Activities at Lochduhar Care Home
Our teams are trained to enrich the lives of residents through stimulating the mind, body and soul, and taking the time to learn about each person to ensure everyone receives support that adds enrichment to their life.
Activities are the cornerstone of a wholesome home experience and our Activities Coordinators are always putting their creative minds to the test by organising new and exciting social events for residents to partake in. Of course, we take into account the likes and dislikes of those we support, so if someone doesn’t feel like trying something new, there will always be something on offer to reflect their personal interests. For the people who may just prefer some peace and quiet instead, we also offer one-to-one time that can be enjoyed with a nice cup of coffee or just a simple chat – whatever they desire.
Sally Gilder
Sally has been in the care sector since 1998. Sally joined the Lochduhar team in 2018 as a care assistant.
Sally is very passionate about the care she provides and the welfare of the residents. Working as a care assistant Sally was able to get to know the residents wants and needs to provide excellent person centred care to each individual. Then in 2020 Sally found the opportunity to become Head of Activities. Sally feels that she provides a different side to herself to promote an active and inclusive lifestyle through her role as Head of Activities.
Activities and Events Partnerships
As part of our bespoke life-enrichment programmes, we host a number of live virtual events in the home on a regular basis through a number of partnerships with places of interest and world class performance companies
Life at Lochduhar Care Home
Senior Carer celebrates 20-years service
A Senior Carer at Lochduhar Care Home in Dumfries has received a prestigious Long Service Award in celebration of working at Barchester Healthcare for 20 years. Allison Henderson, Senior Carer, started at Barchester in January 2004 and has worked with residents and their relatives to ensure that their needs have been met over the years.
Gillian Ward, General Manager of Lochduhar Care Home said: “We’re delighted to be celebrating 20 years of loyal service with Allison. She has demonstrated her dedication and loyalty to this home and its residents year after year. I speak for all of us here at Lochduhar when I say that I’m looking forward to many more years of working with Allison!”
Festive Baking
This week we did some festive baking in our Memory Lane Community.
The residents, with guidance from the Activity Team, rolled out the pastry with the rolling pin, ready to make shapes for a mince pie.
They then put the bottom layer of pastry in the tin, filled the pie with festive mincemeat and popped the pastry on top, they then put it in the oven. When they were cooked, they put some caster sugar on top, they looked scrumptious. The residents then laid the table, made a cup of tea and sat together for afternoon tea. Safe to say they all made a good job and they were delicious.
Christmas Cake Champion
Excitement is running high at Lochduhar Care Home in Dumfries where the talented residents have been named the winners of the annual Barchester Christmas Cake competition for the Northwest and Midland Division.
Each year residents from Barchester’s care homes and hospitals up and down the country compete for the coveted Christmas cake of the Year title. The competition is run by the central hospitality team and the bar is set very high. Many of Barchester’s residents are very skilled bakers and the Christmas cake designs can be very elaborate. Competition is fierce and only the very best recipes and designs will prevail.
Christmas Arts and Crafts
We have been doing some Christmas arts and crafts here at Lochduhar.
Some of our residents really enjoy getting arty and for them it was a great time to do so. They designed their own Christmas cards and their reindeer, with glitter and some wonderful Christmassy colours. We sang along to the Christmas songs on the radio and enjoyed some festive treats made by our kitchen team.
A visit from the North West Nursery School
Here at Lochduhar we have The Northwest Nursery school children visit us every Friday morning.
The residents look forward to seeing the children, the residents and the children’s faces light up when they enter our home.
They all interact well, together and this week we had a pamper session. Firstly the children sang their hello song, we then had a 5 minute Oomph on Demand chair based exercise session, then it was our pamper. The residents put some hand cream on and the children and rubbed it in. Then there was a choice of nail varnish to choose from, they all then started to colour the residents nails and then it was the children turn. What fun we all had and we are looking forward to seeing the children again soon.
Senior Carer retires after 30-years
After 30 years of continuous service at Lochduhar Care Home in Dumfries, much-loved Senior Carer, Margaret Muir has decided to retire.
Staff and residents at the home sent Margaret off in style with champagne, flowers and gifts to thank her for 30 years of dedication and also celebrate her well-deserved retirement. Residents, families and staff all have very fond memories of Margaret and these will continue to be shared even after she has retired.
