This month's article by Lester Aldridge Solicitors in the series "Life Matters for Lymington" covers noteworthy points from the The Chancellor's Autumn Statement and helps us in planning for the end of tax year in April.
Simpkins & Co Solicitors have been successfully handling all types of personal injury compensation claims in the New Forest and further afield since 2004. Now based in Lyndhurst, their guide to this area of the law could be useful to refer to should you need it: read here.
When someone suffers a personal injury through no fault of their own, their first thoughts will probably not be about claiming a cash payout, especially if their injuries are life-changing, but more along the lines of “how am I going to get my life back on track?” Read here about the Rehab Code and how Simpkins & Co can help you if this is appropriate.
Several near misses with vehicles have been reported recently by horse riders on New Forest roads. Frequently drivers seem unaware that just as bikes might wobble or hit a bump in the road, horses can be spooked by vehicles passing too near and too fast. Pursuing a claim for injury is a long road and although Simpkins & Co will help you if it happens, the emphasis of this month's article is on commonsense practices and the Highway Code which been updated in favour of riders and pedestrians.
With the hours of darkness lengthening and driving conditions becoming tougher everywhere including New Forest roads, it’s everyone’s responsibility to make sure their own actions don’t put others at risk. Follow these tips from Brake the road safety charity, for keeping yourself and others safe on the roads - thanks to Simpkins & Co Solicitors for this article.
Family care home connections guided the progress of a happy wedding day in the New Forest.
As soon as they tied the knot at Ringwood registry office, Stuart and Hannah Judd drove straight to Colten Care’s Woodpeckers in Brockenhurst. The trip meant they could spend time in the garden with Stuart’s mum Jean, a resident at the outstanding-rated home. Because of Covid restrictions, Jean was unable to attend the ceremony but enjoyed dressing up for the newlyweds’ visit to see her and show off their wedding attire.
After they had decorated the home’s arched wooden gazebo with flowers, lights and drapes, team members served champagne all round to mark the happy couple’s arrival.
Woodpeckers’ Companionship Team Leader Jane Bunker said: “Jean was delighted to be involved in person. It was a moment of great pride for her to see her son and his beautiful bride.”
Train driver Stuart and Hannah, a chef at Colten Care’s Court Lodge home in Lymington, had known each other in the past and reconnected when Hannah was commissioned to make a cake for Stuart’s parents’ wedding anniversary.
The pair had originally planned to marry a year ago with a bigger ceremony and reception. Having postponed their special day due to the pandemic they chose exactly the same date this year to finally go ahead.
Another family connection with Colten Care is that Stuart’s daughter Suzy Judd, Jean’s granddaughter, works as a healthcare assistant at Woodpeckers.
And Hannah's mum Janet also came to Woodpeckers recently for a respite stay before returning home.
Jane added: “This was a wedding party that didn’t need to worry about a cake. With Hannah being a professional chef at Court Lodge, she was only too pleased to make her own wedding cake. Everyone declared it to be delicious.”
Try care home living for yourself or your loved one, at Colten Care's expense. All Colten Care homes are currently offering 4 weeks for the price of 3, so why not see for yourself what sets them apart - once you experience their comfort, care and companionship it's highly likely you'll want to stay longer!
Three of Colten's New Forest homes are rated Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission: Linden House specialist dementia care home in Lymington, Woodpeckers residential home in Brockenhurst and Kingfishers in New Milton.
With more than 30 years’ experience, Colten Care is an award-winning family-owned care home company. It has 21 quality care homes covering Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire and Sussex and offers a range of services spanning residential, nursing and dementia care. Seven of the homes are rated Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission and Colten Care earns a consistently high group score, currently 9.9 out of ten, on the public review site Carehome.co.uk. Based on such third-party advocacy, Colten Care is the UK’s highest-rated care home group for its size.
All homes are registered for nursing care and four are dedicated dementia care homes with Admiral Nurse support. Unlike people who receive domiciliary care in their own homes, residents in Colten Care homes have the reassurance that 24/7 nurse-led care with companionship is on hand whenever they need it. Residents live in the highest standards of accommodation, enjoying homecooked food, fresh laundry and housekeeping services, and safe, peaceful and inspiring gardens. Colten Care also supports residents to raise thousands of pounds for charities of their choice every year. Founded more than 35 years ago, Colten Care has won multiple awards for the quality of its care and remains an independent, family-owned care home provider. For more information, visit www.ColtenCare.co.uk
Colten Care operates six residential nursing and care homes in the New Forest, three of which are rated Outstanding and three of which are in Lymington: Belmore Lodge, Court Lodge and dementia specialist Linden House (Outstanding). There are also homes in Brockenhurst -Woodpeckers (Outstanding), New Milton - Kingfishers (Outstanding) and Mudeford - Avon Reach. Click on the links to find out more about each home...
Two separate celebrations took place last week in the 21 Colten Care homes across the New Forest and the south of England.
A former royal seamstress was among care home residents celebrating the Queen’s 95th birthday with games, parties and decorations.
Maureen Roberts, who lives at Colten Care’s Brook View in West Moors, Dorset, marked the special day along with fellow residents at all the provider’s 21 homes in the south.
And there was even a special request for Maureen to give her expert opinion and ‘royal seal of approval’ on a newly married member of staff’s wedding dress.
Maureen used to work for the late fashion designer Norman Hartnell, holder of royal warrants as dressmaker to both the Queen and Queen Mother.
After an apprenticeship, she worked her way up from the role of pattern cutter to being one of the embroidery mistresses on the Queen’s Coronation gown and at other significant royal events.
Brook View’s Companionship Team Leader Sarah Moule was keen to gain Maureen’s thoughts on her wedding dress given her long-standing experience with fashion and dresswear.
Sarah said: “I was due to be married a year ago but postponed the wedding because of lockdown. Simon, my partner of 15 years, and I decided we could wait another year.
“Maureen and our other residents had been listening to me talking about my dress for months and so I thought it was only right that they could all share in the moment when it eventually came.
“A few days after we tied the knot, and just before the Queen’s birthday, I wore the dress at Brook View for everyone to see.”
When Sarah appeared in the full-length white dress with fitted bodice and long train, Maureen declared: “It’s beautiful. We were all interested in seeing it and it was so lovely of Sarah to wear it for us.”
Sarah added: “Maureen had a good feel of the layers and held the veil. She and other residents asked about the material. They also gave me a little gift, a decorated horseshoe in our bridesmaid’s lilac colours, along with a handmade card. It was so joyful to receive that.”
Another royal connection at Brook View is that resident David Parsons, a specialist in stamps, personally assisted with the selling of the Queen’s own private stamp collection and has a book of stamps dating back to the time of George V, the Queen’s grandfather.
Union Jack hats and flags were the order of the day at Brook View and other Colten Care homes as residents paid their respects to the monarch at afternoon tea parties and specially organised bowls and croquet tournaments.
Meanwhile, at Outstanding-rated Kingfishers in New Milton, residents and staff were invited to pose for photos with a life-size cut-out of the Queen. As you can see!
Rose Arcellana, Kingfishers’ Companionship Team Leader, said: “Everyone really enjoyed taking selfies with her on the day.”
Meanwhile at Colten Care homes across the region, team members who care for hundreds of residents have been treated to some well-deserved praise and pampering.
In celebration of National Carers’ Week, staff in all job roles were honoured for their ‘one-team’ dedication and hard work at each of the provider’s 21 homes in Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire and West Sussex.
They enjoyed homecooked cakes and pizzas, afternoon teas, a visiting ice cream van and residents’ good wishes shared in cards and poems.
A specific role was celebrated on each day, ensuring recognition for nurses, healthcare assistants, companions, chefs, kitchen staff, waiters, housekeepers, gardeners, maintenance staff and reception administrators.
At homes such as Braemar Lodge in Salisbury and Outstanding-rated Woodpeckers in Brockenhurst, Hampshire, residents prepared, decorated and presented dozens of ‘hug me’ jars each with a signed, personalised gift tag.
Inside were sweets, lollies, tea bags, sachets of hot chocolate or coffee, tea lights and thank-you notes.
Woodpeckers resident Betty Hampton even decided to knit woollen hats for some of the jars, explaining: “I wanted to make them extra special.”
At Fernhill, Colten’s Outstanding-rated dementia care home in Longham near Bournemouth, staff in different roles were invited to a bacon and sausage bap breakfast served by colleagues from the Companionship team.
Companionship Team Leader Kate Morris said: “It was an ideal way to help our staff team feel really appreciated, especially given how hard they have worked all through the pandemic. They were very grateful.”
At Avon Cliff in Bournemouth, residents wrote heart-shaped messages of thanks on a noticeboard in the foyer.
And holding up individual word cards, residents at Bourne View in Poole spelt out a collective message in a video greeting, posted on YouTube at Celebrating Carers Week at Bourne View - YouTube. It read: “Thank you carers for your hard work and looking after us. You are amazing and fantastic. Thank you from all at Bourne View.”
The theme for Carers’ Week this year was ‘Making care visible and valued’.
Pictured are Betty Hampton, resident at Colten Care’s Outstanding-rated New Forest home Woodpeckers, who knitted woollen hats for the ‘hug me’ jars given to team members during National Carers’ Week. And below, team members with their ‘hug me’ jars.
Try care home living for yourself or your loved one, at Colten Care's expense. All Colten Care homes are currently offering 4 weeks for the price of 3, so why not see for yourself what sets them apart - once you experience their comfort, care and companionship it's highly likely you'll want to stay longer!
Three of Colten's New Forest homes are rated Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission: Linden House specialist dementia care home in Lymington, Woodpeckers residential home in Brockenhurst and Kingfishers in New Milton.
With more than 30 years’ experience, Colten Care is an award-winning family-owned care home company. It has 21 quality care homes covering Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire and Sussex and offers a range of services spanning residential, nursing and dementia care. Seven of the homes are rated Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission and Colten Care earns a consistently high group score, currently 9.9 out of ten, on the public review site Carehome.co.uk. Based on such third-party advocacy, Colten Care is the UK’s highest-rated care home group for its size.
All homes are registered for nursing care and four are dedicated dementia care homes with Admiral Nurse support. Unlike people who receive domiciliary care in their own homes, residents in Colten Care homes have the reassurance that 24/7 nurse-led care with companionship is on hand whenever they need it. Residents live in the highest standards of accommodation, enjoying homecooked food, fresh laundry and housekeeping services, and safe, peaceful and inspiring gardens. Colten Care also supports residents to raise thousands of pounds for charities of their choice every year. Founded more than 35 years ago, Colten Care has won multiple awards for the quality of its care and remains an independent, family-owned care home provider. For more information, visit www.ColtenCare.co.uk
Colten Care operates six residential nursing and care homes in the New Forest, three of which are rated Outstanding and three of which are in Lymington: Belmore Lodge, Court Lodge and dementia specialist Linden House (Outstanding). There are also homes in Brockenhurst -Woodpeckers (Outstanding), New Milton - Kingfishers (Outstanding) and Mudeford - Avon Reach. Click on the links to find out more about each home...
Dads living at Colten Care’s 21 care homes across the south were treated to some extra special attention on Father’s Day.
Beers, chocolates, goodie bags and their own choice of film viewing brought cheer all round, topped only by welcoming loved ones in for precious time together.
Family members were able to visit at all homes throughout the day under Covid guidance, creating many opportunities for conversations and gift opening.
At the twice Outstanding-rated Kingfishers in New Milton, Hampshire, there were picnics in the garden and a bridge tournament.
Resident Bill Newenham, who enjoyed a picnic and glass of wine with his son and other relatives, said: “I had a lovely time, well spent with my family. I'm a very lucky man.”
Kingfishers’ Companionship Team Leader Rose Arcellana said: “We asked the dads what they wanted to do. In the afternoon we watched the Queen's tennis final followed by football and we finished off the day with a glass of shandy to say cheers to all fathers around the globe. The day was all about them.”
Staff at Colten’s Outstanding-rated Brockenhurst home, Woodpeckers, gave out goodie bags to dads among the residents and invited them to select a film to watch on the big screen. The choice was the 1944 Judy Garland musical comedy Meet Me in St Louis.
Resident Frank Coumbe said: “I had a wonderful Father’s Day, seeing my number one daughter Sue and enjoying the goodie bag which was an unexpected gift.”
Likewise, fellow resident Peter Sheath said: “It was lovely as always to see my two children Marissa and Mario, but especially on Father’s Day. And I was most surprised and delighted in the afternoon to get this lovely treat bag from all at Woodpeckers.”
Woodpeckers’ Companionship Team Leader Jane Bunker said: “Father’s Day is a special day for families everywhere, and especially so after a year in which face-to-face contact with loved ones has been made challenging because of lockdown.”
Pictured left: Father’s Day at Colten Care’s Outstanding-rated Woodpeckers in Brockenhurst. Clockwise from top left: residents Frank Coumbe, Ivan Peters, Fred Woodford, Roger Johnson and Peter Sheath.
Pictured right from top: Kingfishers residents Bill Newenham, Gerry Bryer and Les Kemp
Try care home living for yourself or your loved one, at Colten Care's expense. All Colten Care homes are currently offering 4 weeks for the price of 3, so why not see for yourself what sets them apart - once you experience their comfort, care and companionship it's highly likely you'll want to stay longer!
Three of Colten's New Forest homes are rated Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission: Linden House specialist dementia care home in Lymington, Woodpeckers residential home in Brockenhurst and Kingfishers in New Milton.
With more than 30 years’ experience, Colten Care is an award-winning family-owned care home company. It has 21 quality care homes covering Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire and Sussex and offers a range of services spanning residential, nursing and dementia care. Seven of the homes are rated Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission and Colten Care earns a consistently high group score, currently 9.9 out of ten, on the public review site Carehome.co.uk. Based on such third-party advocacy, Colten Care is the UK’s highest-rated care home group for its size.
All homes are registered for nursing care and four are dedicated dementia care homes with Admiral Nurse support. Unlike people who receive domiciliary care in their own homes, residents in Colten Care homes have the reassurance that 24/7 nurse-led care with companionship is on hand whenever they need it. Residents live in the highest standards of accommodation, enjoying homecooked food, fresh laundry and housekeeping services, and safe, peaceful and inspiring gardens. Colten Care also supports residents to raise thousands of pounds for charities of their choice every year. Founded more than 35 years ago, Colten Care has won multiple awards for the quality of its care and remains an independent, family-owned care home provider. For more information, visit www.ColtenCare.co.uk
Colten Care operates six residential nursing and care homes in the New Forest, three of which are rated Outstanding and three of which are in Lymington: Belmore Lodge, Court Lodge and dementia specialist Linden House (Outstanding). There are also homes in Brockenhurst -Woodpeckers (Outstanding), New Milton - Kingfishers (Outstanding) and Mudeford - Avon Reach. Click on the links to find out more about each home...
Ed Note: We have reported previously on the amazing Fiona Pritchard, Colten Care's head of music and arts, who combines her exceptional musicianship with resident care and companionship of the highest standards; I personally witnessed how with such tenderness and compassion she would calm and reassure my own mother with advanced dementia in Colten Care's Linden House specialist dementia home.
Here she has really excelled herself. World Music Day was the trigger for this beautiful rendition of the Barry Manilow song One Voice, which Fiona orchestrated to begin with a solo and build to a climax of many voices and instruments in harmony. Please do watch the video, it certainly brought a tear to our eyes!
From cardio drumming to performing song and dance routines, World Music Day inspired a harmonious week of uplifting sounds for care home residents and staff. Colten Care found a host of ways to celebrate the universal joy and power of music, bringing smiles and positive vibes all round.
Residents at Belmore Lodge in Lymington stretched their arms for a fun workout drumming on exercise balls to the rhythm of the 1961 Dion hit The Wanderer.
Those living at Outstanding-rated Woodpeckers in nearby Brockenhurst took part in a closely fought musical bingo tournament featuring lyrics from favourite pop songs.
And all four of Colten’s dedicated dementia care homes got in on the act too, staging musical experiences for residents.
There was a 1950s singalong at Outstanding-rated Linden House in Lymington and a song and dance afternoon at Outstanding-rated Fernhill in Longham near Bournemouth.
It featured Companionship team members Anne Marie Knight and Megan Fletcher dressing up and performing the Judy Garland song A Couple of Swells and the signature tune from the film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
In a karaoke session, residents at St Catherines View in Winchester sang and played percussion instruments while The Aldbury in Poole held a name-that-tune competition.
Among other homes, Braemar Lodge in Salisbury invited residents to join the global dance challenge prompted by the success of the song Jerusalema by South African DJ and producer Master KG.
And while singer and Companionship team member Rebecca Osborne performed ‘a musical trip around the world’ at Outstanding-rated Amberwood House in Ferndown, residents at Avon Reach in Mudeford enjoyed a trip down memory lane with music hall songs and reminiscence.
Voices and playing from all 21 Colten homes in Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire and West Sussex are represented in a new music video celebrating their creative talent.
It features a special arrangement of Barry Manilow’s song One Voice by Colten’s Music and Arts Partner Fiona Pritchard.
Opening with a solo from Kirby Sharp, a Healthcare Assistant at Abbotts Barton in Winchester, the video includes cello, flute, violin and guitar as well as singing.
Fiona said: “Some of the singers and players may have been nervous beforehand but everyone finished their parts with laughs and smiles. There was a real sense of achievement and positivity as with all our Music Day activities. The homes came up with such a wide variety of ideas to celebrate the occasion, all supporting our residents’ wellbeing.”
Jo Gough, who lives at St Catherines View and is shown in the One Voice video in the role of conductor, said of her experience: “It’s wonderful, it’s beautiful.”
You can also watch the film on Colten Care’s YouTube channel www.YouTube.com/ColtenCare.
The top picture is the cardio drumming at Belmore Lodge in Lymington
The lower picture is of singing and dancing along to Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at Outstanding-rated Fernhill
Try care home living for yourself or your loved one, at Colten Care's expense. All Colten Care homes are currently offering 4 weeks for the price of 3, so why not see for yourself what sets them apart - once you experience their comfort, care and companionship it's highly likely you'll want to stay longer!
Three of Colten's New Forest homes are rated Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission: Linden House specialist dementia care home in Lymington, Woodpeckers residential home in Brockenhurst and Kingfishers in New Milton.
With more than 30 years’ experience, Colten Care is an award-winning family-owned care home company. It has 21 quality care homes covering Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire and Sussex and offers a range of services spanning residential, nursing and dementia care. Seven of the homes are rated Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission and Colten Care earns a consistently high group score, currently 9.9 out of ten, on the public review site Carehome.co.uk. Based on such third-party advocacy, Colten Care is the UK’s highest-rated care home group for its size.
All homes are registered for nursing care and four are dedicated dementia care homes with Admiral Nurse support. Unlike people who receive domiciliary care in their own homes, residents in Colten Care homes have the reassurance that 24/7 nurse-led care with companionship is on hand whenever they need it. Residents live in the highest standards of accommodation, enjoying homecooked food, fresh laundry and housekeeping services, and safe, peaceful and inspiring gardens. Colten Care also supports residents to raise thousands of pounds for charities of their choice every year. Founded more than 35 years ago, Colten Care has won multiple awards for the quality of its care and remains an independent, family-owned care home provider. For more information, visit www.ColtenCare.co.uk
Colten Care operates six residential nursing and care homes in the New Forest, three of which are rated Outstanding and three of which are in Lymington: Belmore Lodge, Court Lodge and dementia specialist Linden House (Outstanding). There are also homes in Brockenhurst -Woodpeckers (Outstanding), New Milton - Kingfishers (Outstanding) and Mudeford - Avon Reach. Click on the links to find out more about each home...
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