Activities at Elm Bank Care Home

The Home here has been hosting the local community dementia café for several months. The numbers attending the amazing café have increased, with guests being treated to complimentary tea, coffee, sandwiches and delicious cakes.

Taking place every fourth Tuesday of the month, starting at 14:00pm until 16:30pm, guests have a chance to meet other carers supporting others living with dementia. Free to all, the dementia café at the home provides small respite and social support for all that are touched by dementia. Since being hosted at Elm Bank, the café has gained many more attendees and it has simply gone from strength to strength in numbers attending.

During the monthly get together at the Dementia Cafe, guests will enjoy live entertainment and refreshments, and also have a chance to meet the team at the home, to discuss any questions they might have about care that is available. This month’s Dementia Café was held in the Manor House within the homes grounds, with the sun shining and amazing entertainment from Ollie Corbett – Jazz and Swing Singer. The dementia café was organised with the help of Yvonne Robinson Tingle, a local community figure.

General Manager Marvellous Bindura said: “We’re really pleased with how the café has touched people in our local community. The condition itself can be quite lonely and frightening, and the more support we can provide to each other, the better. If anyone is unable to make it on the day of the monthly café, but would like to pop in for a tour and a cup of tea, our doors are always open to all, and we will welcome you in anytime.”

The staff and residents welcomed Jason from Falconry UK for an afternoon learning all about the magnificent birds of prey.

Jason from falconry UK provided a unique experience for all with his extensive range of Birds of Prey including…Vultures, Eagles, Falcons, Hawks and Owls. The residents were absolutely blown away with the afternoon, not only did Jason provide an interesting educational talk around all the birds, it was an extremely interactive session for all. The residents were captivated with all the facts and for many it was the first time being up close to a bird and having the chance to actually hold a bird was simply spectacular.

Tina, Activities Co-ordinator commented: “It is very important for all our residents to experience meaningful activities and to be able to offer these experiences to our residents is vital allowing us to enrich their lives. Jason certainly had everyone engaged, we all learnt so much about the amazing birds, and he provided a fantastic hands on experience for all the residents to actually get up close and handle the magnificent birds. The residents wish to have Jason back in the summer time, which we will do so for an outdoor event in the homes beautiful enclosed grounds.”

This week we opened our doors to Kettering General Hospital to hold their Dementia Champion meeting, which was presented by Senior Dementia Specialist Nurse, Nadia Tobierre.

Nadia, who hosts the champion meetings on a regular basis which are attended by many hospital Multi-Disciplinary team members, including; the Palliative Care Team, KGH Library Services, Therapy Teams, Enhanced Care Team and the Safeguarding Team. Realising the benefits, the meeting brought to all, Nadia, wished to extend the meeting to other professionals, however lacked the space.

Home Services Advisor; Louise Ramage, met with Nadia and offered the space required realising that the meetings offered a great benefit to the wider organisations involved with dementia care. The meeting incentives are to improve dementia care, provide up to date information, news and have guest speakers. The intention is to hold these meetings on a regular basis at the home.

The meeting was attended by many members of the multi-disciplinary team from Kettering General Hospital and for the first time allowed for external professionals to attend, including; Home Instead, Dementia UK, Specsavers Mobile Audiology Services along with the Mobile Ophthalmologist Services, The British Red Cross and Direct Ceremonies along with the General Manager Marvellous Bindura and staff from Elm Bank Care Home. Kettering Mayor, Counsellor Craig Skinner was also invited to attend the meeting being held at Elm Bank Care Home for the first time, his support and presence at the meeting was greatly appreciated by all.

The meeting covered a variety of interesting topics including; ‘John’s Campaign’, which gives loved ones the right to stay and visit their family member who is living with dementia, anytime, day or night, to be with their loved one whilst receiving treatment at hospital.

A presentation covering The Mental Capacity Act 2005, looking at its primary purpose, legal framework for acting and making decisions on behalf of adults who lack capacity, to make particular decisions for themselves. Nadia also delivered a case study that looked at a lived life experience of hospital care.

Nadia Tobierre, Senior Dementia Specialist Nurse stated “It was refreshing to have a champion meeting where our staff could network, share learning and work towards improving dementia care. The team at Elm Bank made the experience even better, providing, exceptional hospitality and warmth.”

The next meeting will take place on Thursday 3rd April 2025, for anyone who is interested in attending please contact myself at louise.ramage@barchester.com.” 

It was a pleasure to host the first of many meetings for North Northants Dementia Friendly Community, who are making significant steps towards supporting those living with dementia.

The meeting brings together a diverse group of professionals dedicated to promoting, understanding and assisting individuals with dementia and their families. These regular meetings are held all over the North Northants area aimed to empower those living with dementia, to live a fulfilling and independent life by providing valuable resources and information to make informed choices.

Through the collective effort the North Northants Dementia Friendly Community aims to raise awareness in the local neighbourhood, businesses and fellow professionals. Working together, they are making a meaningful impact on the lives of those affected with dementia, ensuring that services and environments are welcoming and accommodating for all

John, who is a permanent resident has immersed himself into the daily life of the home, John was nominated as resident ambassador by fellow residents and staff to represent and advocate for them.

John, is a retired police officer, joining the police cadets when he was just a young man of 16 years old before becoming a constable in Wellingborough at aged 19. Throughout his career John was dedicated to serving with many different roles including the traffic division. John had to learn how to ride a motorcycle, which suited him as you only had to work the day shift, but later he then went on to take his car advance driving lessons. John became a shift controller and then moved into intelligence as an intelligence officer. Initially retiring after dedicating 34 years to the police force, only to go back to work on the Monday after his retirement as a civilian worker in the same branch for a further 16 years to complete 50 years of service before retiring for good in 2009. John spoke proudly of his career in the service and of some of the work he has achieved.

The Residents at Elm Bank will happily speak with John and approach him in the home if they have any concerns or issues they want raised. John said as a resident ambassador “I will take things on and help where I can, residents come and speak to me and they know I have their voice. I will stand up for the residents and recognised the staff for the work they do in the home”. John also went on to say “I can’t fault the care staff here in the home and if I see things that need improvement, I will advocate for that”.

Our resident ambassador role gives our residents a voice to help shape the way we run their home.

The residents and staff were delighted to celebrate National Pizza Day which is celebrated on the 9th of February each year. The day itself is dedicated to honouring the deliciousness of a pizza.

For the residents it was a perfect afternoon to get together and create their very own pizzas for tea. The homes chef prepared the dough and a lovely selection of toppings that allowed the residents to create some exquisite pizzas. The residents learnt that pizza is the world’s most beloved iconic food that dates back to the Roman times, who enjoyed flatbreads with cheese. The residents relished the afternoon learning many fun facts about pizzas as well as telling each other about having pizza when they were younger along with the social element of being with friends sharing delicious pizzas and going to the movies.

Resident Jill said, "It is lovely, to be able to make our pizza, and select our own toppings, I cannot wait to have mine served to me at tea. It is nice that we have all got together and had fun celebrating this day, as I knew nothing about this day until today.”

Tina, Activities Co-ordinator said, “It is really important here at the home for all that our residents get to enjoy a whole host of activities that bring them together. It is lovely way for our residents to learn new skills, learn about special days throughout the year and most importantly that they have fun. As a home we embrace special days and events throughout the year, today was brilliant, everyone getting together and creating their own pizzas, reminiscing about times past, just a perfect way to share time together, and who does not love a pizza!.”