Book lovers at The Aldbury were all smiles as they welcomed a fun visit by seven ‘oompa loompas’ from Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Staff, relatives and residents at The Aldbury dressed up as members of the classic story’s diminutive workforce and went around the home spreading laughter, sweets and chocolates.

They were joined by a resident’s husband, Stephen Selway, in the role of eccentric chocolatier and entrepreneur Willy Wonka.

And one resident, Pip Smith, posed as Violet Beauregarde, the chewing gum-obsessed girl who, after she can’t resist eating a ‘three-course gum meal’ turns blue and inflates into a giant blueberry.

As the colourful array of characters toured the home, one resident was heard to ask: “Are you multiplying?”.

Afterwards, resident Colin Palmer said: “It was just so funny to see.”
Home Manager Martin Corrigan, himself an oompa loompa on the trip round, said: “We have many book lovers here at The Aldbury.

“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a favourite as residents used to read it to their children and grandchildren.”
In true Wonka style, the oompa loompas’ visit was followed by an afternoon tea that featured marshmallows and raspberries dipped in a chocolate fountain.

The fun, inspired by the recent World Book Day, included a lucky dip and golden ticket with £45 raised for residents’ charity PramaLife.

Among other literary-themed goings-on at Colten Care homes in the south, team members at Court Lodge in Lymington arranged for resident and avid reader Eileen Drake to revisit her local library.

She spent an afternoon flicking through the pages of various books before deciding on a handful that stood out from different genres which she borrowed and took back to Court Lodge.
Eileen said: “It’s been so long since I’ve visited the library, and I am really happy to have come back. It’s just as lovely as I remember it to be.”
Companionship Team Member Rachel Avetoom said: “There were a group of children singing nursery rhymes at the library, all in costumes for World Book Day. It was heartwarming to see Eileen smiling and enjoying the afternoon being somewhere she loves, with other people from the community. It was a perfect outing for Eileen and we will be sure to visit again.”

Residents at The Aldbury were treated to a special sensory experience when Lush Poole visited for the first time.
The session, organised by Ross, involved 10 residents who had the opportunity to make their very own Comforter Crumble Bars, a bath product made from natural ingredients such as Blackcurrant and Cassis absolute.
Ross began by sharing the fascinating story of Lush’s origins, describing how it all started in a garden shed in 1988 in old town Poole. He also explained how Lush has grown, with stores now across the globe, starting with two in London in 1995.

As the session unfolded, residents eagerly took turns mixing the ingredients, creating a soft and soothing putty that would later set into a beautifully scented product. While the mixture rested, Ross introduced a fun game of Pictionary. The challenge was to sculpt various objects using the rainbow-coloured bath dough, with residents creating shapes such as cats, spiders, fish, and even a teddy bear. Some of the results were humorous, with Terry commenting, “My spider looks more like a skate,” while Muriel, assisted by Victoria, made a lovely fish.
Throughout the session, the residents enjoyed the sensory experience of touching, smelling, and working with the dough. Margaret Loh remarked, “Mmm, it smells nice” as she mixed the ingredients for the Comforter Bar, and Joyce, who had never made soap before, said, “It’s a great experience. I can’t wait to try it.” Valerie found joy in crafting a teddy bear, and Margaret Fitton was delighted by the lovely scent of the bath dough.

The session also introduced the residents to the sustainable sourcing of Lush products. Ross explained that local residents gather and dry seaweed, which is then used in Lush’s bath products, along with other locally sourced ingredients such as charcoal and sand.
To top off the experience, some of the Lush products created during the session will be raffled off to raise money for Prama Life, a charity chosen by The Aldbury.
The event was not only a fun and interactive experience for the residents but also a lovely way to engage their senses, inspire creativity, and connect them with the world outside the home.

Eager residents from The Aldbury flipped for victory when they joined in a community pancake race in Wimborne.
An intrepid party from dedicated dementia care home The Aldbury in Poole travelled to Wimborne for the town’s annual Shrove Tuesday fun.

Frying pan in hand and with cake on pan, residents joined fellow competitors, young and not so young, for the light-hearted competition involving a route round the famous Minster.

As participants raced, cheered on by well-wishers and town folk, the expectation was that they would flip their pancake as they passed each of the four corners of the iconic building.

Taking part in the wheelchair category, The Aldbury’s Valerie Sharp and fellow resident Cynthia Wood came in third and fourth respectively, with the pushing power supplied by Companion Pauline Gauden for Valerie and Minibus Driver Nick Meyers for Cynthia.
Valerie said of the spectacle: “An artist couldn’t paint this picture. It was such a memorable, fun day. This event gave everyone a lift.”

Cynthia said: “It was very good and I was so happy to see everyone enjoying themselves.”
The Wimborne Minster race was a traditional feature of the town’s countdown to Lent in ages past and was revived 27 years ago to become popular once again. The start of the first race of the day is marked by the tolling of the ‘pancake bell’.

The Aldbury Companion Melissa Siat said: “This is a much-loved community tradition in Wimborne that guarantees plenty of fun and laughter, with a touch of friendly competition.

“Our Chef at The Aldbury made our pancakes specially and our residents were only too happy to pop them on the pan, flip them and race along.

“It was a lovely occasion that brought people in the community together for a day of friendship and fun.

Colten Care has trained 32 team members as Mental Health First Aiders (MHFAs) to help colleagues maintain and improve their work-life balance.
Colten Care has prioritised the training as part of a wider focus on wellbeing. Organisers say the response from participants has been highly positive and already leading to a demonstrable shift in how mental health is talked about and supported in the workplace.

With guidance from Mental Health England, Colten Care planned the training for two groups of 16 colleagues over two days.

Sessions were held in training suites at two of its dedicated dementia care homes, Linden House in Lymington and The Aldbury in Poole.

Trainees included Home Managers, Clinical Leads, Care Trainers, Healthcare Assistants, HR Managers and Maintenance and Gardening team members.
“Staff were asked if they would volunteer for the role of MHFA, and the response was great,” said wellbeing strategy lead and MHFA Barney Baxendale. “These dedicated individuals received personal certificates for their time in training and are now equipped to offer a listening ear, guidance and signposting to colleagues who may be struggling.
“The service is offered to all 2,000 of our staff completely free of charge. Now, no matter where they are located across our 21 homes or our head office, they have someone they can see in person if they need to. Phone and video calls are also an option if they prefer.

“Training session content included the many influences on mental health, what ‘first aid’ means in this context, how best to approach someone who may be struggling, the importance of listening and reassurance, and how to identify a support network.”

The sessions were delivered by external mental health training consultant Christo Hudson.

After serving in the RAF, Christo spent 12 years as a commercial pilot but found himself unemployed when the airline he worked for went into administration at the onset of the pandemic.

As well as flying, his airline career had included being a flight data monitor, a role that involved gathering insight on the behaviour of fellow pilots.

The aim was to address human factors such as stress, fatigue, relationship issues and financial worries that might affect pilots’ performance and lead to safety-critical failures.

Christo, who was in shock and questioning his role in life after redundancy, steadily found the strength to apply some of the learnings from his data monitor experience to establish a new career delivering mental health first aid and suicide prevention training to individuals and organisations.

A key focus for him is the importance of being able to share experiences, feelings and emotions.

Christo, who is based in Edinburgh, said: “I teach people about the power of human connection and that even when someone’s world may feel so dark, lonely, cold and scary, there is always hope.”
On his sessions with Colten Care specifically, he said: “It’s about equipping staff with the skills to recognise when a colleague isn’t quite themselves and confidently being able to step in with support. The uptake has been good – people are engaging, conversations are happening, and we have been seeing a real shift in how mental health is talked about and supported in the workplace.
“In a sector built on care, it’s easy to focus solely on the wellbeing of the residents, however I think that looking after those who provide that care is just as important. This initiative ensures that mental health support is woven into daily life, not just something for a crisis. By normalising these conversations, Colten Care is leading the way in making the care sector a place where staff feel valued, supported and able to ask for help when they really need it.”

As well as training and appointing MHFAs across the organisation, Colten Care’s wellbeing strategy includes encouragement for many activities at individual home level.

Initiatives so far have included dedicated ‘wellbeing weeks’ for teams, soundbath sessions, a trip to a salt-water sauna, ‘fun at work’ days and participation in February’s Time to Talk Day, a national mental health awareness campaign led by Rethink Mental Illness and Mind in partnership with the Co-op.

Colten Care team members have also received ‘wellbeing packs’ containing a guide on dealing with stress at work along with a ‘goodie bag’ of treats.

At Abbotts Barton in Winchester, Senior Nurse Joanna Sliwka welcomed receipt of her pack, saying: “It makes you feel important and shows you that the management care about their staff.”

Abbotts Barton Home Manager Dee Lovewell said: “To help embrace team wellbeing even further, we are providing a new outdoor break area and starting new slimming and walking clubs. We want all team members to feel supported and have an opportunity to contribute to their own wellbeing.”

‘Fun at work’ days, held so far at Fernhill and Brook View, have included themed lunches, party games, casual clothes days and an interactive song and dance show with visiting performer Dame Daisy that residents enjoyed too. Brook View resident Diana Pearce said after the home’s singalong with Daisy: “I’ve had the best day ever!”

Companionship Team Leader Claudia Canosa said: “It was an inclusive environment where everyone felt free to express their joy and a reminder of the power of connection among staff and residents at Brook View.”

Spooktastic fun has prompted chills and thrills for our Dorset care home residents and their young visitors.
A host of Halloween-themed activities at our care homes in Bournemouth, Poole, Longham and Ferndown was guaranteed to give everyone goosebumps.

There were costumes, games, decorations, scary garden walks, dances around ‘the cauldron’ and tantalising treats such as gooey spider cakes, ghostly marshmallows and sour snakes.

At Fernhill dedicated dementia care home in Longham, residents spent a morning carving pumpkins and turned their Maple Lounge into a colourful Halloween party room.

At Canford Chase in Poole, residents made an array of spooky craft decorations and invited guests for a spot of apple bobbing followed by a scavenger hunt.

Children and grandchildren of residents shared in the ghostly goings-on at Amberwood House in Ferndown which featured games and a disco.

A seasonal lucky-dip of gifts hidden in a bin of ‘red worms’ proved popular at The Aldbury dementia home in Poole, and helped raise money for Dorset Wildlife in Need.

Youngsters visiting the home’s retreat and summer house also painted pumpkins, sang along to party songs such as the Hokey Cokey and sampled a fruit punch.
Resident Joyce   said: “It was lovely to see the children running around and enjoying themselves.”
Fellow resident Valerie Sharp said: “What fun we all had.”

Companionship Team Leader Sue Miles said: “There was much hocus pocus, with the laughter and smiles clearly showing it was going down well. We all enjoyed the spooky atmosphere and fancy dress.”

Improving awareness of how to live well with dementia is the focus of a week of free community activities at our dedicated dementia care home in Poole.  
The sessions at The Aldbury are all about connecting with the world around us through art, music, gardening and other fun and enriching experiences for those living with dementia.

Complementing the national Dementia Action Week from Monday 13 May to Friday 17 May 2024, The Aldbury programme includes talks, interactive workshops, live music and hands-on sessions in and out of doors.

Home Manager Martin Corrigan said: “As a dedicated dementia care home, we support the message of the Alzheimer’s Society that dementia shouldn’t stop you doing the things you love and you can live well with it.
“The sessions we are hosting here at The Aldbury will help people raise their awareness and understanding of dementia.”
Throughout Dementia Action Week, The Aldbury will be open to the community from 10am to 4pm, with structured sessions at 11am and 2pm each day on specific aspects of living with dementia.

On Monday 13 May, visitors will look at connecting through crafts and art-based activity in the company of Colten Companions. They will guide participants through sessions designed to explore creativity, acquire new skills and have fun.

Music, movement and song will take the spotlight on Tuesday 14 May with guest musicians from the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra leading an interactive music session at 11am.

This will be followed by a 2pm session led by fellow musician, performer, composer and teacher Fiona Pritchard, Colten Care’s Music & Arts Partner since 2014.

Fiona, who attended the prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London and has a Masters degree in Applied Dementia Studies from the University of Bradford, said: “Music plays an important role in our dementia care homes as its connection to memory and wellbeing is incredibly powerful.”

Activities on Wednesday 15 May will highlight The Aldbury’s garden with the chance to plant herbs and fruit and vegetable plants.

On hand will be the home’s dedicated gardener Brett Gill who will explain his work engaging with residents and how time in the garden can stimulate senses and evoke memories that contribute to wellbeing.

Visitors can also meet some birds brought along specially by Dorset-based animal rescue specialist Wildlife in Need, the main charity The Aldbury residents have chosen to support this year.

Home Manager Martin will be joined on Thursday 16 May by Clinical Lead Victoria Smith to speak to families about The Aldbury and the journey into care.

At the same time, visitors can meet Admiral Nurse Kay Gibson, a specialist dementia care nurse who works for Colten Care in partnership with the charity Dementia UK.

Kay will explain her role in providing expert practical, clinical and emotional support to families facing the challenges of dementia.

Alongside Kay will be two representatives from Crisp, the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole carers’ resource, information and support programme.

The week will finish with a Friday focus on addressing the kind of sensory changes that someone living with dementia is likely to experience.

The day will feature interactive sessions centred on hearing, sight, taste, smell and touch.

Colten Care’s Chief Operating Officer Elaine Farrer said: “The week of activities is designed to show how we can connect physically, emotionally and spontaneously with people who live with dementia so that they continue to feel valued, cared for and loved.”

Throughout the week, visitors will have the opportunity to purchase homemade crafts and gifts and make donations to the Alzheimer’s Society and Wildlife in Need.

The Aldbury is next door to Alderney Hospital, ten minutes’ drive from Poole town centre. The home’s address is 672-674 Ringwood Road, Parkstone, Poole, BH12 4NA.

For parking guidance, further contact details and more information on the Dementia Action Week activities at The Aldbury, visit Dementia Action Week | The Aldbury Dementia Care Home | Colten Care

Staff across Colten Care came together to discuss the latest developments in dementia services at a conference in Bournemouth.
Colten Care’s leadership academy event, Connecting Through Dementia 2024, brought together 80 attendees for a day of presentations, panel discussions and interactive workshops.

The main theme, reflected across the agenda, was the importance of ‘connecting physically, emotionally and spontaneously with people who live with dementia so that they feel valued, cared for and loved’.

The conference, at the Fusion Building on Bournemouth University’s Wallisdown campus, brought together Colten Care nurses, carers, specialists in dementia therapies, and colleagues such as training managers, chefs and care companions who work alongside clinical teams.
“It was about how we all connect with those living with dementia and their families,” said organiser and Colten Care Operations Manager Peter Doyle. “We focused on what outstanding clinical care and the wider mix of care services should look like in the context of enabling people to live well with dementia.
“My aim for the day was for everyone to have one key takeaway to help them grow in knowledge, understanding and insight and for them to connect with one another to develop in this area.”

Among practical sessions designed to appeal to different learning styles was a workshop on design ideas and the modelling of features in a dementia community.

A key highlight of the day was a question-and-answer session with presenters Peter Berry and Deb Bunt, co-authors of a book charting a year in Peter’s life after he was diagnosed with early-onset dementia aged 50.

The Suffolk-based pair discussed valuable insights from their book ‘Slow Puncture: Living Well With Dementia’ and how they have celebrated what you can achieve with dementia rather than feeling limited by how it can impact day-to-day life.

One example was a successful 350-mile cycling challenge through four counties, which involved Peter often leading the way on a penny-farthing.

Attendees at the conference included team members from the five the Colten Care dementia care communities: Linden House in Lymington; St Catherines View in Winchester; Fernhill in Longham; The Aldbury in Poole; and Newstone House in Sturminster Newton.

Experts who spoke included Kay Gibson, Colten Care’s Admiral Nurse, who has evolved a company-wide dementia care strategy since her appointment in 2016.

Kay’s input has benefited residents, families and communities around our 21 nursing homes, including the five dementia-specific care settings.

Also giving presentations on the latest thinking around dementia care were Rachel Johnstone, Dementia UK Business Development Officer, and Fiona Pritchard, our Music & Arts Partner.

Fiona discussed a musical collaboration she has led with multiple care homes which was recorded and made into a short film. The purpose was to demonstrate the impact of music on those with dementia.

The conference ended with an expert panel discussion chaired by Dr Chloe Bradwell, Postdoctoral Researcher in the Centre for Dementia Research at Leeds Beckett University.

Among the panel members were Helen Hyde, a relative of a Colten Care resident, and Anne Ward Ongley of the dementia carers’ charity TIDE, Together in Dementia Everyday.
Elaine Farrer, Chief Operating Officer at Colten Care, who was also on the panel and gave the closing address at the event, said: “This was a thought-provoking and highly informative conference that gave attendees the opportunity to learn from each other and share best practice.”

Residents of our homes have created artworks, explored aquatic life and welcomed young visitors among activities to mark World Ocean Day.
More than a thousand rocks and pebbles were painted blue and white to mimic water flowing under a garden bridge at dedicated dementia care home The Aldbury in Poole.

On The Aldbury’s garden bridge over the newly painted ‘pond’ of stones are, from left: residents Valerie Sharp, Valerie Short and Jeanette Macklin

Residents there spent two months on the project, spraying, painting and varnishing the stones with help from staff at the home and visiting students from Canford School.

The Aldbury residents Valerie Short and Abdul Sabih at work painting blue stones to place under the Poole home’s garden bridge

As she admired the colourful display, resident Valerie Short, who originally suggested turning the stones blue and white, said: “It took a lot of time but it was well worth the wait.”
Companionship Team member Melissa Siat said: “The pebbles did look a little drab before so it was a great idea to brighten them up and link that to an environmental theme. This has turned out to be a great visual project right from the start. Residents were able to see the transformation building up each time we added a coloured pebble. Our garden bridge now looks just fabulous with its new ‘pond’ below.”
The pebble-painting was complemented with a further creative activity in which residents decorated and hung CDs with pictures of fish over the pond.

In other World Ocean Day activities, residents from The Aldbury and sister homes, Canford Chase in Poole and Fernhill in Longham, visited the Oceanarium on Bournemouth seafront to learn more about aquatic life.

Watching the sea life at Bournemouth Oceanarium are The Aldbury resident Dr Robert Morris and Companionship Team member Melissa Siat

The Canford party took photos of the fish on display with a view to creating a collage back at the home.

Among The Aldbury party was resident Dr Robert Morris, a retired marine biologist, who requested the trip to help bring back memories of his ocean-going travels and work.
Melissa said: “As we went around the Oceanarium, we talked about sharks, clownfish and seahorses. I asked Robert if he has ever swum with sharks and he said yes, even with great white sharks he encountered off the coast of Australia. He really enjoyed the Oceanarium and was very keen to read all the facts on display about nature and marine life.”
Robert said after the visit: “What a great day!”

Robert’s daughter Kylie Morris said: “Dad’s work took him all around the world, and his passionate research on dolphins, whales and our oceans has been used in many scientific journals.

“He was even a contender for Sir David Attenborough’s role at the BBC as he was such an enthusiastic promoter of all things in the natural world.

“Before his memory started failing, he used to tell a story of swimming through a kelp forest in South Africa and encountering a great white shark who was doing the same!

“Water was truly life for Dad, and the animals in it one of his greatest joys to study and learn from.”

Also as part of World Ocean Day, residents at Bourne View in Poole were joined by pupils from next door specialist school Langside School to create ocean-themed pictures for a display and treasure trail.

Taking place in more than 150 countries, World Ocean Day aims to celebrate and honour our shared oceans, highlighting the need for conservation and international collaboration to protect them.

The day, held annually since 2002, involves a range of partners and is co-ordinated by the World Ocean Day Youth Advisory Council.  This year’s celebration took place on Thursday, 8 June 2023.