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Category: Poems
The Parkland Poets Lyn, Bekki and Rhianne have written another lovely poem to celebrate the Parkland House Outstanding rating from CQC.
Thank you very much for sharing with us and we would love for you to share with friends and family.
PCH Marketing & Admin Coordinator, Nikita Morgan on Libraries Week 2018
Do we make the most out of our library services?
Something I was questioned about at a recent Literacy meeting at my daughter’s school to help develop her reading and writing skills. It got me thinking do we really make the most of visiting our local libraries and using the resources available to all of us? And how can I help bring the library experience to our homes?
As part of learning from a young age, we are encouraged to read and be read to as much as possible and as it has been regularly publicized, continuing to read books boosts our mental well-being.
As we focus on Libraries Week we are also helping raise awareness of World Mental Health Day on Wednesday 10th October. As part of everyday care in our homes, our staff make a huge effort to initiate positive thinking from residents. Sometimes by simply starting a conversation & giving positive comments or feedback. Some staff will pick up a book or newspaper to read with a resident so they can still enjoy the experience.
Books have always been a part of our lives and routines at home and often provide an escape from the stresses of every day life. Many or our residents enjoy their weekly or monthly subscriptions to their favourite newspaper or magazines. Our homes will always have a selection of novels to read in the lounges which are available to everyone. It is great to see them sharing the news or story with others and members of staff, it goes to show it is a great form of communication and social interaction.
Some of our homes are lucky to be in areas close to a local library and have in the past had the library visit the home. As part of Libraries Week, we are working with our activity staff to arrange visits with residents to their local libraries and include a coffee stop at the library café if available. Visiting a library would have been a weekly occurrence for some of our residents and we would like to help re-create this for them.
We are always happy to hear from volunteers who perhaps would like to spend some time reading with residents, please do get in touch. If you have any books you would like to donate, do let us know, they will always be greatly appreciated in the homes.
Happy Libraries Week and happy World Mental Health Day!
This year National Poetry Day falls on Thursday 4th October 2018 and the theme is ‘Change’. It was founded in 1994 by charity Forward Arts Foundation, who like to celebrate the importance and excellence of things poetry.
National Poetry Day is an annual celebration that is set to inspire as many people in the UK as possible and grow their audience. The day is supported by organisations such as the BBC, the Royal Mail and leading publishers, booksellers, libraries and schools.
You can get involved by visiting their website https://nationalpoetryday.co.uk/about-npd/ or by joining in the campaign on social media using the hashtag #NationalPoetryDay to share how you will be celebrating the day. Don’t forget to tag us @PeninsulaCare1 (Twitter) or @PeninsulaCareHome (Facebook) as we would love to share your love of poetry.
We would love to take this opportunity to share with you some of our budding writers, The Parkland Poets, who have produced three truly inspirational poems based on their experience and training with Dementia. You can find their videos on our Peninsula Care Home You Tube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCakJ-IEXqQ2yAF1lrT5GU2Q
Happy National Poetry Day for tomorrow!
Peninsula Care Homes would like to wish everyone a lovely Easter and invites you to join in our Easter celebrations in the Homes.
We thought this to be a great opportunity to share with you again The Parkland Poets ‘Easter Time’ poem, a touching poem to reflect on Easter time in the homes.
Easter at Peninsula is a special time,
To over indulge in chocolate and wine,
We’ll sing and dance along to the Easter parade,
While drinking a sherry and lemonade.
We will help residents to make an Easter bonnet,
And they will choose what they want upon it.
They may choose a rose or a love bird two,
With a wide floppy brim to keep off the dew.
Everyone loves visits from family and friends,
But Easter time is not where it ends,
We will all celebrate with yummy food,
simnel cake, hot cross buns and chocolate too.
We will still remember why Easter is here,
And let residents know to us they are very dear,
We’ll celebrate the re birth of Christ,
And we will make the day for everyone ever so nice.
by our lovely Parkland Poets
This year National Poetry Day falls on Thursday 28th September 2017 and the theme is ‘Freedom’. It was founded in 1994 by charity Forward Arts Foundation, who like to celebrate the importance and excellence of things poetry.
National Poetry Day is an annual celebration that is set to inspire as many people in the UK as possible and grow their audience. The day is supported by organisations such as the BBC, the Royal Mail and leading publishers, booksellers, libraries and schools.
You can get involved by visiting their website https://nationalpoetryday.co.uk/about-npd/ or by joining in the campaign on social media using the hashtag #NationalPoetryDay to share how you will be celebrating the day. Don’t forget to tag us @PeninsulaCare1 (Twitter) or @PeninsulaCareHome (Facebook) as we would love to share your love of poetry.
We would love to take this opportunity to share with you some of our budding writers, The Parkland Poets, who have produced three truly inspirational poems based on their experience and training with Dementia. You can find their videos on our Peninsula Care Home You Tube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCakJ-IEXqQ2yAF1lrT5GU2Q
Happy National Poetry Day for tomorrow!
Those lovely Parkland Poets have done it again with another very moving poem about their understanding of dementia.
Walking up the down staircase with dementia.
My life hadn’t ended,
When my dementia descended,
I felt confused when it came,
But my passion for life remains the same.
Even though my life has changed.
I re-live sad moments, comfort me when these times come,
Remind me of the good times of when I had so much fun,
So if I have a sad moment and cry,
I can’t help it, even if I try.
So when I can’t understand,
Sit with me and hold my hand.
Dementia sometimes makes me feel confused and unwell,
I get frustrated with myself when I don’t remember everything you tell,
Occupy me with things to do,
This will remind me that I’m still a person too.
Having dementia is like re reading a book,
You’re with me on this chapter but there’s many more, just take a look.
Help me to remember with pictures of family and friends,
I may have forgotten them, but the love never ends.
Even though this chapter in my life is unclear,
I know you’ll help me through and take away the fear
Walking up the down staircase each and every day,
Makes it better when you’re here showing me the way,
Even thought my youth has left and gone,
I still feel young and will till my times done.
Life with dementia is a different chapter,
But I know I’ll get through this chapter with my new family.
Written by Rhianne, Bekki and Lyn “The Parkland Poets”
Instacare systems are our local independent company who support our nurse call system. They are able to supply, install and commission new systems and service existing systems.
They installed a new system for us at Parkland House and have been servicing our other homes since 2015.
Director of Instacare, Gail, has recently written an article about “The Importance of Silent Call Bells”.
Extensive studies carried out in dementia care show that sufferers are extremely sensitive to their surroundings with several common environmental triggers. One of the most distinct contributor to high levels of stress and upset, is noise. So, creating an environment that is free of repetitive, high volume noise is essential if you are striving to create a calm and happy environment for your dementia residents.
A study published by the University of Stirling, found that call bell noise is one of the most common causes of stress to dementia patients, suggesting “fitting call alarms which alert nurses but do not resonate throughout the whole building. Alarms can be particularly disconcerting as they may encourage the person with dementia to respond or investigate the sound. At the very least the loss of sleep will compromise a person’s ability to concentrate. It can affect their attention levels and capacity to cope, as well as being detrimental to their overall state of wellbeing. Personal paging systems are preferable to bells and buzzers.”
Louise Arnold of Peninsula Care Homes decided to do just that. InstaCare Systems installed the BlueBell paging system in their Exeter home. Louise said “the change at the home was immediate, by eliminating the intrusive ringing of bells, instead now we can hear music, conversations and laughter”.
So, let InstaCare Systems turn off the call bell noise in your home and create a silent nurse call system. You don’t even need to replace your existing system to achieve it! We have access to all the major paging brands such as Scope and CST, plus we can supply the unique BlueBell pager which has many additional benefits including being waterproof, built in staff ID, exit alarm and is incredibly robust. We can integrate any paging system with any call bell system, so there’s no need to replace your existing asset.
Why not give us a call today and let us help you work out the best solution for your home.
Tel: 01392 877267 Email: info@instacaresystems.co.uk Web: http://www.instacaresystems.co.uk
Following the success of their Christmas and Easter message, the Parkland House poets have surprised us again with another touching poem reflecting the removal of wearing a uniform in the care home.
This is your home, and we’d like to welcome you,
We’ll open our arms and guide you,
Now this is your home, we’ll help you to embrace,
We’ll ensure you have your own space.
We are all here together to share the day,
We will help the bad days fade away,
Nothing is more important than wearing a smile,
To provide that extra mile.
Uniforms we used were once adorned,
Now we have been reformed.
No longer do we wear the barrier that separates us,
Wearing our smiles and our individuality is a must.
Now the uniforms have gone,
As carers we feel re-born,
We can unite as one,
As the uniforms are done.
Uniforms say to dementia you are ill and different from me,
Now our own clothing says we are a part of your family,
Everyone likes our bright colours we wear,
It makes them smile, comment and stare.
The uniforms gave a clinical air,
Now our clothing says we are fair,
We still approach with respect and care,
We are a part of the family that’s always there.
By Rhianne, Bekki, Lyn, Ann
Quote – “As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same”
Nelson Mandela.
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