Activities at Elm Bank Care Home

Elm Bank care home in Kettering would like to say a huge THANK YOU to Dunelm Kettering | Community Support for making their residents Christmas wishes come true with a sleigh full of joy! The staff and residents of Elm Bank care home were overwhelmed with happiness when the Dunelm Community Champions arrived bearing Christmas gifts for their residents as part of this years’ Dunelm “Delivering Joy” campaign.

Elm Bank care home's General Manager, Marvellous Bindura said: “We would like to send a heartfelt thank you to each and every one of the Dunelm Kettering team and all the amazing local people who have contributed to this wonderful campaign. The generosity, love and thoughtfulness behind each gift has made us all believe that Christmas miracles really can come true!"

We all had a great time helping to make the world a better place by wearing a festival jumper in aid of Save the Children’s annual fundraising event; Christmas Jumper Day.

Whether it was shop bought or customised we wore our Christmas jumpers with pride! Marvellous, General Manager, said: “Today has been a whole lot of fun with some of the most outlandish Christmas jumpers I have ever seen. We are proud to take part in this annual event, so much so we're doing it again on the 15th December!”

We have a full calendar of Christmas events in the lead up to the big day, many of which are open to the local community, please give the home a call on T. 01536 313520 if you would like to join us at any time over the festive period.

Staff and residents have been busy decking the halls, getting out the tinsel and unravelling the fairy lights, ready for a whole host of Christmas celebrations. Elm Bank's residents joined staff in putting up, and decorating Christmas trees for each community and festooning the halls with garlands and festive pieces to get the home ready for Christmas.

General Manager, Marvellous said: “Christmas is such a magical time and our residents loved getting involved and deciding where everything should go. It is so special to be able to share these rituals and we all love to see the home decorated and filled with twinkly lights inside and out!”

On National Elf Day staff at Elm Bank swapped their uniforms for costumes to help raise funds for those people living with dementia. Launched by the Alzheimer’s Society and delivered direct from the North Pole, Elf Day was created to sprinkle some festive cheer on fundraising towards finding a cure for dementia. From stripy socks to head-to-toe elf outfits we all had lots of fun elfin' around for a cause close to our hearts.

“For anyone that has any questions about caring for those with Alzheimer’s, do please give us a call and we’ll do all we can to help.”

Here at Elm Bank we have a busy week for birthdays, only a few days apart are the Managers and Deputy managers. They were presented with a lovely chocolate cake made by our chef. Happy Birthday!

Celebrations were in full flight at Elm Bank to celebrate Elsie's 104th birthday in style. The ‘Pearly Queen’ of Elm Bank was born on 21st November 1919 in London, within the sound of the Bow Bells making her a true cockney! At the age of 4 Elsie and her family left London to make their home in Bournemouth. In her twenties Elsie joined the Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) and took great pride in welcoming and mentoring girls as they became part of this vital part of the Royal Airforce’s war effort.

She’s always been an active lady who loved running with others in her younger years with her sporting passion being football, Elsie remains an avid supporter of AFC Bournemouth. In 1944 Elsie married the love her life; Arch who was one of the first prisoners of war to be repatriated by the British Red Cross following his time in North Africa. After many happy years together Arch sadly passed away in 1992, due to complications arising from his original wounds.

Elsie and Arch’s son John, wife Maureen, Granddaughter, son in law, and two of the Greatgrandchildren joined her on her big day for a special Birthday Tea. Elsie has two Grandchildren and four Greatgrandchildren of whom she is very proud. Loving the simple things in life, after having her hair done and getting ready for the party, Elsie requested a plain Victoria Sponge cake from Senior Head Chef Sharntelle as she’s never liked cream and all the extras that usually decorate birthday cakes!

Marvellous Bindura, General Manager of Barchester’s Elm Bank care home added: “We’re delighted to be celebrating a truly remarkable women as she reaches this amazing milestone. Elsie is such a beautiful lady who brightens our home on a daily basis.”