Activities at Sutton Valence Care Home
Our activities team are great at building the activities programme around the likes and interests of the people we care for. Ensuring that our social events offer fun and adventure is part of the ethos of our home; it’s important that those we support can enjoy an active and social lifestyle. Of course, there will always be those who prefer peace and quiet, and in these instances, a cup of tea and a chat are always welcomed.
Gemma Bhandari
My name is Gemma I am an Activities coordinator at Sutton Valence care home. I have been working here for nine years and love it. I grew up in Sutton valence village and attended the local Primary school.
I have always been passionate about the care of others and enjoy enriching the lives of our Residents. I have a Diploma in Health and social care and have worked in private health care for over 14 years. I have always loved performing arts and studied this at school. I am a very proud Mother to Amaya and Jacob.
Read our brochure 'Life-enriching activities' for more information about life in our care homes.
Read our brochure
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 Sutton Valence Care Home
LOCAL CARER SCOOPS COVETED CARE TITLE
Sue Wood, Senior Carer, at Sutton Valence care home in Maidstone has been crowned Lifetime Achievement Award winner for the South Division in the Barchester Care Awards 2023 and attended the national awards in Manchester yesterday with Senior General Manager, Robert Dura-May. Sue has worked at Sutton Valence care home for 30 years.
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’.
Almost 4,000 nominations were received from homes and hospitals across the UK. All entries were a very high standard and Sue is over the moon to have been named the winner for the South Division beating hundreds of other nominees.
Senior General Manager, Robert Dura-May, said: “This is an amazing achievement and it was great to see the whole home supporting Sue. The whole home is so proud of her. Sue is such an asset to our home and always go the extra mile to ensure they have done the best possible job and our residents have everything they need.”
Hedgehog Rescue centre visit
Sometimes the smallest things can take up the most space in your heart ...
And that's exactly what this little hoglet did with staff, residents and family.
Phyllis was totally thrilled to be able to give our little visitor a cuddle; well a cuddle as best she could with those soft but prickly spikes.
Were you aware that there are less than a million hedgehogs left in the UK?
Human activities, and the increasing loss of countryside, are the main factors for their decline. Our hoglet, accompanied the wonderful Lisa, from Thorne Hedgehog Rescue Centre, was most accommodating by accepting cuddles from all within the home.
Our resident, Adele, was particularly intrigued by the works of Lisa. So much so, we will be meeting up again to discuss releasing a hedgehog or two in our garden. More on this later in the year.
Please pop over and give Lisa a visit and maybe you could assist with the continuance of her rescues.
In the meantime we Thank Lisa for her time and visit. Thank You!
Pet Therapy with Koda
Dogs are not our whole lives but they make our lives whole.
It doesn’t take a lot to make someone smile. Put a dog into the equation and you get huge warm smiles filled with instant affection.
Koda (7 years old, Therapy, Australian sheep dog) certainly did the trick whilst visiting our family residents, staff and visitors.
To say Koda and owner, Alex stole the afternoon is an understatement.
Thank you to Alex and Koda see you both again soon.
Rose's Shopping Trip
Life isn’t perfect but your outfit can be…
What an adventure we had with Rose. The kindness shown towards Rose was immeasurable but then I’m not surprised because Rose is one special lady!
Our wholehearted thanks go out to Bonmarche and pavers at Newnam court shopping village. The service, kindness and enthusiasm to match Rose’s decided but undecided ideas of what she would like was sublime, to say the least.
Rose bounced out of the shopping village sporting her new shoes, carrying her shopping and right into the local pub for a much needed coke and packet of crisps.
Reiki Session
Reiki is the highest and most profound vibration of life ...
Can you image when we introduced Nick and Reiki?
Asking our family residents what they thought it was gave up some absolutely splendid guesses... A type of food, New game, Culture costume, Are but a few.
When Nick explained about Reiki scepticism fell upon several of our residents faces and the quizzical looks were beyond fabulous. Wished I captured them BUT I did capture their Reiki experience.
Eileen afterwards told me she'd never felt so calm and at peace. Eileen just wished to sit in the quiet and stay in the moment.
Adele hugged us with such gusto as the moment overwhelmed her. Some of our resident's family also joined in.
Our next session will be open to you all. More details will be posted when we've arranged dates.
Flowers don't show; they tell...
A stroll to the local Flower Show which was arranged by Sutton Valence Gardening Association was a must for the day. Our Lynn was ready for the sunshine; umbrella at the ready and Maureen sported her Sunday best.
We were joined by Ann's son, Lee, who spent some extra special time with his Mum and met a few of her friends.
Our eyes were treated to first class home grown vegetable; some of them were extraordinarily large!
The selection and floral aroma tickled our smell but on a personal note the exceptionally large pink hydrangeas made my hair stand on end ... SO magical Sent me down a memory lane of my hero called Dad.
It's amazing how we attach memories to flowers; isn't it?
