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Residents get a taste of their very own beer at brewery visit

Three of our homes have been putting their very own brewed beer to the taste test
Our residents and the residents of The Aldbury and Amberwood House visited Poole Hill Brewery to taste beer they had named in a Colten-wide competition.

During the summer, residents from all of our 21 homes were invited to take part in a beer tasting session with beers from the local brewer Southbourne Ales.

The aim to was to collectively choose a great tasting beer that would become ‘The Colten Beer’.

Three beers were sampled and scored for taste and appearance and residents then suggested names go with each one.
Elaine Farrer, Chief Operating Officer for Colten Care said: “We knew our residents loved their beer, but few could predict how many would enjoy this activity and how many brilliant names they would come up with.
“In fact, we had so many great names to choose from, we decided to go with three differently-named beers from three different homes: The ‘Crafty Colten’ chosen by the residents of Avon Reach, Frothy Pop chosen by residents of The Aldbury  and the ominously-named Residents’ Revenge, which was given its moniker by Amberwood House.”

[caption id="attachment_4795" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Pictured: Amberwood House residents Len Fowler and Jim Smith and their Colten Companion Kirsty Richmond-Cole (centre)[/caption]

The beer was brewed by Poole Hill Brewery inn Bournemouth and six representatives from across the three homes were hosted by the owner of the brewery, Jennifer Tingay, for a tour of her premises and a final tasting of their newly-bottled beers, labelled with their winning names.
Abdul ‘Hobi’ Sabih from The Aldbury said: “Our beer tastes great. I have already drunk all mine!”

His fellow resident Frank McCord agreed: “It’s been fascinating to visit the brewery and to learn more about the brewing process.
We are definitely looking forward to drinking more Frothy Pop at The Aldbury.”
Jim Smith, a resident of Amberwood House, said: “I was very interested to learn about the history of beer and brewing. Jennifer is a very good host and of course the tasting of our Residents’ Revenge was a highlight!”

Jennifer said: “It was lovely to host all the Colten residents. We had a quiz and they asked some really good questions about brewing before enjoying a tour and of course their tasting.

“The designs for the three different beer bottles which have been created by Colten’s own designers are wonderful. Some of the best I have seen.
“We are pleased to know the residents from Colten Care can now enjoy their own crafted local beers having played such an enthusiastic part in the process.”

Mobilised! Residents enjoy a year’s fitness boost

Residents are improving their fitness, strength and mobility thanks to a year-long partnership with expert physiotherapists
We have teamed up with Poole-based BWT Physio to offer weekly group sessions plus one-to-one follow-ups.

Around 13 residents are attending the Thursday group exercises, designed to stretch and strengthen muscles in a safe, controlled manner.
Resident Margaret Johnson said: “It’s brilliant. I find it really helpful and long may it continue. I am so pleased with it.”
The sessions include arm and leg stretches, co-ordination exercises and other techniques to stimulate movement, balance and flexibility.

Our Home Manager Jess Brolan said the aim is to promote mobility and independence in a friendly, relaxed environment.

She added: “Having fun with exercise is one of many ways we help our residents stay active and make the most of each day.

“These sessions are very well attended and our residents look forward to them every week.

“The physiotherapists get to know them a little more each time, so building a supportive relationship.

“Residents love the exercise and find it a wonderful experience to get moving under the physio’s guidance.
“There are so many benefits for them, both physically and mentally.
“Shoulder exercises, for example, can help residents go on to dress themselves more easily while practice in improving balance can lower the risk of falls.”

[caption id="attachment_4842" align="alignnone" width="1024"] From left to right: Physio Mark Seal leads the exercise for resident Margaret Johnson and Companion Team Member Jo Egan.[/caption]

Founded in 1987, BWT Physio provides a range of physiotherapy services in both clinical and community settings.

Its professional team has extensive experience with specialisms in many fields including sports injuries, back pain, migraine, strokes and pregnancy.

Co-founder and Director Linda Whike said: “Physiotherapy has a vital role to play in elderly people’s care.
“As well as the overall fitness benefits, addressing a short-term or lingering mobility issue can lead to a huge improvement in someone’s daily life, so helping them be more independent.
“By holding our sessions in the comfort of the care home itself, the residents avoid the need to travel to a hospital, clinic or another unfamiliar place.

“We work alongside the staff at Avon Reach to ensure our sessions are completely tailored to the needs of the residents and we are thrilled they are enjoying our visits so much.”

Farmyard memories as chicks spring into life

Avon Reach hatched a plan to celebrate springtime by hosting the birth of some fluffy chicks
After we put a heated incubator with embryo eggs centre stage in the home’s lounge, residents waited eagerly for the new arrivals.

They were transfixed as, one by one, the eggs hatched over the course of several days with, eventually, eight chicks welcomed into the world.

Our Companionship Team Leader Megan Castell said: “It was the most magical time and our residents were totally fascinated.
“It was so interactive when the chicks arrived as residents could get up close and hold them.”
Among those enjoying the births was June Chandler who grew up on a farm in Wiltshire and loved being surrounded by animals.

June said she knew exactly what to expect when the chicks were born, recalling happy girlhood memories of looking after poultry, lambs and piglets.

[caption id="attachment_4827" align="alignnone" width="481"] Nancy BIRKLAND and Fluffy the chick[/caption]

“The chickens were no trouble,” remembered June. “The ones we owned had a little run but had to be wired in because of the jackdaws.
“We also had a little lamb named Larry and when the piglets were born we used to bring them home and warm them up by the fire. They were little devils really, very wriggly.”
All eight chicks born at Avon Reach have now left to go to good homes, either free range farms locally or to people with existing hen flocks.

Two Colten Care homes in Lymington – Belmore Lodge and Outstanding-rated dementia care home Linden House – also hosted the births of chicks this spring, delighting their residents as well.

‘Give not take’ as Avon Reach champions community advent

Avon Reach put a community-minded twist on advent, turning the traditional day-by-day Christmas countdown into prompts for 24 acts of kindness
Staff and residents transformed the seasonal message of goodwill into practical action in and out of the home.

Among their initiatives, our team members joined volunteers from a range of businesses and organisations to help with a community litter pick around Mudeford Quay.

We continued our year-long support for families in need by collecting and donating tinned and dried food for both the Christchurch Food Bank and Hope for Food in Bournemouth.

Staff donated old towels to local animal rescue centres and shelters, left thank-you notes and flowers around the neighbourhood and made and delivered Christmas cards to local schools.

Our Clinical Lead Jacqui Williams dressed up as a Christmas cracker and handed out sweets to passing locals at a Christmas lights switch-on she attended with home residents.

And colleagues and residents held a Christmas jumper day with donations going to Save the Children.

To keep residents’ spirits up, staff also arranged for Nelly the chihuahua, a popular visitor, to make a surprise seasonal appearance.

Other acts of kindness featured on our advent calendar included making up and presenting hampers to local emergency services and a 25-mile sponsored walk around the home with staff and residents taking it in turns to lead the way.

Residents praised the idea of a whole month of acts of kindness.
Doreen Walls said: “It’s such a lovely idea to bring kindness to the community and we have enjoyed getting involved.”
Pam Eggerdon said: “It was especially lovely to see old towels going to an animals’ shelter and not going to waste.”

Home Manager Jess Brolan, who was involved in many of the activities including the community litter pick, said: “We wanted to do something different with the concept of an advent calendar. Supporting the community is the best way to give something back. It’s all about giving not taking.”

Residents and staff unleash their ‘inner elves’ to help fight dementia    

An army of Christmas elves have been pricking up their pointy ears and jingling from head to toe to raise funds for the Alzheimer’s Society
Our team members – including, of course, ‘elfcare’ assistants – dressed up as Santa’s helpers for a day of fun with the serious aim of helping people and families affected by dementia.

Residents were invited to go festive too with activities such as visiting a ‘cheeky elves’ market, taking part in quizzes and games, sampling ‘elf cakes’ and designing an elf hat to wear.

Residents enjoyed inputting their real names into an ‘elf name generator’, which returned an elf-style moniker based on a spelling combination.

The outcome was residents being renamed as such bizarre characters as ‘Snowflake Sledingham’, ‘Sugarkin Frostington’ and ‘Twinkle Winterville’.

Among those unleashing their ‘inner elf’ was resident Margaret Johnson, who said: “The staff were amazing in putting all this on. It was a jolly good idea.”

Chloe Akam, our home’s Companionship Team leader, said: “We held a full day of themed activities which everyone loved.”

“It was a great way to spread some festive cheer while supporting the essential work of the Alzheimer’s Society in helping people who live with dementia and their families.”

Other Colten Care homes staging elf days in support of the Alzheimer’s Society included Amberwood House in Ferndown and Fernhill in Longham near Bournemouth.

According to the Alzheimer’s Society, there are more than 850,000 people living with dementia in the UK.

Because of our ageing population, the figure is widely accepted to rise significantly with some estimates claiming it will more than double over the next 20 years.

Equine visitors delight horse lovers at Avon Reach  

A pair of horses who normally work with young disabled people have brought joy to elderly residents of a Dorset care home
Colonel and Elvis made a 15-mile round trip in a twin horse box from The Fortune College, a centre for riding therapy in Bransgore, visit us here at Avon Reach.

Their special visit served as a personal thank-you to our resident and horse-lover Margaret Barnes who has contributed to Colonel’s living costs for more than 15 years.

Margaret first became involved with the college around 20 years ago when she was editing the New Milton talking newspaper for blind and partially sighted people in the New Forest.

She became interested in sponsoring a horse after hearing that a local bank provided support that way.
Margaret said: “I really liked the idea of what the college was about and all the good work they were doing with the children. I love horses but have never ridden one except as a child.
“Before Colonel I sponsored a horse called Bertie. I used to visit the college quite often to see the horses work.

“It was delightful to see Colonel and Elvis making the trip to Avon Reach. I continue to support Colonel with sponsorship and it was such a joy to welcome both horses for an afternoon with us.”

The visit came about after college representatives offered to bring the horses to see Margaret and fellow residents in line with the relaxing of Covid restrictions on care home visits.

Jane Roberts, Companionship team member at Avon Reach, said: “Our residents thoroughly enjoyed meeting the horses. They spent time stroking the pair and feeding them carrots, which were consumed very quickly.

“Both Colonel and Elvis were very gentle and the smell and feel of them contributed to a really pleasurable experience all round.

“Many of our residents have spent time with horses in the past and it was fantastic to witness the precious moments when they could renew hands-on contact with a pat and a stroke.”

For resident Jean Davies, the experience broke new ground. “I had never stroked a horse before and I was thrilled,” said Jean. “It was the highlight of my year.”

College Principal Jane Delves and Equine Manager Claire Wesson both accompanied the horses.
Jane said: “This was a lovely trip and we were so happy to see the residents come outside and greet the horses.
“We’re grateful to Margaret for her continued sponsorship of Colonel. We rely on such support to help towards the costs of essentials such as feed, hay, shoes and teeth checks.”

Both the college and Avon Reach hope to arrange a return visit later this year.

Colonel is a 25-year-old piebald (black and white) cob while Elvis is a New Forest grey pony, aged 20.

Fortune College is a specialist centre that prepares young people with learning disabilities to live as independently as possible and participate in their local communities. Its patron is the actor Martin Clunes.

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