Activities at Hunters Care Home

This week at Hunters we had a very special visitor, Felix, the miniature donkey. Felix lives on a local farm with his mother and sisters and visits local care homes to brighten up the day for the residents.

Felix was a big hit during his visit with residents and staff, who fed him treats and gave him plenty of fuss. We hope that Felix will visit Hunters again in the summer when the weather is warm and join in with one of our garden parties.

On the last Friday of every month Hunters holds Don’t Dine Alone, which is a Barchester initiative which invites elderly people from the local community who may be isolated or lonely to come along to the home for lunch. Diners are treated to a delicious meal prepared by our chef in a warm and welcoming environment, the event has proved so popular that it is fully booked several  months in advance. Many diners have visited Hunters on more than  one occasion and  they always leave with a happy smile.

We were joined by Carla from Animal Mania with her exotic collection of animals. The residents were treated to a show of animals, which included a corn snake, an Australian frog and a tortoise, and for those who prefer their animals to be of the furry variety, there was a chinchilla with its six week old baby.

As part of our community engagement programme, the residents were joined by the children of North Cerney and Bibury Primary Schools for a fun and entertaining afternoon.

At Hunters, we know how important it is for the residents to maintain their independence and have choices that we all take for granted, but quite often are denied when people move into a care setting, which is why there are regular shopping trips to the local supermarket. These trips are used in conjunction with our home's own mobile shopping trolley to give the residents choice and a feeling of independence.

The residents that are able to can walk around the shop independently to choose their own shopping, with everyone meeting at the end for a well-earned cup of tea in the café.

Recently at Hunters we held our annual Harvest Festival service, Don, our local parish vicar visits the home monthly for Holy Communion with the residents and for other special occasions and events.

Every year Hunters makes a collection for the local food bank in Cirencester to help those in the local community in need, the collection is displayed during the service, receiving a blessing by Don before it is donated.

The residents are still able to attend worship regularly and still feel part of the local parish and community with the regular visits made by the Parish of Preston and South Cerney.

Steve Chamberlain, Activities Coordinator at Hunters, was recently crowned as the national winner in the Activities Coordinator of the Year category at the 2019 Barchester Care Awards on 3rd October.

The judge for the category, Resident Experience Manager Lucy Tomlinson said of Steve that “Steve puts residents at the centre of his planning, making sure there are a variety of activities, each a reflection on what residents truly enjoy. Steve is committed to his work, understanding that structure and consistency is required to enrich lives and bring out the value of meaningful activities, for not only the residents at the home, but their loved ones, their friends and family and neighbours in the community. Some of the feedback Steve received thanked Steve for his positive enthusiasm and commitment he brings to the day to day life of residents, staff, visitors and families. Steve leaves each person he meets with a shining impression, and he is an asset to the home and to Barchester.”

Steve said of his win that, “I am very proud, and very honoured to be receiving this award. We work hard here at our hospital with a focus on the people we care for, and not for accolades, but it really is very special to be recognised in this way.”

Well done, Steve!