Activities at North Park Care Home

North Park resident, Kathleen, enjoys keeping herself busy. Kathleen can regularly be found lending a helping hand to staff from all departments.

Kathleen had worked in a care home herself after raising her family and always says how much she enjoyed the work and found it rewarding.

After meals, Kathleen can usually be found wiping down the tables and chairs while chatting to the housekeepers.

Staff and residents at Barchester’s North Park care home, in Darlington, were delighted to be invited to have the vaccination at the home, which has lifted everyone’s spirits after what has been a very challenging year for everyone.

General Manager, Lisa Frame said: “Last year was a year like no other and the vaccine feels like the light at the end of the tunnel.  Our teams have been magnificent in how they have risen to every challenge during this pandemic and we are proud to play our part in this next phase to ensure the most vulnerable are protected.”

Margaret, a resident at North Park said: “I am so pleased to be given the vaccine.  It will help to keep us all safe, and is the first step in getting things back to normal and having a friends and family in the home once again.”

A Care Assistant at North Park in Darlington has received a prestigious ten year long service award in celebration of working at Barchester Healthcare for ten years.

Editha Abanador, now Care Assistant started at Barchester in January 2011 and has worked with residents and their relatives to ensure that their needs have been met over the years.

Residents at North Park decided a good way to wish their families and friends a Happy New Year would be to send them a picture of themselves with a personalised written message. With paper, pens and cameras at the ready staff worked with residents in compiling their simple but heartfelt messages. Residents then chose the picture they would like to send to their loved ones which were then dispatched for families to receive in time for the New Year.  Wishing you all a very Happy, safe 2021!

Residents at North Park took part in a day of rituals and customs to celebrate Hanukah, the Festival of Lights, which took place from 10 December to 18 December with a fun-filled day of activities.

Hanukah commemorates a miraculous Jewish victory over 2,000 years ago. Hanukah traditions are themed around the long-established rituals and customs that took place at that victory, the most important being the lighting of a Menorah or eight candles each evening to signify the eight days that the festival lasts.

Residents observed the rituals and said blessings, listened to holiday music and played traditional dreidel games, a dreidel is a four sided top with a letter on each side. Staff and residents sampled special holiday foods traditionally made with olive oil such as delicious potato cakes (latke) served with apple sauce and sour cream, and homemade doughnuts all prepared by the homes hospitality team.

Residents and staff members at North Park have been busy making up Christmas Crackers filled with sweets to spread a little festive cheer to school children in the area and local children’s hospital wards. The home were overwhelmed with the generosity and through donations from friends and families the total created was 600 crackers all individually created.

Residents voted to send 400 Crackers to Reid Street School who have been frequent visitors to North Park in the past two years before the pandemic hit and Covid19 restrictions came into force in March. Staff dressed as Elves to deliver these into the community and were greeted by Head Teacher, Mrs Ayto with the head boy and girl accepting.  They were overjoyed to receive the gifts and are looking forward to the time they can return to visit when circumstances allow.