Here at Willowdene Care Home on Lizards Lane in Sedgefield we were delighted to celebrate one of our resident's birthdays this week.  Ruth, was delighted to have a socially distanced visit from her family and catch up and enjoy some cake with them. We hope you had a brilliant birthday Ruth.

At Buckingham House we have redesigned one of our courtyards to make it more sensory and dementia friendly. 

Our residents love how it has evolved and it's now one of the favourite outdoor spaces. 

At Buckingham House we are excited to start welcoming visits from family and friends after such a long time. We are taking things slowly and to ensure we continue to protect our residents and staff team we are hosting visits in the garden for now.

One of our first visitors sent us a lovely thank you.

"I can not believe I visited! So good to see Ma looking so healthy - & tanned! It was so well done and organised & the gardens look lovely, a wonderful place to meet - thanks so very much everyone."

It was Rocco's first birthday and of course we couldn't resist making a fuss of him.

Rocco is a golden Labrador and spends a lot of time at Princess Lodge as he belongs to the home manager Rares. He has been visiting since he was a puppy and has been a source of delight over the past few months with his cheeky attitude and antics. He's a popular member of the Princess Lodge team.

Thank you to Rose for sending in the lovely poem, The Invisible Enemy by Rose Rodger.

Rose worked at Abingdon Court and has recently left to start a new career. We wish you all the best in your new role. 

The Invisible Enemy by Rose Rodger..docx

On Friday the 29th of April the residents enjoyed a drinks party in the garden at The Moors. We had a cocktail trolley made up with bright colours and flowers, a number of drinks were available with little umbrellas and flower garlands for all the resident's. Staff did the Hawaiian hula dance and music was played. 

A fantastic day in the sun and everyone had a wonderful time. 

Thank you Lorraine residents at Willow Bank are enjoying her weekly music still even though she can't visit at this time.

Lorraine used to come along to the home weekly to sing for residents at Willow Bank and has kindly recorded herself singing the songs the residents  enjoy and has sent them via email, so we can play them around the home as often as we like.  Musical afternoon are a regular event at Willow Bank with everyone joining in playing the tambourine and maracas. 

The residents  at  Willow Bank  have been busy enjoying the hot weather we have had over the lockdown period, we have taken advantage of the warm weather and have done many of our activities outside including bingo, arts and crafts and plant potting with ice cream and ice lollies, which the residents have enjoyed.

We have also set up Skype calls for the families to speak with their loved ones on a weekly basis which the families really appreciate as they can not come into the home at this time. 

The children at Gawthorpe School Academy have sent in letters, pictures and cards wishing us well and letting residents at Croft House know they are thinking of them.

The children came into our home every fortnight through term time to sing and chat with residents and everyone is missing their visits.

Thank you for all the thoughtful gifts they are now all displayed in our reception area. 

At Belvoir Vale we had a fantastic day for our residents. Jayne Darling came to sing to our residents and everyone enjoyed a buffet of high tea with a glass of Pimms. 

All the staff and residents had a fantastic afternoon and already looking forward to the next event.