Fulfilling Lives - Chelmsford home celebrates its second successful year

Company news

Mar 17, 2011

Local MP and Minister of State for Health Simon Burns will join residents at Care UK’s Manor Lodge on Friday (18th March) as they celebrate a second successful year with an indoor street party, singers, entertainers, karaoke and lots of party atmosphere.

Local celebrity and Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Essex Dave Monk will also join the home’s 120 residents, their family and friends and staff for the day of fun.

Home manager Bernard Mawoyo said: "Care UK has developed Activity Based Care which focuses on keeping residents active in meaningful ways to maintain their physical health and mental well-being. That, along with great staff and excellent staff training, enables us to offer the high levels of service and care that we do."

"We are committed to putting residents at the heart of everything we do. Residents now take part in our employment committee so they have an active role in selecting the people who work here."

Activities Co-ordinator Christine Hull said: "It’s been a very busy year and, thanks to our residents’ suggestions, we have a very active year to come."

This year residents have taken part in events including a visit from the cast of West Side Story and theatre trips to Chelmsford’s Civic Centre. They have also been entertained by performances from local schools in the home.

Christine said: "Keeping active is very important for older people – it keeps depression at bay and helps to hold back many of the symptoms of dementia. Under supervision, residents make a drink, do some washing and drying up and wash and dress themselves. It is so important that they keep their sense of identity and independence."

With that in mind, special accessible raised flower beds and a greenhouse have been built in the grounds to allow green-fingered residents to continue gardening and the home’s chef is planning to use the produce in cooking activities with residents.

An Easter egg hunt is also planned for local school children and residents’ grandchildren and there will be a summer party open to residents, friends and family.
Manor Lodge provides residential and nursing care. It has a specialist dementia suite and facilities which include a hairdresser’s, café, cinema and a sensory room that includes a bubble machine and music to relax and stimulate the residents’ senses.