Activities at Lochduhar Care Home

A Kitchen Assistant at Lochduhar Care Home in Dumfries has received a prestigious Long Service Award in celebration of working at Barchester Healthcare for 20 years.

Rhona Hanley, kitchen assistant, started at Barchester in August 2003 and has worked with residents and their relatives to ensure that their needs have been met over the years.

We recently had a minibus trip to Castledykes sunken gardens. We took a picnic with us, which had been prepared by our kitchen team.

There were maps and information boards, at the entrance to Castledykes Park. There was a wooden statue of Robert the Bruce, surrounded by array of plants. We sat in the picnic area enjoying the picnic, listening to the children play while admiring the wild flowers and the lovely smells.

One of our residents asked us if we could hold him a Party for his 80th Birthday.

We asked a local man John Caskie if he could come and sing for us, and his companion William played the accordion. Gordon asked Sally if she would get him a helium balloon so he could attach it to his wheelchair when he went out.

Gordon received his presents and a large 80th badge to wear.

Two members of staff took Gordon to his fortnightly visit to the pub. While he was away we got together with staff and residents and we decorated the Bistro area, ready for Gordons return. Gordon was all smiles on his return, as we sang Happy Birthday to him.

The kitchen team made a delicious buffet, with wines and beer. Gordon said he had enjoyed the whole day and thanked us.

Residents across our services had a fantastic time joining Mandy Morrow for a virtual walking tour to learn about the ‘Herstory’ of Mayfair. The Mayfair of Nightingales may be long gone but it still holds a 20th century charm. Birthplace to the late Queen Elizabeth II, home to one of WWII's most decorated female war heroes and a tale of a wealthy Aristocrat and one of France's favourite designers.

We were delighted to take a walk down memory lane and discover stories from one of London's most iconic areas.  The experience was truly enjoyed by all.

Kayleigh Duncan at Lochduhar Care Home in Dumfries has been crowned Care Practitioner of the Year for the North NW Division in the Barchester Care Awards 2023 and is through to the national round of judging.

The Barchester Care Awards celebrate the staff who go the extra mile for the benefit of the 13,000 residents living in Barchester’s 252 care homes and private hospitals across the country. Categories range from ‘Registered Nurse of the Year’ and ‘Carer of the Year’ to ‘Dementia Care Champion’ and ‘Activities Coordinator of the Year’.

Some residents were pleased to see this classic car a Triumph Stag in our carpark.

It belongs to a member of staff and he kindly said that the residents are more than welcome to go and see it and if they wanted to they could sit in it. The residents took a look around this lovely car, commenting on how clean and tidy it was. We then went inside where we enjoyed a cup of tea and reminisced about our past cars.