Issue 1 • March 2016

See more about RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Show Page 25

Fundraising - it doesn’t have to be a big challenge Page 18

Art exhibitions Page 11

Welcome Dear All, I am delighted to introduce the first edition of the new Abbeyfield Voice. This publication is a first in that it is truly cost effective and green in its approach. Accessible to all via the internet / e mail, it gets to a lot of people but keeps costs to a minimum – important to all of us! I really enjoyed reading through the articles that have been submitted from residents, volunteers and staff. The passion and enthusiasm that exists across the whole of Abbeyfield is clearly something to celebrate. The publication gives us a further opportunity to spread it around and to share ideas too. We are all part of Abbeyfield because it represents things that we value. People’s contribution and achievements are fundamental to this, and we celebrate some of them here There are so many wonderful examples in this first edition of our staff making their residents the centre of all that they do. Our volunteers are as important as ever in supporting the organisation, giving their time in so many ways, and our residents have- as we know - a huge array of talents, which are demonstrated here. Across the total activity spectrum, they demonstrate that life in older age is indeed enriching and rewarding. Our 60th Anniversary is certainly a perfect time to celebrate together. When Richard Carr-Gomm started the Abbeyfield Society 60 years ago, the organisation was developed to provide care, offer compassion and alleviate loneliness. 60 years on it is clear that we retain those key aims and it remains important for us all to continue to demonstrate these in practice. I hope that when you read some of the articles, you’ll see that Richard’s vision is still alive and well today. We’ve got a busy year ahead of us, celebrating our 60th birthday and sharing all that is great within the Abbeyfield family. I very much hope that as many of you as possible will be able to join us for the celebratory Service of Thanksgiving on June 2nd at St. Albans Abbey, or later in the year for our annual Carol services. The summer months bring the opportunity to celebrate further by visiting the Golden Gallery art exhibitions, showcasing our residents’ work around the country, or perhaps by visiting our Breath of Fresh Air show garden at the RHS Hampton Court Palace flower show in July. I am sure you will enjoy reading this first edition as much as I have. I know Team “Voice” would love to know what you think of our first edition, so please do get in touch. Bob Tindall - Interim Chief Executive Officer

Contents highlights Page 3 Page 8 Page 11 Page 12 Page 17 Page 20 Page 21 Page 2

Canon Edward Pogmore International Developments Golden Galleries Volunteering Peggy’s Story Success - Coping at Christmas 2015 Dementia Friends

Would you like to be in the next edition of Abbeyfield Voice? Whether you’re holding an exciting event or celebration, or you’d like to share a great story, we’re always interested to hear from our residents, staff and the wider Abbeyfield family. Please send your article and photos to [email protected]

Anniversaries, diamonds and compassion! We are at a time when we are looking forward to the 60th Anniversary of the founding of Abbeyfield as a Charity which occurred on the 19th November 1956 after 50 Eugenia Road, Bermondsey was unveiled as the first house on December 17th 1955.

“2016 marks a Diamond Anniversary when we can explore again and find ever more facets to the diamond called compassion.” Our founder Richard Carr – Gomm described the quality of life of this diamond as “The quality of life in each of our places is determined by the neighbours as much as by the residents and the committees. This quality is not as dependant on the material as on the spiritual; this is what makes loneliness disappear.” (from p.234 ‘Push on the Door, 1979, Richard Carr-Gomm).

“A challenge and an encouragement for us. What will Abbeyfield look like in another 60 years?” It is perhaps a good question to ask ourselves and each other as we celebrate a great organisation which is needed today more than ever. Anniversary as a word is first found in English in a Book of Nuns in 1230. The root word Annus is the Latin word for year – returning annually and known as a Year day or a Mind day – originally mindfulness for the soul of the departed. The phrase Wedding Anniversary didn’t appear in English until 1673. The need to ‘mark time’ goes back to places probably as old as history itself. Certainly it stretches back to Calendars being formulated by the Babylonians, Jews, Egyptians, Greeks, Hindus, Chinese, Zoroastrians, Mayans and other societies had early calendars. The largest sign of marking time from 5,000 years ago in the UK is Stonehenge marking the summer and Winter Solstices (June 22 and

December 22), marking time in a different way. Time marked became very important to the human race tracing the seasons and vital for agriculture. In the Judeo-Christian tradition, and in all other faith traditions, calendars of anniversaries have always played a big part in the corporate life of prayer and work. Saints days remind us and inspire us through remembering lives of grace and transformation in everyday life and sometimes the sacrifice of men and women that have made our freedom to worship. Sometimes this is almost taken for granted. We have many biblical examples where great events were marked. Noah and the rainbow. Samuel raising his Ebenezer – a rock of remembrance for all Israel to remember God’s great help in defeating the Philistines. Moses and the Passover meal remembrance leading to the institution of Christian Communion by Jesus, ‘Do this in remembrance of me’. That then is the historical context of Page 3

Anniversaries. For many of us it is the marking of Birthdays and years of loss. Also, wedding anniversaries, new births and remembering years of first encounters with particular friends or animals. We may remember how long we have had a particular utensil in the kitchen or when a warranty runs out, or knowing when a particular record was bought – those vinyl moments that are making a comeback... It is how we mark these anniversaries which will be very individual. The larger the anniversary, the bigger the marking and the ceremony? Sometimes they are let go of with a sigh and maybe the odd regret of wasting precious time or wishing a better use of time. Then there is (as a friend of mine used to say) the putting them ‘in the Forgetery’. Just not remembering or wanting to forget. In the case of Abbeyfield it is an opportunity to revisit and appreciate the Values that we need to affirm and inform antidotes to loneliness lived out by Richard Carr-Gomm and now 60 years on. It is a time of remembering, a time for recollection and reflection. When my mother was living with Alzheimer’s Disease the memories that reached her were still those important milestones of her life. They were marked by particular photos and even more by music and familiar prayers, ceremonies, hymns and songs that she taught me when I was little. They brought humour and delight however fleetingly. These are precious moments of recall which can be revisited at times of Anniversary. These are diamond moments – the word diamond comes from the Greek word adamas which means unbreakable. They are made up of the staple of human life that is carbon. Diamonds are put to good use to create many constructive everyday items of daily use and help to highly polish all sorts of human gifts... even the gift of compassion. The compassion that we see in the early work of Richard Carr-Gomm and the army of his friends and volunteers responding to need is more than worthy of a Diamond Celebration to spur us on. As he says, “Prayer and Love are at its core and we are not very good at either. Nevertheless it is the continual improvement of this quality which most exercises our (Abbeyfield) societies as they go forward.” - Blessings! Canon Edward Pogmore - Chaplain for Abbeyfield - [email protected] West Division

Making Time Awards Our annual Making Time Awards celebrate people who have gone the extra mile in ‘making time’, time that really makes a difference and has a positive impact. Congratulations to all nominees and award winners – it’s a true achievement. Elaine Leyland, volunteer for Abbeyfield House, Ashleigh Road in Solihull won the Abbeyfield National Award for Making Time at our annual conference in October 2015. As Elaine was unable to attend the conference, The Mayor of Solihull, Councillor Glenis Slater who had popped into to a Fundraising coffee morning on 5th November, presented Elaine with the award. Well done Elaine! Page 4

Lucille’s Brownie points Guide dog Flossy Lucille expressed an interest in becoming a volunteer at the Abbeyfield Wales Society. She also wished to become more involved with the local Usk community.

Ballymena residents and staff enjoyed a coffee morning with Elizabeth a volunteer from Guide Dogs for the Blind along with Anne and her guide dog Flossy.

Our staff supported Lucille in emailing around and a local Brownie pack asked if she would like to join in. She now attends every week to help the children in a range of tasks from arts and crafts to entertainment and science as per the diverse Brownie programme. The reason this is so remarkable is that Lucille has a form of early onset dementia. The home staff have worked hard with Lucille and the other residents to try and increase and improve their daily living skills and to improve their quality of life. Lucille is fast becoming integrated into our community and she feels she is giving something back to the children. Our staff will continue to support Lucille to help to develop her volunteering skills. Phillip Adams, Abbeyfield Wales Society

Fabulous Fran Fran Davies was asked to be an Abbeyfield volunteer at Ivy Lea, by her friend and the then chairman, Barbara Irwin, in 1982. Fran recalls attending a meeting by the end of which she was the treasurer of the Ivy Lea Sheltered Scheme. Not one to do things by halves, Fran was then invited to join the Executive Committee in the early 90’s. It wasn’t until 2009 that Fran started gardening after her mother, who was also a keen gardener and an Abbeyfield resident, sadly passed away. Fran, along with her friend Sue, started ‘Guerrilla Gardening’ which is where you sort out neglected urban areas without permission. They chose to tidy up the land next to Abbeyfield Court, in Ilkley (now managed by Abbeyfield The Dales) which not only caught the attention of residents but also Brian Whitaker, the then chairman. With Brian’s support, Fran and Sue started to tackle areas around Grove House, adding in raised beds and neatening up the courtyard. Fran has achieved 2nd place from Ilkley in Bloom 2015 as well as high praise from residents, families and friends alike. The hard work Fran puts in is so greatly appreciated and lifts people’s spirits on a daily basis. Zoe McKanzie - Events Co-ordinator, Abbeyfield The Dales

Did you know?... The skies above Lavenham in Suffolk inspired the song, ‘Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star’. The words were written in 1806 by 23-year-old poet Jane Taylor, who lived in Shilling Street in the village. Page 5

Neil creates a pie-fect day! Neil Thompson, Senior House Manager at Locksheath & Salisbury, really goes to town for British pie week. This year, he once again cooked pies for over 80 people, and the Mayor of Fareham Cllr Mike Ford and Mayoress Mrs Anne Ford also came along. Being a former chef, Neil takes it all in his stride, but what an amazing achievement. Well done Neil, book us in for next year! British pie week details can be found here: http://jusrol.co.uk/british-pie-week/ - look out for it next March.

Abbeyfield Developments 2016 promises to be a busy and very exciting year for developments at Abbeyfield with four new properties opening their doors to residents. These four schemes, in Winnersh, Tunbridge Wells, Bingley and Worcester, will deliver 195 new homes. Abbeyfield’s 2015 five year strategy, United in Excellence, set a target of 750 new units by 2020 and this first wave is a significant step towards that goal. First to be handed over will be our new specialist dementia care home at Winnersh. Situated between Reading and Wokingham, Winnersh has 62 care rooms of which two are allocated for respite care. The design is highly innovative and fulfils the brief for a home that is reminiscent, sensory and progressive. The rooms are split into clusters of 10. By breaking down the rooms into these clusters it’s possible to maintain a more homely feel than can be missing in larger care homes. Each cluster is circular in layout thereby avoiding dead ends in corridors.

Abbeyfield Winnersh under construction

Abbeyfield Winnersh - Artists Impressions

For the sensory gardens, we have commissioned a specialist designer, who is also entering a similar design at this year’s RHS Hampton Court Palace flower show. These sensory gardens are found not only within the main garden but also within each cluster that has its own internal courtyard. These courtyards will give residents a choice about where they go outside; residents’ choice being a common theme throughout the scheme.

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In Worcester, the construction is entering the final stages of 37 apartments which will be available to either purchase or rent. The site is in a tight city centre location and has not been without its challenges but the results are impressive. There is a feeling of space and light throughout which really sets it apart. This development has been commissioned by the Abbeyfield Worcester Society and led by its Chairman, Gerald Harris. Knowing what Hale Court, Tunbridge Wells is involved in the development process I’m in awe of Gerald. With a cool head combined with boundless drive and determination, Gerald has made this development happen, and all as a volunteer! Truly inspirational. In Tunbridge Wells, construction is proceeding well on 19 apartments at Hale Court. Of these, six are for sale with the remainder to rent. We have been receiving enquiries about this property since before construction started. It is expected to fill very quickly and we look forward to another Abbeyfield community blossoming in Kent. The final development is Fern House in Bingley, Yorkshire. A concept envisaged by the Abbeyfield Ilkley Society and development being managed by the Development team in St Albans, it is a large development consisting of 47 apartments, 30 residential care rooms for specialist dementia care and a community hub, split over two levels. Laundry and assisted bathing facilities are provided which are available to anyone using the hub. Bringing people from outside into the home is an important part of our commitment to helping to alleviate loneliness in older people in the local community. Once the development has been completed, the management of it will be handed over to Abbeyfield The Dales, on behalf of The Abbeyfield Society.

Fern House, Bingley

These new facilities not only provide new homes but also set the standard for all future developments. Much work has gone into the development of our specific requirements. This includes things like interior design, lighting design and finishes but also other considerations such as mechanical and electrical services. This standardisation of the fundamental elements of a new home will drive efficiencies into the development process and further improve value for money.

However, we are not totally standardising new developments. These are homes, not a ‘brand’. There will always be latitude for the design team to be creative and reflect the local area and architecture. It’s true that Abbeyfield is all about its people; residents, staff and volunteers. But our built environment has such an enormous bearing on our wellbeing; particularly when a building is our home. Light, space, community, privacy and safety to name but a few, are essential to us all. To quote Ernest Dimnet, “Architecture, of all the arts, is the one which acts the most slowly, but the most surely, on the soul”. So what of 2017 and beyond? In Malmesbury, construction has started on 49 Abbeyfield apartments. Construction has also started on extensions to two of our existing care homes in Coventry and Rugby that will provide an additional 20 care rooms. We have four schemes submitted for planning consent; Plymouth, Falmouth, Tiverton and Sydenham which will deliver 70, 69, 45 and 40 Abbeyfield apartments respectively. There are Page 7

another eight schemes in the pipeline comprising 222 apartments and 40 care beds. Abbeyfield member societies are busy too. Southern Oaks, South Downs, Braintree, Bury, Bristol & Keynsham, Wey Valley, York, Ewell, Basildon, Kent and Ilkley Societies all have developments at varying stages of the development process. Of course, none of this would be possible without an excellent Development team. Each Abbeyfield division has its own Head of Development; James Parkhurst in the East, Abdul Ravat in the North and Sam Tabiner in the West. Supporting us all is Laura Holberry The Development Team (l – r); Joanna Bold, Abdul Ravat, Sam Tabiner, and our recently appointed graduate, Joanna Richard Virr, Laura Holberry and James Parkhurst on site in Bingley. Bold. Joanna has completed a Masters in Climate Change and Risk Management and is currently carrying out an in-depth review of Abbeyfield’s approach to sustainability. “There are many reasons why we are prioritising the development of new homes. There is always a need to provide homes that are modern and innovative to match residents’ expectations. But it is not just about the bricks and mortar. In these homes, we can continue to fulfil our charitable objectives and go on enhancing the lives of older people. They will also provide a solid foundation for the future of our organisation.” Richard Virr, Director of Development

International News Canada Durowaa Agalic, Abbeyfield Ottawa’s Director for Marketing and Fundraising, was born and raised in Ghana. She migrated to Canada in 2005. Durowaa’s career background is in project and business management and she has worked as a Financial Analyst and Regional Financial Support Officer for the Government of Ontario for the last five years. She joined Abbeyfield because she enjoys volunteering and working with older people. Since 2012, Durowaa has put her skills to work searching for grants for Abbeyfield Ottawa, which is a modified older style home with considerable maintenance work planned for the next decade.

“This effort has paid off and Abbeyfield Ottawa has been able to generate some much needed funds to address some major repairs.” Page 8

For Abbeyfield Ottawa, Durowaa’s work is critical – this is why she tables a report at every board meeting of potential, pending, and progressing grants. Thanks to Durowaa’s commitment and Abbeyfield Ottawa’s leadership role in securing funds, the quality of life for residents has been very much enhanced. New Abbeyfield house in Manitoba Excitement is building as construction crews have laid the foundation for the newest addition to the Abbeyfield family in Dominion City. After almost three years of planning, this 10 suite House is set to open by the Autumn of 2016. The project has enjoyed strong community support, and has also caught the attention of the provincial government as Manitoba Housing is helping to fund the project to ensure that it is affordable and sustainable. The project is being closely monitored as a potential model and approach for older people’s housing throughout the province. Abbeyfield Dominion City will now move from provisional membership to full membership status later in 2016.

Abbeyfield Kent Society’s Watling Court tenant, Poppy, recalls time as a land girl Born on November 11th 1926 and named after the enduring symbol of remembrance of the First World War, Watling Court tenant, Poppy shares her story of her time working as a land girl in post-war Britain. “I left school at 14,” says 89-year-old Poppy, “our school was bombed so we went home one day and never went back! I spent a day working on the land before I was offered a job at Bevan’s Cement Works, I took that as it was more money.” “Bevan’s was where I met my husband, Alan. Shortly after we met he was called up to serve in the war but we married in 1945. We scrimped and saved for that wedding as there was still rationing.” “When we heard the news that the war was over, everyone headed to the pub for a celebratory drink. My three brothers served and my father served in the First World War, everyone knew someone in the forces so it was an emotional time for all.” After having their daughter, Poppy started to work as a land girl on Dundle Farm in Gravesend, where she spent the next three years of her life, before the land army was disbanded in 1950. “Our farm was mostly vegetables but I remember one day our boss told us for a special treat we could go over to Hazel Farm to pick strawberries, we were very excited as we could eat as many as we like, they must have known we could only eat so many until we’d feel sick!” “They were the good days. In the evenings we would light the fire for a cup of tea and we always took some vegetables home with us. It was tough though, we worked in all weather, in the winter we’d have to wrap up warm in our long coats and head scarves and there were no toilets, we’d have to go in a hedge at the side of the field. Despite all that, I still enjoyed it. I used to walk along the fields and look up and think, we have a good life.” Page 9

Sculpting genius In January we put a call out to all of our houses and homes to ask if residents would be willing to take part in a project to create and then exhibit their art. We had no idea what the response would be and have been amazed at the quality and beauty of the art we’ve received – everything from tapestry to sculpture. I recently visited Paula who is a 92 year old resident living at Cunningham House in North Weald. Her room looks out onto the garden – she has a great view and told me how important it is to her to be able to see nature. Her love of nature is reflected inside her room too, with large seashells adorning book shelves. I commented on them and was invited to touch them and pick them up. It was at that point that I discovered they were actually clay sculptures and not the real thing. Paula explained that each one is modelled on a small seashell and showed me the original shells that she keeps in a dish – the likeness was incredible. The form and texture were exactly right – even the ‘mother of pearl’ appearance on the inside was perfect. There was one ‘real’ shell that she hadn’t sculpted and when I asked why, she replied, “sometimes you just can’t better nature”. Paula has been a sculptor for most of her adult life. She told me she loves the feel of the clay and the sense of watching it grow and change. She has five children and made clay forms of each of their heads at different ages. She showed me photographs of each one that she kept as a record of them growing up. I couldn’t fail to notice the smaller version of Rodin’s ‘Kiss’ that she had made. She turned it around slowly so that I could look at it from different angles – it was amazing. People feature strongly in Paula’s work. She showed me a rough sculpture of two people and said, “I looked out of the window one day and saw two people sitting on a bench playing chess. I quickly came in and sculpted them”. I commented how tactile her work is and how I’d wanted to touch it. She said, “well, I think that’s really the point of sculpting – to make people want to engage through touch as well as simply looking.” Paula’s work will be featured in Abbeyfield’s series of ‘Golden Gallery’ events later this year. April Dobson, Head of Dementia Innovation Page 10

Golden Galleries Art can make a massive difference to the lives of people with dementia by stimulating the senses, enhancing well being and giving an outlet for expression when words can no longer be found. Imagine the joy and sense of achievement of creating a painting, poem, photograph or drawing when the world around you is difficult and confusing. In 2016, our 60th Anniversary year, we want to celebrate the artistic achievements of all our residents, and show the world that older people can be creative, insightful and inspirational by showcasing their work. We are very excited to announce that we are holding 3 displays of our resident’s art in Beamish, Nottingham and Birmingham. The Beamish open air mining town museum near Durham is hosting an exhibition during dementia awareness week between the16th and 20th of May http://www.beamish.org.uk/ Our exhibition here will be housed in a 1900’s cottage and will include our Abbeyfield memory bunting (see more on page 23) The Birmingham museum and art gallery exhibition runs from June – October. This gallery first opened in 1885 and is housed in a Grade II listed city centre landmark building – a perfect place to share our resident’s work.

The Nottingham City Arts exhibition will be held from October 24th to the 5th November and showcases Abbeyfield working in partnership to bring art to older people in the city through a three year arts project, funded by the Baring Foundation and the Arts Council. Please join us if you can and bring your friends along. Page 11

Cheltenham Art Exhibition The residents at Abbeyfield Prestbury in Cheltenham recently held a private viewing to show their art work. The residents had worked hard for six months attending weekly arts and crafts lessons, producing watercolour paintings, embroidered lavender bags, mosaic mirrors and many other pieces of work. The exhibition was well attended including family friends and volunteers, helping to highlight the importance of learning new skills in older years. The residents thoroughly enjoyed discussing their work with everyone who came to look.

Volunteering at Abbeyfield Celebrating those who make time Are we ever too old to volunteer? My first response (and I can hear you all thinking the same) is ‘no’, but unfortunately research shows differently. The Citizenship Survey 2008-09 (a little out of date now, but the last survey that published such data) found that over half, in fact 57 per cent, of people over 75 said simply “I am too old” to volunteer and this is compared to only three per cent for all other age groups. So why is this? Where does this change of heart come from? As we age do we stop caring about our local communities? Of course not! In later life, are our years of experience and knowledge not of value anymore? The exact opposite, we have more to give.

Tracey Avison, Head of Corporate Services

When reaching 75, is there a line in the sand that says you can’t volunteer? No!

“So, do we need to rethink how we define a volunteer? Maybe we do.” Somewhere in our use of the word, we’ve begun to formalise volunteering, to make it exclusive, to decide who can and who can’t be part of the club. This interpretation isn’t the creation of the Charity Sector, they collectively define volunteering as ‘any activity that involves spending time, unpaid, doing something that aims to benefit the environment or someone (individuals or groups) other than, or in addition to, close relatives’ (NVCO). It appears to be us, as individuals, who have put up these boundaries. So what is volunteering? If we adopt the above definition, it’s simply about ‘making time’ for others. It’s about doing more than you have to, because you want to, for someone or something that you believe in. Being a good neighbour. Looking after the environment. It’s something that we all do, day in day out. Page 12

Volunteering doesn’t have to be organised by a Charity. It doesn’t have to involve driving minibuses or shaking a fundraising tin. Don’t get me wrong, these are all noble ways to volunteer and Charities like ours rely heavily on these types of volunteers, but there are less formal ways to volunteer too. Laying the table at mealtimes or reading to friends, the little things that we do for others, these are also acts of volunteering.

Our new volunteering project starts soon! We are delighted to say that we have been successful in receiving funding from the Big Lottery Fund. Our new project is to develop volunteering opportunities for people over 75 and this includes those with dementia and other complex conditions. Our aim is to increase the volunteering activity of Abbeyfield residents! We also welcome Sunnie Jarvis to our team who will be running the project. Sunnie will be working closely with nine Abbeyfield houses in Dorset and Somerset for the first year of this project and then a further 11 homes in the second year. We will keep you updated with the progress of the project.

The “Men in Sheds” Project, N.Ireland Palmerston Residential Care Home, recently started an innovative ‘Men in Sheds’ project to encourage male residents and their relatives to spend time together. A purpose built shed in the garden area provides a dedicated space for activities such as gardening, carpentry, painting and simple DIY. Manager Marsha Tuffin comments: “ Each of our residents is at a different stage of dementia and needs a different level of care and assistance, so it’s important to have a range of activities. With the right support, residents can often regains lost skills and regain a sense of purpose and identity.” The Men in Sheds initiative aims to help stimulate many different senses and spark memories for the residents as well as strengthen links with the local community and residents’ families. David Fitchie, a son of one of the male residents, explains “My father was always pottering about in the garden or doing DIY around the house. I really miss the time that I used to spend with him, chatting and having a laugh while working on some small job... I’m really looking forward to spending time outside with Dad, painting the garden chairs, or preparing pot plants for the garden”. The long-term plan is to open this Men in Sheds venture to men in the community with dementia. Congratulations to Palmerston Residential Home for setting up this fantastic project! Page 13

Got any volunteering roles to advertise? Did you know we have an account with Do-it? It’s a national website that advertises volunteering opportunities: http://www.do-it.org.uk We have had a lot of success with this way of advertising with 15 new applications in the first 2 weeks of February. We can advertise for any role you need and currently have a wide variety of roles advertised from Activities Assistant to Digital Buddy. Available to all Abbeyfield houses free of charge so please give it a try! Email details of your available roles to [email protected]

Did you know?... • The average person falls asleep in 7 minutes • The longest recorded flight of a chicken was 13 seconds • Cats spend 66% of their life asleep • All the blinking in one day equates to having your eyes closed for 30 minutes • A hummingbird’s heart beats at over a 1,000 times a minute • An average person will spend 25 years asleep • Giraffes and rats can last longer without water than camels

Reflecting on Coping at Christmas Phyllis is the house manager at New Wanstead, and she is very positive with her Coping at Christmas experience:

“Residents and their families, staff and volunteers all came together as one family and had Christmas dinner together with lots of chats, jokes, sing-a-long music and dancing.” Before the campaign, the house only had one volunteer but Coping at Christmas brought three new volunteers through the door and they have kept on volunteering! Two of these volunteers have managed to link the house to a group of people who will go to the home for afternoon tea and chats - let us know how you get on! As winners of the photo competition, here they are enjoying their Christmas celebrations. Page 14

Meet our volunteers Name: Laurie Fripp House name: Tressilian House, Cornwall How long have you volunteered with Abbeyfield? 1 year this month, I think! What type of volunteering do you do? I usually do odd jobs - anything that needs done, really. However, lately I have been serving lunch on Sundays for the residents and occasionally, some of their friends. Can you sum up what volunteering means to you in just one sentence? I hope to help people feel as good as volunteering makes me feel. What’s your most memorable volunteering experience? Getting to know everyone around the table at lunch on a Sunday and hearing about their lives. How did you get involved with Abbeyfield? I first started volunteering as part of the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, but I liked volunteering so much I wanted to carry on.

What first attracted you to volunteer with us? I can’t really remember, I just saw an advertisement for the CLICK! Abbeyfield programme and thought it was a good idea. How do you think we can encourage more volunteers to spend their time with us? Show what the current volunteers are doing and talk about how you can improve someone’s day by just going and talking to them for as little as an hour a week. If you could volunteer alongside anyone (dead or alive), who would you choose and why? Barack Obama, just because I would really like to meet him!

Please get in touch if you have had a fantastic experience with a volunteer or know of a resident or house who benefits hugely from a project involving volunteers. Email [email protected] or call us on 01727 734075

Volunteering News Don’t forget our iPad library! Log onto Team Pages to request your iPad for 20 weeks. It’s free of charge and don’t worry if you’ve had one before. If you’ve got a new digital inclusion project, get in touch.

Have seen our new volunteering resource - “The Little Book of Making Time?” This is a handy sized booklet to be handed out by houses to potential volunteers. Contact the team to order some. Email [email protected] or call us on 01727 734075 Page 15

Grow a Sunflower Competition This competition is open to all; residents, houses and staff. So get your green fingers going and start growing!

The person, group or house with the tallest sunflower at the end of July will win a £25 gift voucher. Keep us updated with your Sunflower progress by emailing Will English at [email protected] Make sure you have your final photos and measurement entries in by the 31st of July. The final photo must clearly show the sunflower height in cm. A full length photo is required. Happy growing!

Did you know?... In the summer of 2014, Veteran green-thumbed Hans-Peter Schiffer toppled the Guinness World Record for third year in a row. The local fire brigade lent its help in measuring the sunflower, which measured 30 feet and 1 inch tall and required its own scaffold.

Interesting Cakes Celebrating A.A.Milne’s birthday with Winnie the Pooh day A Winnie the Pooh cake in each home and booklets read with A.A Milne quotes and Winnie the Pooh stories - this is how the Abbeyfield Wey Valley Society celebrated A.A Milne’s birthday. Everyone enjoyed the afternoon saying it was nice to remember some of the quotes and stories from their childhood, even getting staff to find the songs on YouTube afterwards. Hatch Mill residents had a lovely singalong with Geoff Jones, one of our volunteers, after reading Winnie the Pooh stories. Page 16

Orkney Honey Cake Deborah, house manager at James Smith House in Sheffield has provided this wonderful recipe. You’ll need: 8oz butter, 9oz clear honey (Orkney if you can get it), 4oz dark brown sugar, 3 large eggs, 10oz self-raising flour. • Preheat the oven to 160C/ GM3 / Fan oven 140C • Line an 8inch baking tin • Cream butter and the sugar then add warm honey and beat together - Add the eggs sift in the flour and beat until a smooth mix • Pour into the baking tin and place in the centre of the oven and bake or 50 – 60 mins until it springs back when lightly touched or when the top cracks slightly • Once removed from the oven you could warm a couple of tablespoons of honey and drizzle on the top of the cake Excellent served warm with cream or ice cream.

Orchid Festival Victoria House, Kew At Victoria House in Kew we have an extremely successful activities programme that most of our residents enjoy participating in. For the last three years, we have held an orchid festival, and the orchids are raffled off to raise funds for Mothering Sunday. Here are some of our residents with the lovely orchids they have grown.

Peggy’s story Peggy is a resident at The Beeches, at Menston in Ilkley, a frequent visitor to the Grove House Day Centre and most importantly a much loved mother of 5 and a grandmother. Peggy has always been a hard and highly skilled worker. When the 2nd World War broke out, like the majority of people, Peggy wanted to help and joined the air force starting as a radio operator and then being trained up as a radar operator - one of the first women to be trained to this level. Very much enjoying her new skill, she then had the opportunity to travel all over the country to wherever there was a shortage of operators. When Peggy’s career came to an end she became a seamstress, following in the family trade, as Peggy’s mother and two aunts, who lived with them, also worked as seamstresses. In fact, Peggy’s Aunty Cass, worked for Norman Hartnell, the Queens dressmaker. When the Royal Family travelled by boat, Aunty Cass was busy making the dresses and would bring pieces of material home. These are memories that Peggy treasures. While Peggy’s move from London to Yorkshire was a big one, she states that she now feels settled at Abbeyfield in her flat. With her daughter and grandchildren nearby, Peggy looks back on her life and feels it has been a good one, with many more memories still to make. Page 17

Fundraising - it doesn’t have to be a big challenge It’s amazing what our staff and volunteers put themselves through to raise funds for their homes. In August, Kate, a housekeeper on the Isle of Wight threw herself out of a plane (with a parachute thankfully!) and staff and supporters from the Abbeyfield Wey Valley Society got muddy doing a fun but gruelling assault course challenge. Caroline Poland, the daughter of a resident of Victoria House, London, has walked part of the Land’s End to John O’Groats route – she’ll complete the final section this year.

Why not challenge yourself in 2016? Laurie Fripp, a young volunteer at Abbeyfield in Falmouth, ran the ‘Bath Half’ marathon on March 21st – inspired by the fantastic work staff do for residents at the home. Our Digital Officer, Mark King, will be running the London 10K in May to raise funds for our Virtual Dementia Tour project. To sponsor Mark visit https://www.justgiving.com/Mark-King89 If you, or someone you know wants to take on a big or small challenge for us get in touch with us for inspiration, advice and materials. Email [email protected] If you’d rather relax and raise funds you could book a trip with http://www.abbriviera.co.uk or just shop online via http://www.giveasyoulive. com who’ll donate to us each time you shop. Winchester Society Trustee Alan Heppell and his wife raised £470 just by going on a holiday of a lifetime with Riviera Travel to Vietnam and Cambodia in 2015 “We had a fantastic tour and would recommend Riviera to anyone” said Alan. For any fundraising enquiries, just contact us [email protected] Page 18

Staff charity head shave raises £250 for The Abbeyfield Kent Society Wish Appeal Leah Gale and Cheryl Poyner, staff members at Woodgate Residential Home, shaved their heads for The Wish Appeal, raising over £250 for residents of the home. The two brave ladies shaved their heads in September at the Tonbridge home, to raise money for the appeal, which grants wishes for residents living in The Abbeyfield Kent Society’s care homes across the county. The ladies were a little bit nervous beforehand but felt the cause was worthwhile. “If it can make a wish come true for one of our residents, it is totally worth it,” says Cheryl, senior carer at the home. “We took one of our former residents, Esme, to the beach as part of The Wish Appeal, she has since passed away but it was so wonderful that she got her wish.”

“We are passionate about this because we’ve seen what the appeal can do and the amazing memories it can make.” Leah, activity co-ordinator of the home, says, “we took one resident, Gladys, to the beach with her sons, she doesn’t usually communicate but she was singing when she came back, it’s just a really worthwhile cause.” The Wish Appeal is a fundraising initiative created by The Abbeyfield Kent Society, and aims to grant wishes for residents living in our care homes, whether that’s a day at a spa or a trip to their hometown. Well done to Leah and Cheryl. The Abbeyfield Kent Society

Did you know?... Beside the seaside In 1934, King George V ordered 1,500 tons of sand to be taken from Essex, barged up the Thames and then dumped onto the mud flat between St Katharine’s steps and the Tower of London. It was thought that “Tower Beach” could hold 500 people at a time, but as soon as it opened there were 5,000 visitors a day, and considerably more when the summer holidays started. The beach was usable for five hours at low tide. For the many East End children who had never been to the seaside, this was a great substitute and thousands flocked there especially from Stepney and Poplar. Between 1934 and 1939, half a million Londoners sunned themselves there. Despite interruptions during the war, it was in use until 1971, when fears over pollution forced it to close. We really do like to be beside the seaside though! The British Psychological Society conducted a study of 2,750 people to look at the effect a person’s environment has on them. The seaside beat both the countryside and urban parks as it contributed the most to levels of wellbeing. There was no clear reason, although many cited the play of light on water, the sound of the sea and happy childhood memories. Page 19

Coping at Christmas Campaign 2015-16 Well done to all those who took part in our Coping at Christmas Campaign, it was our most successful to date. Below is a quick overview of all of the events that took place across the country.

Outstanding service in Fareham Abbeyfield Fareham Housekeeper Lorraine Miller and retired housekeeper Julia Timms gave up the whole of their Christmas day to cook for 90 Fareham older people, whilst housekeeper Teresa Burrell looked after residents of both houses in Fareham who did not go to relatives, ensuring they also had a great day. These older people would have spent their Christmas day alone but Fareham Good Neighbours and Community Action Fareham again organised a Christmas day lunch and afternoon tea for them for the 6th year running. Transport was provided using four community buses driven by volunteers, with another 20 volunteers helping on the day. There was a great party atmosphere, a superb three course Christmas lunch with wine and soft drinks, a session of singing favourite Carols and a giant raffle. The whole day was without charge, funded via Churches Together and the generous people and companies in the Fareham area. Lorraine and Julia were the stars of the day and were personally thanked by Fareham’s Mayor, Mike Ford – who stayed all day with his wife Anne. Page 20

Santa’s helper left, Lorraine centre, Julia right,

Knit and Natter for the homeless Here at Paddy Geere House we have Knit & Natter every Tuesday at 3pm and the house managers always go along. We decided to knit squares as this is something most of our residents can do. The squares are 36 stitches long and then squared using double knit wool. The complete blankets vary in size from double & single bed size to children’s bed size. We have donated our blankets to a local club called St Raphel which one of our residents visits fortnightly and they have sent some blankets to children in Africa. We have also given some to the Ipswich homeless via a homeless coordinator, who came in before Christmas to collect them and gave us a talk on how the homeless charity works. The blankets can take weeks sometimes months to make, but we have some outside helpers who also make squares for us. Claire Whight our Scheme Manager does a fantastic job of sewing them together, which she does in the evenings at home. We decided to donate to the homeless whilst discussing where to send the blankets, and one of our residents suggested helping children in Africa. When we get together to knit, we have a lovely afternoon knitting and a bit more nattering! Lesley Carley, Deputy manager

Become a Dementia Friend Can you help? We currently have 140 Dementia Friends. Can you help us to reach 500 by Dementia Awareness Week 2016? (15th – 21st May) We want to change the way people think about dementia. One of the ways we can do that is to increase awareness of the condition by supporting the Dementia Friends campaign. Everyday tasks that we often take for granted can be daunting for people living with dementia and can cause them anxiety and distress. To help, we are encouraging all staff and volunteers to become Dementia Friends to ensure that we’re able to provide understanding and help to those affected by the condition. A little patience and kindness can go a long way. By becoming a Dementia Friend, staff, volunteers and friends of Abbeyfield will find out the little things that they can do to help people affected by dementia.

For more information about Dementia Friends, or to become a Dementia Friend email [email protected] or visit https://www.dementiafriends.org.uk/ Page 21

What do you think Dementia services will look like in 40 - 50 years time? Dementia will certainly grow and with that it will become more widely accepted. Gene therapy may be the answer to slowing the process. Or perhaps implants to help stimulate the areas of the brain which deteriorate.

“In 50 years time I would like to think that better early detection systems would be in place even perhaps being able to test people to see if they have a dementia gene at an early age.” The facilities should look like typical homes, why stereotype people into a category? I see much more support for people who live with someone who has dementia, providing support to both parties. I don’t see why they have to be separated after all most people marry in sickness and in health. Maybe even dementia villages where everything possible is dementia friendly – the villages would have dedicated and well trained staff to help people with dementia lead normal lives. Phil Adams – General Manager, Abbeyfield Wales My aspirations for care will be that there will be a reduction of its management with medication and recognition that it is not a mental health disorder but an organic disease. The focus will be on managing the condition using CBT, environment and activities with an emphasis on intensive interaction and staff entering into the individual’s world. “Care Homes will be hubs of the communities and be leading the way on this social change and reducing the stigma that is still attached to the disease.” Paul Buckle – Home Manager, The Abbeyfield Society I think (and hope) that barriers between different types of care will be less rigid and that people will be able to live in ‘enabled communities’ where there is access to whatever support a person needs which is informally structured and transitional as care needs increase.

“If we’re led to believe that virtually everyone will have some form of dementia by then, then that would be the only way I could see it working.” Sarah Heaney – Research officer, Abbeyfield Research Foundation/The Abbeyfield Society I would hope that when it’s ‘our turn’ that we would have the opportunity to live in a variety of different settings that are truly dementia friendly/appropriate.

“I love the idea of dementia villages (Netherlands model) but I like the idea of shared houses with staff living in.” I hope that the role of care worker will have become more professionalised by then with better rates of pay and developmental pathways. These are my hopes. April Dobson – Head of Dementia Innovation, The Abbeyfield Society

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You can download our memory bunting template from here: https://abbeyfield.com/media/15243/abbeyfield-bunting-template.pdf

The Learning & Development Academy Team have Big Plans for 2016 I can’t believe we’re at the end of March already! If another year is going to pass as quickly as 2015 did, then we had better get our skates on here in the Learning & Development team, as we’ve got so many new and exciting things planned. Last year (our first full year at Abbeyfield) was very much around focusing on ‘getting the basics right’ – and we prioritised the delivery of mandatory training as many staff had told us that this was a key issue. In response to that, last year we offered over 2,800 delegate places on a range of core subjects, delivered predominantly via classroom sessions. We know we didn’t get everything right, but we have learned a lot, and this year – we intend to offer a great range of learning options, so that we are less reliant on classroom delivery and are able to offer alternatives to sitting in a classroom all day, especially where the subject matter is very familiar to staff. So, during this year, look out for a larger range of learning tools in The Abbeyfield Lending Library, including new DVD titles, specialist books/articles/reading on sector-specific subjects and we are buying into two new delivery methods; distance learning from Red Crier (which I know some of you use already) and e-learning titles from the same supplier, who will be helping us set up our new Learning Management System – to host e-learning and replace the current L&D Training Calendar. Hoorah, I hear you say! Janet Craig, Learning and Development Manager Page 23

Our ‘Breath of Fresh Air’ programme We are proud to introduce a unique programme designed to improve and enhance the health and wellbeing of people with dementia by supporting them to enjoy the outdoors and nature. Developed, and already tried and tested by some of our staff, residents, their families and friends, we believe it will make a real and lasting difference to people living with dementia. We’re running a series of workshops during 2016. Aimed specifically at dementia specialist and residential care homes: 4th May Nottingham, 10th May New Malden, 16th June Winnersh, 22nd June Silverdale Society. If you would like to arrange a workshop in your area, please do get in touch. April Dobson – Head of Dementia Innovation [email protected]

Barry’s Story Barry is the Chef at the Grove, a care home run by the Abbeyfield Newcastle Upon Tyne Society. He started training as a chef when he was 16, as his Dad felt that he was too young to join the military, and he has worked at the Grove for the past 11 years. Barry said, “I really enjoy my job – it’s very rewarding, and the hours mean that I can spend time with my family and carry on with other interests.”

used to play in the band. The long tradition of family music is set to continue as one of Barry’s daughters is now learning to play the cornet. Happily, Barry was also able to realise his ambition of joining the military. He combined it with his love of music and played with the Royal Marines band in the mid 90’s.

Outside of work, it’s music that takes up a large proportion of his time and always has done. Inspired by his Grandad, Barry learnt to play the cornet when he was a child and when he was old enough he followed in his footsteps and joined the Ashington Colliery Brass Band. This particular band has been in existence for over 100 years and in the 1950’s competed with some of the best brass bands in the country. They have played at some prestigious locations including the Royal Albert Hall and, Barry’s favourite venue, the Blackpool Winter Gardens. These days, the dedicated band members meet for band practice twice a week. They range in age from 14 to 70 – Barry’s Grandad only stopped playing in the band when he reached 80. “It’s more than just a band, it’s a family” said Barry, and in reality many of the musicians are related to each other – Barry’s own auntie also Page 24

Watch a short video about Barry’s Life here: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=qXaEhoq1IaM Barry and his band will be playing for us at our art exhibition in Beamish. John Connelly, CEO, Abbeyfield Newcastle Upon Tyne

Hampton Court Flower Show 5-10th July 2016 Victoria House is an Abbeyfield care home situated near the Botanic Gardens in Kew. The service provides residential care for 29 residents and receives tremendous support from volunteers and a relatives’ group. Victoria House residents and families recently decided to use some money given to them in a legacy to enhance their gardens and are having a special sensory garden designed that will feature at the RHS Royal Hampton Palace Flower Show running from 5th – 10th July this year.

After the show, the garden will be transported to Victoria House where it will be replanted for residents to enjoy for many years to come. Pauline Green, Care Manager at the home said “we’re all very excited about the garden and are looking forward to going to the Hampton Court Palace show. Our residents and families are delighted that they have been able to use Victoria House legacy funding in a way that will benefit both current and future Abbeyfield residents”. The garden designer, Rae Wilkinson, won a Silver Gilt award at the show last year and is going for gold with Abbeyfield’s ‘Breath of Fresh Air’ garden. This small garden is intended to be a safe and calm place where people can feel a connection with nature, listen to the wind in the trees and grasses and feel a sense of well-being. Rae has chosen trees and plants that provide texture, sound and scent which will to engage the senses, and used sculpture and form within the garden to reflect the flow of the breath and create interest. Rae said “I have based sculptural elements on flowing and circular forms, all to reflect breathing and continuity”. Page 25

A beacon of excellence in Scotland Situated in the historic Quarriers Village on the moorland between Glasgow and Ayr, Campbell Snowdon House is one of the foremost care homes in Scotland. After a recent visit from the Scottish Care Inspectorate it attained an ‘excellent’ rating across all aspects of its service provision. In their inspection report they described the facility as “An excellent very well managed service which is supported by an active management committee... it is very much a home from home where residents and relatives heap praise on management and staff for the delivery of a consistent, reliable and quality service.”

House Manager Jackie Weston said,

“This is the second time in 3 years we have attained perfect scores in an inspection and this places us in the top 2% of care homes in Scotland.” “Our success is the fruition of ambition and leadership on the part of trustees, dedicated teamwork from my staff and selfless enthusiasm from our volunteers. It’s fantastic to get the recognition form the Care Inspectorate but we are also equally proud of our designation as a centre of excellence for dementia care by the University of Stirling.” Campbell Snowdon House is run the by Strathgryffe Abbeyfield Society who bought the property in 1984 and have gone from strength to strength ever since. The house was constructed as part of the Orphans Homes of Scotland village in the late 19th century by the wealthy Glasgow shoemaker and philanthropist William Quarrier. Quarrier had a vision to build a model village community for street children and orphans in his care to thrive; set in a rural environment the village comprising of a number of grand residences under a house-mother and father. When interviewed recently, the Deputy Manager Jim Melville was asked what made Campbell Snowdon stand out from the crowd, “We make a conscious effort to make sure that the residents Page 26

at Campbell Snowdon House feel they are writing a new chapter in their life story book. We don’t just care for them; we enable them to push their aspirational horizons and fulfil their wishes.” One of Campbell Snowdon’s most popular features is the picturesque setting of the house in the valley of the River Gryffe which winds through the Renfrewshire countryside. However this popular feature became a double edged sword when it burst its banks over the recent festive period. It led to flooding in the grounds and the lower rooms of the house which contain the administrative office and IT equipment. Amazingly there was very little disruption and the house was able to continue operating thanks to a well prepared contingency plan drawn up between the House Manager and the Property Convenor. Jackie said, “Our staff are well versed with the our business continuity plan. When the recent flood occurred, staff on duty responded quickly and efficiently. Their actions limited damage and prevented any disruption to residents and enabling day to day business to continue. Thanks to good relations with our insurers and loss adjusters we are able to start restorative works very quickly and we now have a revamped office and a refurbished staff rest area.” Bernard Singleton, Country Support Scotland

Food Quiz 1. What name is given to the fruit which is a cross between a grapefruit and a tangerine? 2. An anchovy is a member of which family of fish? 3. A carpetbag steak is a thick steak with a pocket cut into it which is filled with what? 4. Which is the most eaten fruit in the world? 5. What is mixed with Guinness to make a black velvet? 6. Which spirit is added to coffee to make a coffee Balalaika? 7. Which spice is made from the pods of the shrub of the nightshade family? 8. In which country is the wine growing region Barossa Valley? 9. What type of meat is used to make Wienerschnitzel?

10. What spirit is the base of a Pina Collada? 11. Which bottled water comes from an underground spring in the Peak District?s Dovedale? 12. What animal does venison come from? 13. Which city is home to Colmans Mustard? 14. What is the meat wrapped in to make a Beef Wellington? 15. Fricassee is the French name for what kind of dish? 16. What is the south-east fried dish of left-over cooked potatoes, cabbage and beef called? 17. On which day were Hot Cross Buns traditionally eaten? 18. From the Roe of which fish is Taramasalata made?

ANSWERS: 1. Tangelo, 2. Herring, 3. Oysters, 4. Banana, 5. Champagne, 6. Vodka, 7. Paprika, 8. Australia, 9. Veal, 10. Rum, 11. Ashbourne, 12. Deer, 13. Norwich, 14. Pastry, 15. A Stew, 16. Bubble and Squeek, 17. Good Friday, 18. Cod or Grey Mullet.

Did you know?... Mint sauce became the ‘essential’ accompaniment to roast lamb in Britain thanks to Queen Elizabeth I. To stop her subjects eating lamb and mutton (and help the wool industry), she decreed that the meat could only be served with bitter herbs. Enterprising cooks discovered that mint made the meat taste better, not worse! Page 27

Imagine: Arts and older people City Arts’ shop window is being filled with a 6 by 12ft celebration of Nottingham’s care home residents. The circular shapes on the window can be touched to trigger magical memories from residents that have participated in artist, Graham Elstone’s workshops throughout November 2015 to January 2016. Residents from Sycamore House and two other Nottingham care settings have been involved in creating this exciting co-production.

Sections of the window can be scanned (the egg, tree and TV controls) using the Artcodes app (http://aestheticodes.com/) to see content online that features all of the iPad portraits created by visual artist Mik Godley, Ben Wigley’s series of films and Graham’s animation created in collaboration with residents. The animation, alongside Mik Godley’s portraits will also run in two screens in the window for the period of the exhibition. The online website created by Joe Pick at City Arts showcases all of this wonderful work produced with residents: http://frost.imaginearts.org.uk/

Delegates from china visit Grace Muriel Grace Muriel House recently hosted some care home directors from China. China has some very large state run homes (as many as 600 beds!), but lack smaller community based facilities that we have within Abbeyfield, so they were keen to see what we had to offer in St Albans. We told them about Abbeyfield - its origins and ethos, the history and workings of Grace Muriel House and our plans for the future. All in all it was a very interesting day. Richard Seaman (Trustee) Page 28

‘Armchair Gallery’ brings great art into Nottingham care homes As part of the Imagine programme, City Arts in Nottingham used iPads to bring great art into Abbeyfield’s Sycamore House and Millbeck in Nottingham. Professionally filmed guided tours form part of the ‘Armchair Gallery’, and an iPad app, currently in development, allows older people in care settings to explore some of the country’s best art collections. The pilot project has worked with the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire to give care home residents access to Chatsworth House’s collection of art and antiques. In a series of short films the Duke and Duchess give a personal tour of their home and speak about their favourite items in the collection. With the support of artist Sam Metz and dancer Andrea Haley, residents are taking inspiration from the treasures of the Chatsworth collection and creating their own artworks.

“The finished app will include instructions for creative activities that care home staff can run with older people.” City Arts’ Kate Duncan, who is managing the project, explains the motivation behind the app’s development. “It is a sad fact that when older people go into care they can become cut off from the country’s world-class cultural institutions – health and mobility issues make visits a rare occurrence. Through this project we are exploring ways that technology can bring the arts into the care home. We are delighted that Chatsworth House have generously offered to share their incredible collection with Nottingham care home residents.” Amelia, a Sycamore House resident said:

“I recognised some of the artworks from my visits to Chatsworth House in the past. The Armchair Gallery has brought back great memories.” ‘Armchair Gallery’ is just one in a series of projects combining art and technology to enrich the lives of older people in Nottingham care homes as part of the Imagine: Arts and Older People programme. Others include streaming live music events into homes and ‘iPad EngAge’, which uses existing applications to encourage care home residents to express themselves creatively.

The Imagine: Arts and Older People programme is one of only four in the country to be awarded money from Arts Council England and The Baring Foundation’s Arts and older people in care fund. This is a partnership programme between The Abbeyfield Society, City Arts and Nottingham’s arts venues, Nottingham City Council and The University of Nottingham. Page 29

Live streaming brings a live concert into our homes City Arts manages the Imagine programme on behalf of a partnership which consists of The Abbeyfield Society (including a number of other care homes), Nottingham’s arts organisations, Nottingham City Council and academic researchers from the University of Nottingham. The partnership strongly believes that this innovative programme brings together care and the arts in order to challenge, engage and stimulate older people in accessing opportunities for selfexpression to help improve their wellbeing. One strand of work within this programme is the live streaming of concerts directly into care homes. This project has been developed specifically for the Imagine programme in partnership with the Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall, Notts TV, Spool Films and Confetti Institute of Creative Technologies. This collaboration also offers longer term links with the rich cultural offer that venues can provide to more isolated communities in Nottingham City. In March 2015 a trial was conducted in which Ingrid Jacoby’s piano concert in the Royal Concert Hall was streamed into the Millbeck House. Care home staff worked to recreate the atmosphere of the live venue, and the audience in the care home were directly acknowledged and welcomed from the stage in the Concert Hall itself. This approach rooted the livestreaming project in the local community, and enabled a degree of interaction between the two venues in order that residents felt close to the performance. This added to the atmosphere and created a different feel to simply watching a concert on television.

“Today has meant a lot to me, especially as I am no longer able to attend events such as this. It was amazing that the pianist could remember all of her pieces – incredible! I would certainly welcome more events like this and with it being live you really felt part of something.” - Betty, Millbeck House resident This project indicates that local livestreaming projects can form a distinctive but complementary addition to the recent growth in cinema and home-viewing of live-streamed productions from high profile venues such as the Royal Opera House and the National Theatre. The Imagine consortium have plans to further develop these opportunities and have planned another livestreamed concert in Spring 2016, with the potential for other forms of performance to follow in the future. Find out more about Imagine, and the livestreaming project here: http://www.imaginearts.org.uk Page 30

iPad EngAge This project has been delivered in some of our care homes in Nottingham as part of the Imagine programme in partnership with We EngAge in order to “to inspire creativity through iPads”, improving engagement and digital confidence amongst older people. Claire Ford, the founder of We EngAge, began experimenting with iPads while working with older people living with dementia using more traditional artistic media. She found that traditional media didn’t enable her to improvise quick enough in response to the incredibly diverse needs of the older people she was working with. She found that iPads were extremely flexible, multisensory tools that allowed for touch, sound and visual stimulation and engagement.

After working with iPads for a while, other benefits of this way of working became apparent – particularly the sense of fun, playfulness and curiosity that they can engender. Imagine has utilised this model of working by initially training artists that later went onto deliver a series of workshops within three different care home settings. The artists included a digital artist, creative writer and visual artist. The main aim of the project is to empower and develop creativity and innovation through the use of iPad technology and the range of Apps on offer through a person -centred approach. The intervention is based around being in the present moment and stimulating the imagination. New experiences are created through cross art form experiences, responding to individual’s needs at that given moment. You can find out more about We engAGE and their work on their website: http://we-engage.blogspot.co.uk Find out more about Imagine, and the project here: http://www.imaginearts.org.uk

Caption Competition For a bit of fun – send us your caption for the picture (right).

The winning caption will be printed in the next edition and the lucky winner will also receive a £25 gift voucher! Send your entry to [email protected]

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Animal Wordsearch - Can you find them all? Dolphin Raven Fish Zebra Mole

Crow Bear Ostritch Hamster Cheetah

Aardvark Eel Pony Ant Rabbit

You can play this puzzle online at: http://thewordsearch.com/puzzle/4/ Page 32

Badger Dinosaur Crocodile Bat

Can you solve our sudoku? The correct solution will be posted in the next issue of the Abbeyfield Voice.

Tell us what you think! We would love to hear your feedback on this first edition of the Abbeyfield voice. We depend on you to let us know what you’re up to, so that we can share news and what’s been going on around Abbeyfield. Email [email protected]

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