Activities at Pinetree Care Home

Our mini bus has arrived 

Our residents were very excited today to take their first trip out in our new minibus.

The ladies, went to the local garden centre to buy some winter bulbs ahead of their gardening club commencing later in the week.

To be able to go out and about and continue with the lifestyles they have always enjoyed is what makes life at Pinetree so very special.  The ladies were full of ideas about what to do in the garden and were very happy to be able to go and choose the bulbs for themselves.

One resident - Doreen said ' We had a lovely morning chatting with one another.  We had a coffee and tea and a natter before looking at all the plants and choosing which ones we wanted.  We are looking forward to making the garden look nice and it was so lovely to be out and about'

There will be plenty more varied trips out planned and we look forward to sharing them.

Residents and their friends and family joined staff in their amazing fancy dress costumes at our very first Halloween extravaganza.  
We enjoyed a festive buffet and musical entertainment with a real party vibe.  
Listening to family members talking about how thrilled they are that their loved ones are happy and fulfilled and loving their life again means the world to us.
We were even able to combine the party with a birthday celebration of one of our residents, who was chuffed to be sung to, have all her family with her and blow out the candles on her beautiful cake made specially by our talented chefs.
The Halloween Extravaganza is the first of many regular parties we have planned over the coming months.
We are all about the joy of life and we will certainly be proving that there is joy in every day.

Pinetree recently presented Age Concern, Southend with a cheque for £961 to buy some heavy duty matting which will be used for some of their activity classes including their falls prevention classes.

Age Concern Southend are a stand-alone charity who provide support, advice, services and friendship for older people in the Southend area.

The grant has been awarded by Barchester’s Charitable Foundation, a charity that helps older people and adults with a disability or mental health problems across England, Scotland and Wales by offering grants to help people connect or re-connect with others in their local community.

Pinetree welcomed Sarah Wilson, General Manager of Age Concern, Southend and Mr Mike Nicholson, Acting CEO/Trustee to a small gathering at the home to receive the cheque and celebrate being awarded the grant.

Sarah Wilson, General Manager said “we have used the money to buy some heavy duty matting which we will be using for some of our activity classes including our falls prevention classes which are held twice per week at the hub.

It has also allowed us to add Kids Kung Fu to our offering for the wider community.

As a small, local, independent charity donations such as this mean the world to us and really help us to provide the services that are so vital for the older people of Southend and the wider community.”

Laura Glyde General Manager at Pinetree Care Home said: “We are always keen to show as much support as we can to local charities. Age concern play a huge role in community based projects and support older people to create friendships and offer advice which we believe to be pivotal in the wellbeing of the older generation”

When the local Policing team pop in to say hi and check on the residents and have a chat it always brings a smile to our faces.
The local Essex Police brought with them trick or treating posters for us to use and display to decide if we would be happy to accept little trick or treaters.
Always making sure we are ok and looking out for us.
It makes us all at Pinetree feel very safe knowing we have them around.
One of our residents even insisted on showing the officers around so she could show them where she lives and how lucky she is.

This is what safety and security and fun should be like.

Keeping your independence whilst having the safety and security of knowing someone is always around to help you is vitally important. 

When you enjoy a little bit of shopping, why shouldn’t you still do this. 

Our lovely resident Joyce and fabulous carer Hayley went for a trip to the local supermarket for a mooch around the shop and some fresh air, chatting all the way and giggling at what they might buy, even stopping to observe nature and its change in season. 

It’s so very important to stay connected to outside and be able to do as you always would.

What better way to spend a chilly Autumnal afternoon than doing a bit of seasonal crafting.

There was card of all colours, stamps, pens, scissors, laughter, concentration and a real buzz.

Becky, our fantastic admin assistant had created a card for everyone to recreate and they LOVED it. They spent so much time on it and watching them fine tune their motor skills, design and make something from start to finish and use their creativity was quite something. They were all so very proud of themselves and so they should be, just look at their smiles.

One of our lovely residents Joyce, even asked our amazing carer Hayley if she could dedicate the card she mage to her. She wrote 'Thank you for everything' Wow, that was a little tear jerking moment.