We might be in lockdown through the COVID-19 pandemic, but our residents have been living life to the full. Supported by our family of carers our dynamic new lifestyle and well-being coordinator and eachother.
Our lockdown heroine – Clare Lockley
We have welcomed Clare Lockley as our new Lead Well-being and Lifestyle Coordinator. Since joining our team she has been spending time getting to know each resident; what makes then happy on a day to day basis, their likes and dislikes, hobbies and interest. Ensuring they feel happy and relaxed and can do all the things they would do at home at their West Eaton home.
We are delighted that Clare has joined us and when you read all about her, you will see why!
Clare has a passion for care which grew from her 20 years driving and managing a Mobile Library Service. When that sadly closed, she set up a home delivery service for people who could not access books any other way, which lead to her career change into the care sector. Prior to West Eaton she worked in activities at another care home and she has been loving getting to know our residents and planning their activities programme.
Clare is also Audrina Lane, her writing pseudonym and has an impressive 9 published romance novels to date and is working on another 2 books. Together with her partner Steve she enjoys watching Formula 1, attending live music concerts and home DIY projects. And she has two gorgeous black Labradors.
Clare has ensured residents have kept busy and entertained, knowing social distancing and time apart from their loved ones is so hard. The West Eaton team have put their worries about the pandemic to one side and focused on bring joy and happiness into our home.
Serenaded by Simon the Piper
It was a beautiful warm, sunny day when Simon visited in his Scottish kilt and with his bagpipes to walk and play across the garden, to our residents on the patio. The starting tune was Amazing Grace, then among others, Auld Lange Syne and Scotland the Brave. The residents loved clapping, singing along and waving their flags – so uplifting. We also welcomed Simon back on 15th August to mark the 75th anniversary of VJ Day.
Celebrations with cupcakes and candy
We marked Alzheimer’s Cupcake Day by making and baking cupcakes. You can see the enjoyment on our residents’ faces in these pictures!
We also celebrated with our chef Tracey Powell her 22 years working at West Eaton. The number of cakes she has whipped up over the years! She always encourages our residents to join in baking and cooks with all our home-grown produce and fresh eggs from West Eaton’s gardens and chickens. Thank you Tracey!
Clare has launched The Wheelie Good Shop! This is proving to be hugely popular and enables residents to shop for everything from toiletries, sweets and treats. They especially love it’s transformation into The Wheelie Good Bar, for those favourite after dinner tipples!
Our Peace Post community project
One project we are working on is a Peace Post for the Haygrove Community Garden in Ross-on-Wye. Local people could apply for a post and have been given 4 different languages to write on each side. We were given Gaelic, Macedonian, Persian and Japanese.
Our residents love to get involved in community projects and have taken this on with such enthusiasm.
Lockdown hobbies and clubs
Our residents and team have really supported eachother through lockdown and we have all tried new things – often with very funny outcomes!
Jean tried to teach home manager Roddy to knit – she suggests he is a bit speedier with his needles!
Peter, our resident scrabble champ, taught Kath, Lawrence and Clare to play. Kath was so delighted to win there was a rematch – and so the West Eaton Scrabble Club has formed!
We have had painting masterclasses with cotton buds as brushes and various different mediums. Lots of crafting and flower arranging and our veggie plot is doing exceptionally well.
