Wellbeing Centres Suffolk

Making every day better

February 2014

At our Wellbeing Centres we offer personalised day care for older people in Suffolk, including those living with dementia or needing extra support. Our lively centres provide activities, trips out, entertainment, friendship as well as wellbeing services and specialist dementia care. Wellbeing Centres our customers may be able to live in their own home for longer. Their carers or loved ones also get to enjoy a welldeserved break.

Having the chance to relax, socialise and have fun gives our customers a real boost, improving their independence and positivity, and making everyday tasks and life back at home that bit easier. With regular visits to one of our

All our customers’ requirements are different. We get to know everyone individually, so we can personalise activities to meet their needs. Our specially trained care teams are experienced in caring for older people, including those living with dementia, so you can be confident that your friend or loved one is always happy, comfortable and completely safe.

Active in the community Our centres are visited by hairdressers, chiropodists and aromatherapists who regularly come in to pamper our customers, and professional performers and speakers to entertain us. We also get out and about too and our outings are always very popular.

A warm welcome Many customers comment on the friendly and welcoming atmosphere at our wellbeing centres. They are a great place for friends, old and new, to chat over tea and biscuits, join in the many activities or enjoy that day’s entertainment. Every day starts with a hearty breakfast and lunch and afternoon tea are also available. Everything we offer is based on what our customers tell us they need. We are focused on helping all our customers to maintain an active and healthy lifestyle. The centres organise stimulating and fun one-to-one and group activities from crafts, gardening, cooking, board games and gentle exercise to music and reminiscence sessions. In fine weather many customers like to relax in our lovely, safe gardens.

s e c i v r e s y a d K Care U in Suffolk Haverhill Place Court

We embrace each person’s individuality and love finding out about their experiences and personal interests. Customers can choose from a very wide range of activities at Place Court Wellbeing Centre. We enjoy getting out and about in the local area as much as possible and often help customers to attend appointments with doctors and other health professionals in Haverhill. Our summer trips to the seaside are always a big hit.

Eye

Paddock House

At Paddock House Wellbeing Centre our friendly team takes the time to get to know every customer, finding out all about their lifetime experiences and interests, as well as how they wish to be supported.

Small...but big on character Paddock House Wellbeing Centre is located in a small bungalow behind the residential care home in Eye, but what we lack in size we make up for in character. We are well known for our friendly welcoming environment and are always busy with our activities.

Christmas Party Time During December we had two days for Christmas parties with entertainment on each day. First we had Martin Allen and Memory Lane. All of the customers enjoyed their day. We also had a traditional Christmas dinner with all the trimmings. And then we were visited by Frantic Theatre which actually is

a one man band who is extremely entertaining. The staff waited on all the customers and volunteers and all the staff dressed up for both days. All customers and volunteers had a Christmas present from the centre. On both days we had a Christmas quiz with prizes to be won and a Christmas raffle which raised £170.

We had a great time engaging with family and friends to create our friendship and memories garden. We put out a request to customers and their families (and of course to our colleagues and their families), and from this donations, big and small, arrived: cuttings from plants in their gardens hence the memories, but also shrubs people kindly purchased and brought in. Everyone mucked in and dug the ground over and planted the ground to great effect. We can’t wait to spend time enjoying all our hard work in our lovely new garden!

Wickham Market Lehmann House

Lehmann House Wellbeing Centre in Wickham Market offers personalised daytime care for older people in a friendly and welcoming environment. Our aim is for every Wellbeing Centre member to feel completely at home here. We offer a wide range of stimulating activities and like to get out and about in the community too – we’re just a short walk from the shops and local facilities in the town. And in the summer months, our trips out are always a great success.

Lehmann House – A moving story 2013 saw many changes at the Mills Meadow Wellbeing Centre in Framlingham. The rebuilding of the residential care home meant it was necessary to close the wellbeing centre and re-locate to Lehmann House in Wickham Market for approximately two years. August was the moving month and it was very sad to pack up all of our equipment and memories, box them all safely and transport them to the new centre. It never fails to amaze us how much you can accumulate over the years.

The room we now have at Lehmann House had been a day centre in the past so was pretty much set up for us, and all the staff made us feel very welcome. The manager, Pam Boome, retired and Julie Hurren took over the reins. Several other colleagues also took the opportunity to make career changes so we had not only a new environment but a new staff team. With a ‘new broom’ at the top and several new brushes, we all made a new start together. Every day is different and we aim to provide a flexible service which enables everyone to have an enjoyable day doing interesting activities, learning new skills or even just sitting reading the newspaper

and enjoying the company of others. With the added benefit of an in house hairdresser and chiropodist and not forgetting a varied and interesting menu each day, this really is a worthwhile group to join. We have just spent our first Christmas together and had a wonderful time with lots of fun and laughter and good entertainment. Oh and Father Christmas even took time out to visit us all, so roll on 2014 as it going to be a busy time here and we cannot wait to be able to get into the garden and potter in the greenhouse. Happy New Year Julie, Sally, Sarah, Tanya and Charlee

Ipswich

Crabbe Street

Each member of our team enjoys spending time getting to know the people who come along to Crabbe Street Wellbeing Centre, finding out about their lifetime experiences, interests, likes and dislikes. The centre has a lively atmosphere – there’s always plenty going on, from tai chi to baking and regular tea dances too. Our facilities include comfy lounges, activity rooms and a handy shop selling snacks, toiletries and other small items.

The Christmas Cake At the end of last year the customers at Crabbe Street, Wellbeing Centre decided to make a Christmas cake in the form of a Christmas tree, as they felt that this represented the day-centre and the changing times and faces. The tree symbolises the day-centre giving shelter and support to those who attend.

The tradition of a Christmas tree has not changed for generations, and the decorations bring back memories of all stages of life. The stars represent absent friends and the baubles those who attend presently. Every bauble has reflections of the stars – their cherished memories.

Hadleigh Angel Court

At Angel Court Wellbeing Centre we take the time to find out about each person’s lifetime experiences, interests, likes and dislikes, so that we can provide them with care that is as individual as they are. Our relaxed and friendly atmosphere and open-plan layout encourages everyone to get to know one another.

Christmas Lunch at Hintlesham Golf Club Paulette Scott, Manager of Angel Court Wellbeing Centre, and her team arranged a wonderful Christmas Lunch for customers at Hintlesham Golf Club. Paulette tells the story of the day. On a foggy morning in December the customers and care team set off to the Golf Club Restaurant at Hintlesham. The dining tables all had party hats and were set in a figure of eight so everyone could talk to each other. With Christmas carols playing in the background the atmosphere was set. After drinks were ordered the main course of ‘Roast Turkey with all the trimmings’ arrived, which everyone enjoyed. Next came the Christmas Pudding and then tea and coffee was served accompanied by delicious warm mince pies.

It’s Panto Time

Christmas Party Angel Court recently invited all customers to a Christmas Party at the Day Centre. And when the coach arrived to take us back to the centre, we all sang Christmas carols on the return journey. The customers gave a vote of thanks to my team for organising the Christmas trip. The Director of the Golf Club, Henry Roblin, kindly presented us with a voucher for four people to play 18 holes of golf free of charge which will be used in the New Year.

Mother leigh to present ad H t, ur o C el e all ng eir families wer tions came to A th uc d d an ro s P er e m m ti to Party all. Cus time was had by t care home. om Angel Cour Goose. A great fr ts en d si re e ith th invited along w ow with an to watch the sh le p eo p f o ut followed by a reat turno was had by all er ht ar t ug There was a g la d an t a fantastic st 0. Fun 4 ha ut W o s. ab ng f o o S e audienc Christmas and singing of glass of sherry season. to the festive

The entertainment was provided by Rio and Ronnie Davies and they didn’t disappoint. They sang beautifully and entertained us all with Christmas Carols and songs from the 60’s and 70’s. Customers and staff all got up and danced away to the music. After loud applause for the entertainers the buffet was served, prepared by Maria, our cook. With the staff all dressed in ‘Mother Christmas’ outfits and hats they greeted ‘Father Christmas’ who gave out the Christmas presents to all the customers and wished them a Merry Christmas. One of the customers decided to stand up and make a speech to say on behalf of the customers what a fantastic party and thanked the staff for putting on such a lovely day.

Beccles The Dell

You’ll find a lively atmosphere at The Dell Wellbeing Centre with lots of activities going on and customers suggesting new ideas they’d like to try. Professional performers regularly entertain with singing, music and dancing. Our aim is to support every customer to stay active and independent. In July we held a tea dance when the care home residents and wellbeing centre customers enjoyed an afternoon of dancing, tea tasting and a lovely variety of cakes that our care team baked. The afternoon was made even better as a team leader, who collects 1940’s memorabilia, very kindly brought in a selection of items from her collection, which made the afternoon fantastic.

She also set up a rations table with food items and ration books. This brought back lots of memories for the residents and customers. We regularly have entertainers to entertain our customers. At our Christmas party we had an Elvis impersonator as our entertainer. As you can see our customers had a wonderful time.

Lowestoft Blyford

At Blyford Wellbeing Centre we’ve always got lots of different activities going on, from cooking and crafts to games like dominoes, and we often have local trips out. Our customers decide – all of the activities and outings that we organise are based on what members tell us they want to do.

Baking brings generations together Students at Ormiston Denes Academy in Lowestoft have been busy baking cakes and sharing afternoon tea with Blyford wellbeing centre customers, as part of a new student-led community project. The bakery project is a wonderful idea as it brings older people and young people together in an informal and friendly environment.

Everyone thoroughly enjoys the cakes and conversation and looks forward to the students’ next visit. The students thoroughly enjoyed their bake and share session and aim to continue the project on a regular basis.

Lowestoft Signing Choir visit Blyford Recently customers at the day care centre enjoyed something different. The Lowestoft Signing Choir visited the centre so that customers and the care team could enjoy a special sign language performance of familiar songs. The signing choir has a total of 45 members who have a varying range of hearing difficulties and/ or connections to Lowestoft’s deaf community, either through family or friends who are deaf or working with people who have hearing difficulties. The choir’s aim is to raise deaf awareness in the community whilst promoting British Sign Language, which they use to perform popular songs, hymns and carols. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the choir’s performance and we would love to see them at the centre again.

Lowestoft Stradbroke Court

We organise a very wide range of stimulating activities for members in small groups, all based around what our customers tell us they’d like to do. And there are lots of opportunities for members to get involved in the day-to-day life of Stradbroke Court if they want to, for example by helping out in our courtyard garden, serving food at lunchtime or arranging flowers for our lounge area. Stradbroke Court Wellbeing Centre in Lowestoft has been the setting for a variety of events over the past year. The Dawn Diamonds Show visited us recently. Dawn and her husband Paul are two entertainers who are firm favourites with our customers. It is not hard to see why when all shows are in costume and beautifully sung with bespoke musical arrangements. On their last visit we held a Country and Western theme day with a buffet lunch and Country and Western dancing that was enjoyed by all. We held two Bingo evenings in the lead up to Christmas, attended by customers and the care team. The care team prepared a buffet

supper and there was a raffle drawn on each occasion. Everyone enjoys these evenings. In fact they are so popular that our customers are already asking when we are having the next one.

“ They are so popular that customers are already asking when we are having the next one”

During December we had entertainers visit on most days. The favourites are “Elvis”, Dawn Diamonds, Kevin Barry and Patsy Rose, singing a variety of Christmas songs and some of our customers’ favourite ‘oldies’. The care team are always the first to take to the floor inviting everyone to join in the singing and the dancing.

About Care UK Care UK is one of the UK’s leading independent providers of health and social care services. We run everything from hospitals and treatment centres to residential homes and day care clubs – all in the heart of your community. We work together as a team of doctors, consultants, nurses, care assistants and community support workers, and are proud of our reputation for exceptional standards of care.

We love what we do... If you or a loved one would benefit from joining one of our Wellbeing Centres, please call us to find out more and to book a place. You will find all the details at careuk.com/suffolk-day

Stradbroke Court Green Drive Lowestoft NR33 7JS 0333 321 8393 The Dell Nelson Way Beccles NR34 9PH 0333 321 8592 Angel Court Angel Street Hadleigh IP7 5HA 0333 321 8398 Blyford 61 Blyford Road Lowestoft NR32 4PZ 0333 321 8352 Crabbe Street 57 Crabbe Street Ipswich IP4 5HS 0333 321 8355

Lehmann House Church Terrace Wickham Market IP13 0SG 0333 321 8602 Paddock House Wellington Road Eye IP23 7BE 0333 321 8605 Place Court Camps Road Haverhill CB9 8HF 0333 321 8608