Activities at Fordmill Care Home

Residents and colleagues at Fordmill in Montrose commemorated Remembrance Sunday on Sunday 8th November, and joined the rest of the United Kingdom in holding a two-minute silence at 11.00 am.

As well as marking Remembrance Day by wearing poppies and watching the televised service, due to the global pandemic Residents were unable to visit their local cenotaph to commemorate the members of the armed forces who have died in the line of duty, so it was even more poignant.  The homes life enrichment team in the lead up to Remembrance provided an array of themed activities, poppy making, sharing stories of loved ones who had bravely fought and much more!

Residents at Fordmill received 2 parcels with boxes of various items, games etc. from the Tayside Health Fund in conjunction with NHS Charities as part of World Kindness Day. This was very much appreciated by the residents and Barbara, Resident said : ‘It feels like Christmas morning opening all the boxes to find out what they contain”.

Whilst Margaret, Resident added “It is acts like these that come out of the blue that help as get through this difficult time we are all living in and reminds us that even if we can’t see people we are not forgotten”.

Every resident received one item according to their different needs and abilities. The items are much appreciated by the residents and staff as they are able through them to connect and help to stimulate memories from different times in their life.   It is lovely to watch some of the residents using some of the items such Sensory Game with tactile tiles and try to decide what they think they are touching and some of the guessing are very amusing. They are particularly well used on 1-1s interaction and open conversation with people that is not easy to find subjects to talk to.

Barchester’s Fordmill care home was a den of ghoulish activity as the home’s spooky Halloween party got in to full swing. Staff, residents and guests got in to the spirit of things with fancy dress, music and games. General Manager, Aileen Alberts cackled: “Our residents and staff love an opportunity to dress up and what better time of the year to do this than Halloween? We’ve had a whole range of tricks and treats for the people that live here and we have all really enjoyed every moment of it!”

Fordmill was crowned as the national winner in the Team of the Year category at the 2020 Barchester Care Awards, held virtually on 8th October.

The awards celebrate staff and volunteers who go the extra mile for the benefit of residents and patients living in Barchester care homes and independent hospitals. 

More than 2,800 nominations were received from homes, residents, staff and relatives across the UK this year, which is nearly 1000 more than was received last year. Nominations were sent in by Barchester staff, but many more were also from residents and their families who have praised the fantastic care provided to their loved ones.

All entries have been of a very high standard, and we are thrilled to have been declared as the national winner!

Residents of Fordmill took to the homes beautiful garden to take advantage of the late summer sunshine.  Resident, Ron even took his lunch outdoors to enjoy.

Everyone commented on how much better they felt for grabbing a breath of fresh air, feeling the sun on their faces and checking on the progress of the plants growing in the award winning garden.

A senior carer at Fordmill in Montrose has received a prestigious 25 Year Service Award in celebration of working at Barchester Healthcare for 25 years.

Caroline Mason, now Senior Carer, started at Barchester in September 1995 and has worked with residents and their relatives to ensure that their needs have been met over the years.

Aileen Alberts, General Manager of Fordmill said: “We’re delighted to be celebrating 25 years of loyal service with Caroline. She has demonstrated her dedication and loyalty to this home and its residents year after year. I speak for all of us here at Fordmill when I say that I’m looking forward to many more years of working with Caroline!”