Miriam is a miracle! - Cornwall Care
Miriam is a miracle! - Cornwall Care
Miriam is a miracle! - Cornwall Care
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CONTENTS:<br />
<strong>Miriam</strong> <strong>is</strong> 101 P1<br />
A note from Alex P1<br />
Karen & Stephen P2<br />
Nancy <strong>is</strong> 100 P2<br />
Sherry evening P2<br />
Bingo P2<br />
Chr<strong>is</strong>tmas at Trevern P2<br />
40 years for Maggie P3<br />
Garlands at Redannick P3<br />
My Life P4<br />
Halloween parties P4<br />
Sensory Trust Part 1 P5<br />
Dorothy <strong>is</strong> 100 P5<br />
Chr<strong>is</strong>tmas at St Hilary P6<br />
Bugs at Redannick P6<br />
Veronica <strong>is</strong> 90 P7<br />
My Moment Awards P7<br />
Tales from The Green P8<br />
Woodland’s dog show P9<br />
The Bungalow P10<br />
Sharon’s Mum P10<br />
Sharon’s Dad P11<br />
Crafty at Trevern P11<br />
Sensory Trust Part 2 P12<br />
Sensory Trust Part 3 P14<br />
Cubs at Trevarna P15<br />
Art at Cedar Grange P16<br />
Our Beattie P16<br />
My Say<br />
Tenth Edition HQ: 01872 261787<br />
<strong>Miriam</strong> <strong>is</strong> a<br />
<strong>miracle</strong>!<br />
Meet <strong>Miriam</strong> Richards from Woodland.<br />
She <strong>is</strong> pictured here celebrating her<br />
101st birthday on 21 December 2011.<br />
<strong>Miriam</strong> originally lived in Mansfield<br />
and came to <strong>Cornwall</strong> when her<br />
daughter was expecting her first baby<br />
33 years ago.<br />
<strong>Miriam</strong> made Woodland her home two<br />
years ago and as you can see, she <strong>is</strong> a very happy lady! Her<br />
birthday was celebrated with friends and a party at the home and <strong>Miriam</strong><br />
had a wonderful time. Congratulations <strong>Miriam</strong>, what <strong>is</strong> your secret?!<br />
A note from Alex.<br />
Welcome to the TENTH edition of My Say! As always I hope it provides you with a good read.<br />
Some of the photographs th<strong>is</strong> time are particularly lovely, I hope you will agree. Thank you for your<br />
contributions, and as always, please keep them coming in. If you have stories, poems or pictures for<br />
My Say, please send them to Tyra, her details are below she will then forward them to me. Alex<br />
If you have anything you’d like to appear in the next edition of My Say, please<br />
send it to Tyra Mills at Head Office, tyra.mills@cornwallcare.org
2<br />
Karen makes Stephen Her Choice!<br />
On 24 March th<strong>is</strong> year, My Choice will celebrate<br />
its first wedding!<br />
Karen Smalley and Stephen Jones from the<br />
My Choice Newquay Team, have set the date<br />
following Stephen's proposal whilst on a ferry<br />
to Ireland! Stephen, ever the traditional<strong>is</strong>t,<br />
got down on one knee and Karen immediately<br />
accepted h<strong>is</strong> proposal.<br />
Their Team Leader Sue Aldridge has written th<strong>is</strong><br />
poem to celebrate the good news...<br />
They were out on their rounds.<br />
When they heard a sound.<br />
They were attaching a sling.<br />
When Love birds began to sing.<br />
Now a year later they are setting a date<br />
Oh my, th<strong>is</strong> must be fate.<br />
Best w<strong>is</strong>hes to both of you and please remember<br />
to send us a photo of your wedding day!<br />
Sherry Evening!<br />
An amazing £1453 was<br />
ra<strong>is</strong>ed at a Chr<strong>is</strong>tmas Sherry<br />
Evening at The Green. You<br />
can see from the photo that<br />
everyone enjoyed a very<br />
festive and enjoyable event!<br />
Woodland held a Chr<strong>is</strong>tmas Bingo<br />
event on Friday the 2nd December<br />
2011, ra<strong>is</strong>ing a grand total of £468.50.<br />
Pictured <strong>is</strong> another one of Thelma<br />
the Chef's fabulous cakes which are<br />
always so festive! Th<strong>is</strong> scrumptious<br />
cake was auctioned, adding £25 to the<br />
funds. Congratulations Thelma!<br />
Nancy reaches 100!<br />
Trengrouse's Nancy White celebrated<br />
her 100th birthday at the beginning of<br />
November. Pictured with Lindsay and<br />
Mandy from the home, <strong>is</strong> Nancy enjoying<br />
her special day.<br />
Congratulations Nancy!<br />
Bingo! Chr<strong>is</strong>tmas at<br />
Trevern...<br />
Chr<strong>is</strong>tmas at Trevern was<br />
made extra special with the<br />
kind donation of a tree from<br />
Asda. Pictured <strong>is</strong> the home's<br />
Eric Gosling enjoying the<br />
run up to the festive period!<br />
Thank you Asda!
40 years at Woodland!<br />
Maggie Harry from Woodland celebrated 40 years at the home on 20 October. With a fabulous<br />
cake, singing and a good old party atmosphere, friends and colleagues gathered to show their<br />
appreciation for Maggie who <strong>is</strong> a dedicated, well loved and very popular team member. Despite<br />
trying to retire more than once, Maggie's wonderful services have been retained. Her colleagues<br />
describe her as someone who <strong>is</strong> 'a special lady, always happy to help out, making a difference to<br />
so many lives'.<br />
Pictured <strong>is</strong> the cake presented to Maggie on the day and Alex Wedlock from Head Office,<br />
presenting Maggie with thank you flowers.<br />
Maggie has always been such a supporter of My Say, a special thanks for your contributions<br />
Maggie, please keep them coming....x<br />
Garland making at Redannick...<br />
The talented people of Redannick made these beautiful Chr<strong>is</strong>tmas garlands to support the Truro in<br />
Bloom project. The garlands were sold in Truro on 14 December and followed a very busy and<br />
productive morning in the home.<br />
Everyone involved had a wonderful time and felt justifyably proud of their creations.<br />
3
4<br />
Introducing the<br />
My Life PLan...<br />
The My Life Assessment<br />
Tool and My Life Plan has<br />
been developed and designed<br />
by <strong>Cornwall</strong> <strong>Care</strong> to ass<strong>is</strong>t<br />
and help an individual, in<br />
partnership with their family,<br />
to plan their present and<br />
future life. The gathering of<br />
essential information during<br />
the assessment phase <strong>is</strong> a<br />
necessity, and when fully<br />
integrated into the My Life<br />
Plan, reflects the true needs,<br />
w<strong>is</strong>hes and wants of that<br />
person.<br />
The My Life Plan utilizes<br />
a number of methods<br />
that are reflective of the<br />
individual's personal<br />
communication modes<br />
which contribute to them<br />
outlining their needs, w<strong>is</strong>hes<br />
and aspirations. Some of<br />
th<strong>is</strong> assessment <strong>is</strong> informed<br />
by the individual’s past and<br />
some by their present and<br />
th<strong>is</strong> may be affected by their<br />
abilities now, living with<br />
dementia or other health<br />
conditions. Continuous<br />
assessment <strong>is</strong> therefore<br />
vital in ensuring that their<br />
wants are cons<strong>is</strong>tently<br />
met. Th<strong>is</strong> process helps<br />
staff incorporate “what<br />
<strong>is</strong> important to a person”<br />
into their life plan with<br />
achievable and real<strong>is</strong>tic<br />
outcomes.<br />
The My Life Plan can also<br />
provide a reference point<br />
from which to start getting<br />
to know the individual. Th<strong>is</strong><br />
personal approach can often<br />
have a significant impact on<br />
the individual’s quality of<br />
life by empowering them and<br />
including them in their own<br />
care pathway.<br />
In conjunction with the<br />
implementation program<br />
and transition of the My Life<br />
Plan, practical workshops are<br />
delivered to the staff in the<br />
homes, with an emphas<strong>is</strong> on<br />
capturing the resident’s daily<br />
lives, how they spend them,<br />
who they enjoy conversing<br />
with, what music they like to<br />
dance or sing to, what cakes<br />
they bake, involvement with<br />
preparing vegetables or what<br />
flowers they like to smell.<br />
The workshops reach out,<br />
encouraging all staff who<br />
witness wonderful goingson<br />
or accompl<strong>is</strong>hments in a<br />
Halloween across our homes...<br />
person’s life to evidence th<strong>is</strong><br />
in the daily narrative of the<br />
life plan. Often it <strong>is</strong> those<br />
small unconsidered acts of<br />
kindness, that smile, a hand<br />
held, a hug, that <strong>is</strong> such an<br />
important part of people’s<br />
lives. Making someone<br />
laugh, helping someone<br />
walk those few extra steps,<br />
rubbing someone’s back,<br />
saying “you look nice today”,<br />
can enhance and lift people’s<br />
spirit. Acknowledging people<br />
for who they are and not the<br />
dementia label they carry, or<br />
the role they play in work,<br />
goes further than touching<br />
the human soul, it helps<br />
make us who we are. Th<strong>is</strong> <strong>is</strong><br />
at the centre of all working<br />
and therapeutic relationships.<br />
It <strong>is</strong> essential therefore that<br />
all employees acknowledge<br />
that individual care planning<br />
<strong>is</strong> paramount, that our deep<br />
care and love should be<br />
reflected in everything they<br />
do in their work place. Th<strong>is</strong><br />
<strong>is</strong> where true cultural change<br />
takes place. Th<strong>is</strong> represents<br />
a process, a journey, and one<br />
where practices will change<br />
in order to improve not only<br />
the quality of care, but also<br />
the quality of life itself. You<br />
are part of that change.
Sensory Trust Part 1...<br />
<strong>Cornwall</strong> <strong>Care</strong> working in partnership with Sensory Trust<br />
2012 Creative Spaces <strong>is</strong> a three year project supported by a<br />
Big Lottery Fund grant awarded to the Sensory Trust. Th<strong>is</strong><br />
<strong>is</strong> a 3 year project based on a close working relationship<br />
between <strong>Cornwall</strong> <strong>Care</strong> and Sensory Trust.<br />
The main aim of th<strong>is</strong> project <strong>is</strong> encouraging community<br />
interest in outdoor environments and outdoor-related<br />
interests with people with dementia. These connections have<br />
been built gradually throughout th<strong>is</strong> project to create a firm<br />
foundation on which to build sustainable relationships and<br />
better understanding of dementia.<br />
The garden at Trevarna was redesigned to demonstrate<br />
the benefits of inclusive consultation with home residents and staff.<br />
Th<strong>is</strong> approach offers a greater range of interest and provides stimulating yet safe environments<br />
in which people can increase their social interaction with each other and enhance their wellbeing.<br />
It <strong>is</strong> also a place where community members have the opportunity to increase their<br />
understanding of dementia and the impact it has on those affected by it. In partnership with<br />
Sensory Trust we have contributed to improving the physical, social and psychological wellbeing<br />
of people living with dementia in our homes by delivering a series of creative activities at<br />
Trevarna House, extended these to other <strong>Cornwall</strong> <strong>Care</strong> homes as well as delivered workshops to<br />
carers, young people and community members.<br />
Many happy<br />
returns Dorothy...<br />
Family and friends v<strong>is</strong>ited Athelstan in to<br />
celebrate the 100th birthday of Dorothy<br />
Tresider.<br />
A party was organ<strong>is</strong>ed for the centenarian,<br />
and Dorothy received a birthday card from<br />
the Queen.<br />
She was born at Brea, near Camborne and<br />
married Bill, her late husband, an optician,<br />
in 1939 and they ran a jeweller’s together in<br />
Camborne for many years.<br />
Dorothy’s daughter, Margaret commented<br />
“The team at Athelstan make her life<br />
comfortable and pleasurable, and she<br />
particularly loves bath time with lots of<br />
singing and laughter, and I cannot speak<br />
highly enough of her care.’’<br />
Congratulations Dorothy<br />
5
6<br />
Chr<strong>is</strong>tmas fun at St Hilary<br />
St Hilary celebrated Chr<strong>is</strong>tmas with a Day Centre party, here<br />
are some photos of clients and staff enjoying the festivities!<br />
Truro High School<br />
get the bug!<br />
Redannick was invited to become<br />
involved in a project called Bug Hotel!<br />
Girls from Truro High School v<strong>is</strong>ited<br />
Redannick on 17 and 31 October<br />
to create and design cards with the<br />
residents.<br />
The home was buzzing with<br />
enthusiasm, fun and impromptu singing<br />
of "When You're Smiling”. The girls<br />
thought Redannick's Av<strong>is</strong><br />
(pictured) should enter the XFactor!!<br />
Soon the actual construction of the bug<br />
hotel in the garden will begin!<br />
A celebration of the project <strong>is</strong> planned<br />
with a special tea party and more<br />
singing!<br />
The girls from the High School<br />
were amazing and a big thank you <strong>is</strong><br />
extended to them all.
Happy Birthday Veronica!<br />
Pictured <strong>is</strong> Trevern's Manager, Al<strong>is</strong>on Rowe and<br />
the Mayor of Falmouth, Geoffrey Evans joining<br />
client, Veronica Sheldon to celebrate her 90th<br />
birthday. Her daughter had invited Geoffrey<br />
to v<strong>is</strong>it and make Veronica's day extra-special!<br />
Afterwards, Geoffrey was given a VIP tour of the<br />
home.<br />
Award for Mo<br />
Lovely Mo Knowles based at Indian Queens<br />
was surpr<strong>is</strong>ed by Comminity Services Lead,<br />
Bridget Varney when she was presented<br />
with a My Moment Award. Mo received<br />
the award for her extraordinary contribution<br />
to the Supported Living service.<br />
Congratulations, very well deserved!<br />
Award for Michelle<br />
Pictured here <strong>is</strong> Maria Dent and Head<br />
Office's Gerry Cantwell presenting<br />
Trevarna's Michelle Russell with a My<br />
Moment Award.<br />
Michelle was nominated for the Award<br />
by the home's Deputy Manager, Mandy<br />
Swiggs. Michelle freely and constantly<br />
gives up her own time to organ<strong>is</strong>e fetes<br />
and fundra<strong>is</strong>ing. She has had a huge<br />
impact on the success of the Trevarna<br />
garden project and always goes that extra<br />
mile. Michelle takes clients swimming<br />
and out on day trips on her days off and<br />
<strong>is</strong> considered a very valuable and well<br />
loved member of the team. Very well<br />
done Michelle.<br />
Congratulations to our other My Moment<br />
winners who will feature in the next<br />
edition of My Say. If you would like to<br />
nominate someone for a My Moment<br />
Award, please contact Hannah at Head<br />
Office who will be able to help you...<br />
7
8<br />
Tales from<br />
The Green...<br />
Festive Fayre...<br />
delivered to your door!<br />
Sue Cain, The Green's Home Manager and Cathy Jenkin, Customer Relations Co-ordinator braved<br />
the winter weather to deliver Chr<strong>is</strong>tmas goodies to the Head Office Team. To ra<strong>is</strong>e money for<br />
their clients amenities fund, the ladies loaded Sue's car with homemade chocolate logs, Chr<strong>is</strong>tmas<br />
puddings and iced Chr<strong>is</strong>tmas cakes and trundled off to Truro.<br />
To encourage sales, they brought with them hot Chr<strong>is</strong>tmas pudding and samples of cake. By the<br />
time they left, they had all but sold out! Well done to Sue, Cathy and the wonderful kitchen staff!<br />
Fowl play<br />
reported...<br />
The Green has welcomed some new residents!<br />
Staff and clients have rescued 6 lovely hens<br />
who provide tasty free range eggs in return for<br />
their luxury accommodation.<br />
Customer Relations Co-ordinator, Cathy<br />
Jenkin told us 'Our new chickens have all<br />
settled in really well and very kindly provide<br />
us with 6 eggs most days. Our clients love<br />
them, particularly John (pictured with Cathy)<br />
who has been out to buy himself a new pair<br />
of wellies so that he can get really involved<br />
in caring for them. John feeds the hens,<br />
keeps their house nice and clean and collects<br />
the eggs, keeping us informed of how well<br />
they are laying. We are all enjoying having<br />
chickens at The Green.'
Woodlands annual Dog Show...<br />
Woodland's annual Dog Show was held on<br />
Saturday 24th September and was a huge<br />
success despite the poor weather. Nineteen<br />
dogs took part ... with their owners(!) and a<br />
fantastic £236.90 was ra<strong>is</strong>ed for the residents<br />
amenities fund.<br />
The shield for ‘Best in Show’ was won by<br />
Natasha Thomas and her collie dog, Beavly<br />
and the cup for ‘Best Young Dog Handler’<br />
was won by Jess with her labrador, Bramble.<br />
The show was judged by Mark Swiggs of<br />
the Kernow Supporting Gun Dog Club and<br />
he <strong>is</strong> pictured presenting the well-deserved<br />
awards.<br />
Maggie Harry from the home sends thanks<br />
to all those involved for their support and for<br />
making the event so wonderful. Well done<br />
everyone.<br />
9
10<br />
My Choice<br />
supports a<br />
new service...<br />
Bridget Varney, Community<br />
Services Lead, <strong>is</strong> proud to<br />
announce a new service which<br />
will be supported by the My<br />
Choice team. A project,<br />
currently referred to as The<br />
Bungalow has been taken over<br />
by <strong>Cornwall</strong> <strong>Care</strong>.<br />
The Bungalow <strong>is</strong> based in<br />
Penzance and offers respite stays<br />
for those of all ages who have<br />
learning d<strong>is</strong>abilities. <strong>Cornwall</strong><br />
<strong>Care</strong> extend a very warm<br />
welcome to new team members<br />
who have been working with the<br />
project for some time. We look<br />
forward to hearing more about<br />
th<strong>is</strong> exciting new project!<br />
Sharon, the Laundress at Trevern,<br />
shares her lovely poems with us...<br />
My Mum...<br />
To pack away your clothes<br />
As I open the wardrobe door<br />
It’s very hard for me to believe<br />
That you’re not here any more<br />
Looking at all your personal clothes<br />
The memories that I have of you<br />
I can remember the occasions that you wore them<br />
They still look as good as new<br />
As I take out your favourite dress<br />
I can still smell the perfume that you wore<br />
You used to wear it when you went dancing<br />
When you and Dad would glide around the floor<br />
There’s the lovely wedding suit we bought<br />
For my daughter’s wedding day<br />
And I know it meant the world to you<br />
More than words we could ever say<br />
The suit that we bought for your first grandchild’s chr<strong>is</strong>tening<br />
Made you and Dad so proud<br />
Holding your grandchild in the photographs<br />
As you stood amongst the crowd<br />
The lovely floral dress you wore<br />
On your grandchild’s first birthday<br />
So many happy memories<br />
That I will cher<strong>is</strong>h to th<strong>is</strong> day<br />
Now I have to take out all your clothes<br />
And pack them all away<br />
You were the best mum in the world<br />
No one can take my memories away
My Dad...<br />
Diagnosed with dementia<br />
Is the future for my dad<br />
When I see him deteriorating<br />
It makes me feel so sad<br />
Feeling like it’s grief<br />
I lose a part of him each day<br />
As I try to do my very best<br />
Did it have to be th<strong>is</strong> way?<br />
Sometimes I wonder how am I going to cope<br />
And then on the good days I will never give up hope<br />
Then I will convince myself<br />
Things will never be that bad<br />
Whatever happens in the future Thank you Sharon x<br />
You will always be my dad.<br />
Ruth's work at Trevern...<br />
Ruth Purdy <strong>is</strong> a lady who believes that art and craft can enhance life and living regardless of<br />
age, illness and memory loss. During 2011 she has been working with the people of Trevern to<br />
produce the most beautiful creations. Just have a look....<br />
11
12<br />
Outside Spaces...<br />
Sensory Trust Part 2...<br />
Back at the beginning of September, staff,<br />
clients and friends of Trevarna came together<br />
for a major planting session!<br />
Working with the Sensory Trust as part of<br />
their work to transform the outside spaces<br />
surrounding the home, plants were delivered<br />
and sensitively placed to prepare for a<br />
wonderful d<strong>is</strong>play during later months. The<br />
session was a huge success thanks to Maria<br />
Dent and the team and helped along nicely by<br />
members of the community. Everyone involved<br />
had a wonderful day, many commenting on their<br />
increased sense of wellbeing and enjoyment of<br />
the great outdoors.<br />
We will look forward to seeing Trevarna's<br />
outside spaces flour<strong>is</strong>h over the coming months<br />
and years. Keep sending us photos Trevarna!
14<br />
Creative Spaces...<br />
Sensory Trust Part 3...<br />
Use of outdoor environments in<br />
dementia care training sessions.<br />
These pictures show workshops held throughout<br />
some of our homes. They were designed to show<br />
everyone how the outside spaces project worked<br />
at Trevarna.<br />
The aim was to ass<strong>is</strong>t <strong>Cornwall</strong> <strong>Care</strong>’s staff to<br />
understand the importance of including outdoor<br />
environments in the care of residents, and also<br />
to see the outdoors as a place where they can<br />
increase social interaction with people from the<br />
community.<br />
To date, two sessions have taken place, one at St.<br />
Breock and another at St. Martins.<br />
The workshops are being followed up with review<br />
sessions to evaluate how outdoor environments<br />
are being better used.
A v<strong>is</strong>it from the cubs...<br />
St Austell Cubs paid a v<strong>is</strong>it to the folk of Trevarna, entertaining them with singing<br />
and generally making everyone smile. The Cubs chose Trevarna as part of a project<br />
to gain their community badges. They were rewarded with a very warm welcome,<br />
lots of happy people and some traditional refreshments of orange squash and b<strong>is</strong>cuits!<br />
15
10th Edition HQ: 01872 261787<br />
Cedar Grange celebrate<br />
art<strong>is</strong>tic talent!<br />
We hope you will enjoy these wonderful<br />
photos taken at an art class at Cedar<br />
Grange...so many talented people in one<br />
building!<br />
The art class featured a special star guest!<br />
Our wonderful Beattie...<br />
We are very sad to report that since these photos were<br />
taken, our dear friend Beattie from Cedar Grange has<br />
passed away. She was a vibrant and wonderful lady<br />
and we really m<strong>is</strong>s her. Beattie helped us so much and<br />
was the face of <strong>Cornwall</strong> <strong>Care</strong> on many occassions x