It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Preparations are well underway here (we like to start early!) so diaries at the ready for all our festive events. But first, an Autumn update...
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There was country music and singers for International Music Day. We have enjoyed visits from Libby of Musical Moments and a beautiful afternoon of singing from Miss Grace. Plus pub quizzes, lots of games and exercise with Gunni. There has been poetry, where residents made an acrostic poem about Peace. And pamper time for our ladies in our nail spa and our popular “On this day in history”.
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We hosted a tremendous Diwali celebration. Our home was beautifully decorated, with tables a riot of colour for an Indian feast. Some fabulous saris were worn by our team and carers showed residents their amazing Indian dancing. We were overwhelmed by the support of visiting family and friends. It really was a celebration of light and love. One person said “What a lovely afternoon, a good time was had by all, great food, great atmosphere, well done our fabulous entertainment lady Sarah. Love it the way everyone gets involved, what a beautiful place for all the lovely residents of Abberton Manor to be looked after. Full of praise and thanks.”
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We have been out in the garden as much as possible; a brisk stroll in the morning to a lovely bench for a natter can be just the ticket.
We are having a Ramble around the Grounds as part of a Countryfile initiative for Children in Need to encourage more residents into our beautiful garden.
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We have celebrated lots of birthdays and we make the day as special as possible with personalised touches. We decorated the lounge for Gwen’s 80th birthday. Our chefs made Elizabeth’s favourite lemon posset and homemade shortbread for her big day. And for Jennifer’s birthday they made a Victoria sponge cake.
We also arranged a lovely lunch for a resident and her daughter, who was visiting from a long way away. She said “It doesn't matter how old my children get they will always be my babies, even though they have children and grand-children of their own".
Plus there was a wedding to celebrate for Shirley. She was able with the marvels of technology, to watch her granddaughter getting married.
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Thank you to everyone who contributed to our Harvest Festival collection. We gave all the goodies to our local primary school to be distributed to families in need. And thank you to Rev Terry Walker for leading us in our Harvest Festival celebrations.
Residents painted ceramic pumpkins and together with other crafting, flowers and foliage, made a fabulous harvest festival display.
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This is the first year our residents have taken part in the Operation Christmas Child Appeal. Their aim was to wrap and pack with gifts and toiletries a box for a girl and a box for a boy, so less fortunate children have little treats to open at Christmas time. Thanks to the generosity of our Abberton family and friends, residents have put together 8 boxes. It has given residents much pleasure to be involved with this project.
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November and December events and activities
We have a weekly diary with includes regular activities such as music appreciation, film club, gardening club, flower arranging, baking, salon and pampering time, Jo our hair dresser visits every Wednesday, Church services, art and crafts, sensory therapy, poetry group, fitness sessions with Kiddleydivey and one to one time.
Here is a snapshot of some of our events:
November:
9th November: Our Remembrance Service lead by Rev Terry Walker at 2.30pm
14th November: We are raising money for Children in Need with our Abberton Bake Sale and our Ramble around the Grounds.
December:
1st December: Our Christmas Lights switch on 3-4pm, with special guests: The Colchester Brass Band. There will be refreshments and mince pies. Family and friends are welcome, but please let us know so we have an idea of numbers.
2nd December: Singer Carly from 2.30-3.30pm
3rd December: Langenhoe School Carols from 2-3pm
6th December: Christmas Quiz 2.30pm
10th December: Christmas wreath making 2.30pm
12th December: Christmas Jumper Day when we shall be getting into the festive spirit and fundraising for local charities. Also our advent service with Rev Terry at 2.30pm
16th December: Decorating our Christmas trees. We do have a lot of rooms to decorate at Abberton! So if you have any unwanted artificial Christmas trees, please do send them our way!
25th December: Christmas dinner in the drawing room
27th December: Residents meeting 2.30pm
31st December: NYE party 2.30pm
Activities focus around our Heritage Manor ethos:
"You don’t stop having fun when you get old…..
You get old when you stop having fun"
Family and friends are always welcome. For a full calendar of events, please contact our Abberton Lifestyle and Wellbeing lead Sarah, AbbertonWellbeing@heritagemanor.co.uk
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Heritage Manor is ending the year on a high, receiving 10 awards at The Great British Care Awards 2024. For a second year, we have been highly commended in the Care Employer Category and other individual members of staff were also regional finalists or winners in their categories. Wonderful recognition of our hard work and dedication to providing excellent care.
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“Firstly, a huge congratulations to our many winners at The Great British Care Awards 2024, from Best Chef to Best Care Newcomer, along with all of our Finalists. Very pleasing to see a lot of hard work being rewarded.
The recent Government budget was a huge blow to the care sector. Once again there was no planned support for the sector in the Chancellors speech and no recognition of the need to invest in social care. The National Care Association have said: “The promise of £600 million via the Local Authority route will make little impact to the current £8.4 billion black hole in the social care budgets. The reality is that when this is divided into the children, younger adults and older people parts of the sector, it will make a very small ripple….. It is really important to note that for each staff member employed earning more than £416 per week, the cost of employing them will now increase by £615 per annum.”
I am afraid that we will be seeing another significant increase to our costs in April, and I fear that some care operators will now struggle to continue."
Simon Patient, Managing Director of Heritage Manor
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In response to the budget, Nadra Ahmed CBE and Ian Turner OBE, Executive Co-Chairs of National Care Association said:
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With the run up to Christmas, it is a wonderful time to volunteer. Whether you are looking for work experience, to make new friends, learn new skills, share your hobbies, or to have a ball with our residents and team, you would be very welcome.
Please do give us a call. 01206 735590
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We try to show our activities on our Facebook page. You can click the link below, and there is also a link to our website. Take a look and share in the fun times and memory making.
With best wishes for a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Abberton Team.
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