Newsletter June 2017

Newsletter

Issue 7, June 2017

Head Office: North Road, Carnforth, Lancaster LA5 9LX T: 01524 734433 F: 01524 720050 Residential unit opens its doors Here at Hillcroft we are proud to announce the news but surrounded by the beautiful Lancashire that we are now expanding into residential care. countryside. With over 25 years of experience in nursing care and “With an aging population, there needs to be more 6 homes all located in the local area, the directors felt options available to people when they can no longer it was time to branch out into another type of service. stay at home. Offering residential care is an exciting We are trying to defy the national trend which has new step for us at Hillcroft and one we feel confident unfortunately seen many care homes close their doors we can deliver to the highest standard.” over the past year. The expansion follows Age UK estimating that more The expansion, which is at our Galgate home began than a million older people in England have been last year. living with unmet social care needs, such as not receiving assistance with bathing and dressing. The new unit, which opened earlier this month, is housed in a grade II listed building which has been The new unit at Galgate is separate from the nursing tastefully converted to offer the ideal environment for home and the care that will be provided will include those who need a bit of extra help with day-to-day assistance with meals, personal care and taking tasks. medication. Gill Reynolds, one of the Directors at Hillcroft said: It is important to us that no body feels deprived of “Hillcroft House in Galgate is the perfect location for their independence and that Hillcroft House feels those who need long-term care and would prefer to like their home. stay in a residential setting. If you would like to know more about the residential “Residents needs will be met with dignity and respect care we offer, then don’t hesitate to get in touch, in an environment which will not only be homely either via our website or on 01524 751691.

Contact us for any enquires: [email protected] www.hillcrofthome.co.uk Recipe Corner NEWS… Here’s a great recipe to try at home Butterfly Fairy Cakes

Have a go at putting together this beautiful home cooked recipe that our talented chef, Natalie Dewhurst, has been creating in the Hillcroft kitchen.

Ingredients: 125g caster sugar United Against Dementia 125g margarine Staff from all six of our nursing homes went head to head to beat 2 eggs dementia at a charity event that raised more than £500. 125 self-raising flour Everyone taking part, met up at the Royal Station Hotel in Carnforth on Monday April 10 for The Mighty Quiz organised by For butter cream: Alzheimer’s Research. The night saw each home battle it out, 140g margarine round after round, in a bid to raise as much money as possible 280g icing sugar for a charity Hillcroft is proud to support. Method: With the majority of the Hillcroft homes looking after residents 1. Cream margarine and butter until who suffer from dementia, it was decided that there couldn’t soft and creamy, add eggs and mix be a more fitting event to get behind. Fourteen teams took part again. and Hillcroft Nursing Homes is proud to be handing over a cheque for £501 to Alzheimer’s Research. 2. Fold flour into mixture and stir until light and fluffy. Gillian Edwards North West Regional Fundraising Officer at 3. Once done, pipe mixture into cake Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “We’re so grateful to Hillcroft cases. Fill ¾ full. Nursing Homes for supporting Alzheimer’s Research UK by going 4. Place into oven at 180C for 25-35 head to head to defeat dementia in Alzheimer’s Research UK minutes (until golden) then allow to National Mighty Quiz. cool. “Dementia affects a huge proportion of the population – one in 5. Cream icing sugar and margarine. three people over 65 in the UK will die with some form of the 6. Once cakes are cool, cut a small hole condition. Fantastic fundraising efforts like this will help bring into the middle and add the butter us closer to finding a cure for the brain diseases that cause cream. dementia.” 7. Cut the round piece of cake in half, Raising money for charity isn’t a first for Hillcroft but getting the turn upside down and place on top. staff from all six homes together was. The event was originally 8. Dust with icing sugar to finish. planned by the staff from the Lancaster home and it didn’t take them long to get everybody signed up. The quiz champions of the night were Karina Standing, Joyce White, Savannah Preston and Lisa Nicholls from Carnforth. Louise Mattinson, one of the directors at Hillcroft Nursing Home, said: “This is a charity that all our homes were eager to get behind. The Mighty Quiz doesn’t just give us the opportunity to help fund vital research into Alzheimer’s, but also gives us the chance to meet up with colleagues from our other homes and unite against dementia.” Issue 7, June 2017 The story of Joan North

Born in Morecambe in 1939, Joan has lived a colourful life as a photographer for a local newspaper in Morecambe for most of her life. When she was a child she lived in Scale Hall with her parents, as an only child. She attended Skerton Girls Secondary Modern before it was a co-ed school where she excelled in Art and Geography and it wasn’t long until she realised she had a passion for photography. When she left school, she started work at The Visitor in Victoria Street, Morecambe as a junior photographer specialising in fairs, advertising features and eventually weddings. She was an apprentice photographer until she was 25 which was when she became fully qualified, making her the only female photographer in the North West, with only one other being in London. She met her husband, Jim in 1959 when he was doing his National Service and was stationed at Halton Army Camp. They married in 1962 and went to live in Portsmouth where they had 2 girls. They stayed in Portsmouth for about 3 years and then returned to Morecambe, where Joan resumed her career back at The Visitor. She worked there until she retired in 2002. Over the years, Joan has taken many photographs, some of which she has donated to our Morecambe Hillcroft home, where the staff are constructing a picture wall of Morecambe in its hey-day. Celebrating the BIG 100!

A great-grandmother was close to tears as She proudly opened her her family and friends birthday card from The Queen gathered to celebrate and enjoyed a slice of cake her 100th birthday. along with everyone else who attended. Mary Aspden, a resident at our Galgate Mrs Aspden has been a home was resident at Hillcroft House for overwhelmed with how many people showed up 10 months. As well as being a to mark the special occasion on mother-of-four, she is Wednesday May 10. also a grandmother- of-eight and a great-grandmother of six. Celebrations began when Mrs Aspden was greeted with a sing-song of Described by her daughter, Anne, as a very “Happy Birthday” as her daughter family-orientated woman, Mrs Aspden is escorted her into the lounge at known for her sense of humour and loves Hillcroft House. “a good gossip”. Much to her surprise she was greeted by a crowd Audrey Warriner, the Matron at Hillcroft of people, all determined to make a fuss out of her House, said: “Mary has been a pleasure to have here on her 100th birthday. and all the staff dote on her. She will always have a giggle with you and greet you with a kiss on the cheek.” Contact us for any enquires: [email protected] www.hillcrofthome.co.uk Staff Corner Issue 7, June 2017 After launching Recommend a Friend last year we have now been able to reward the staff members who have helped grow our ever-expanding team.

In May alone we have had 3 members of staff receive £100 for recommending their hard-working Congratulations to those friends. who have completed The first to benefit from the scheme was Natalie their Care Certificates Dewhurst, who recommended her friend, Trevor Sophie Yost Rickard. Next it was Leanne Ashworth who recommended her sister, Sarah and last but not least Elizabeth Bowker it was Steven Nixon who recommended his friend Tracey Jackson Howard McCall. Dominika Zajac Louise Plowden A big well done to them all and remember if you recommend a friend and they have completed 6 Chermayne Beswick months satisfactory service, we will reward you with Melody Younger £100 to say thank you. Howard McCall Natasha Robinson Everyone loves a cupcake!

A fantastic effort was made by the staff at our Caton the tasty treats displayed at Reception but everyone who Green home for Cupcake Day. walked through Caton’s front door could hardly resist the cupcakes on offer - everyone generously donating of The national fundraising campaign is led by course. Alzheimer’s Society and we’re proud to say that within just a couple of hours on Thursday 15th June, £140 was Caton wasn’t the only home taking part in the fundraising raised by Hillcroft Caton. day as cupcakes were also on sale at our Carnforth and Lancaster homes. Organising the day was Jess Clegg, our receptionist and she managed to get staff and families on board who If you were unable to buy one of our delicious cupcakes were more than happy to bake the cupcakes. but would still like to make a donation to Alzheimer’s Society then please go online and visit Not only were staff queuing up to get their hands on https://cupcakeday.alzheimers.org.uk/donate