Dodds-Eden (pianist) and Mae Heydorn (mezzo soprano) wowed us with their captivating programme of pieces by Schubert and Handel, and arias from Bizet’s Carmen. We also welcomed Amanda to Dalemead for the first time. She hosted a sing a long which featured many old favourites including “maybe it’s because I’m a Londoner”, “Daisy Bell (Bicycle built for two”) and “Down at the old Bull and Bush”. Amanda had the residents and staff singing, dancing and generally having a fun afternoon. We had a very enjoyable afternoon decorating ceramic plates. We think you’ll agree – the results were very impressive!

We have lots to look forward to in the coming months. We will hope for good weather so that we can enjoy our lovely garden at the B.B.Q (including musical entertainment from Simon and Beth) and our annual cream tea. The cream tea this year will be on Saturday 6th July. Please see posters around the home for more details and R.S.V.P to the office. This is always a fabulous occasion when everyone can enjoy a delicious afternoon tea whilst socialising with the other residents, friends and family of Dalemead. We hope the sun comes out so that we can make the most of our well placed location. At just 5 minutes’ walk from the river residents welcome the opportunity to take a trip to feed the ducks and enjoy the summer sun.

Regardless of the weather for Wimbledon we will enjoy pimms and strawberries and cream during the tournament.

In addition to these social occasions we look forward to all of our regular activities; poetry afternoon, visits from our P.A.T dog (“Foo”)and her owner; Roz, Patrick’s piano recital, music and movement, art and craft, reminiscence workshop, church services, florist workshops, dance displays and entertainment afternoons.

May

We’ve found Nemo!

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The latest addition to Dalemead has been a tank full of beautiful tropical fish. We have enjoyed watching the fish exploring their new surroundings. This has proved to be a very relaxing past time!