Guild Care Blog

Some people run marathons, climb mountains or jump out of aeroplanes… we'll be flipping pancakes in Worthing town centre on a freezing Saturday in February!

 

The Pancake Olympics take place on Saturday 18th February 2012 in Montague Street, Worthing and we'll be doing our best to win the prestigous Golden Frying Pan, whilst raising funds for Guild Care's Time Out for Carers, which offers short respite breaks for people with dementia and their carers.

 

 

In 2012 we need to raise £30,000 for Time Out for Carers so please dig deep and support us through Just Giving

Today we have advertised 9 new volunteer opportunities at Guild Care. These vary from helping with a new bookstall  to a Hair and Beauty Therapy Assistant. 

Some of the roles require just an hour on 3 days a week while others are just occasional. 

There are volunteer opportunities for strong healthy men and people who could take a craft session or help someone to access the internet. 

For more details see the full list

Yesterday, was a very sad day in the life of our oldest care home Ashmount. During a series of planned meetings residents, relatives, staff and volunteers were told that the home would be closing.

CEO, Suzanne Millard explained that following a survey of remedial works by Guild Care's maintenance department and a recent review by the West Sussex Fire Service, the Trustees regretfully took a very difficult decision to close Ashmount earlier than expected.

Residents at Ashmount will be assisted to move into one of Guild Care's other homes in Worthing and staff will be offered positions within our other services.

Debbie Dollner, Operations Director (Care Homes) said 'the reason for the closure is that we are unable to guarantee continued delivery of the quality of service our residents have a right to expect at Ashmount. In particular we have a duty of care to our residents and wish to avoid an emergency closure situation arising from a serious failure of equipment such as the lift or the fabric of the building such as the roof.'

Ashmount opened as a care home in 1963 and we have a very committed and dedicated staff team at the home. Whilst everyone was clearly upset after the meetings yesterday, the offer of alternative accommodation and employment has greatly relieved people's fears and will make the process far less stressful.

The 6th ‘Not the New Years Eve’ fundraising ball took place at Worthing Golf Club on Saturday 7 January with over 100 guests raising around £5,000 which will go towards a new service for people with dementia, their carers, family and friends.

Tables were booked by Worthing companies and included Southern Water, Carpenter Box and Spofforths. On the night guests bid for auction prizes that included a private box in the 02 Arena; lunch at the House of Commons with Worthing M.P., Sir Peter Bottomley; sporting tickets at Stamford Bridge, the Amex Stadium, the Oval and Twickenham. Swing singer, Lee Everett entertained and a fun casino was great attraction.

Organisers, Peter Kennard and Derek Steel, two of our most dedicated supporters and fundraisers, were extremely pleased with the evening. Peter said ‘Everyone really enjoyed themselves and once again we would like to thank everyone who kindly donated prizes as well as the generous guests who bid for them.’ 

Rachael Duke, our Fundraising Manager said ‘Many thanks to Peter and Derek for their organisational skills. The monies raised will support Time Out Together in its first year which enables couples experiencing dementia to socialise together again. We would like to thank all the companies who attended for their generous support.’

Wannop Fox Staffurth and Bray presented us with a cheque for £401.23 from their Christmas Pamper Evening and Bazaar held on 24 November at Barneys, Portland Road, Worthing.

The evening included a prize raffle and stalls from local businesses; Cheeky Top Toys, The Perfume Studio, Phoenix Trading, Debbie Stevens Wellbeing and Grapes.  The event was well attended by clients of Wannop Fox Staffurth & Bray and Mandy Tourle partner at the firm said ‘We are most pleased at the excellent turn out to the event and the generous contributions made by the stall holders and the purchase of raffle tickets.  All of us involved had a very enjoyable time organising the event and we are so glad it was a success.’

This is the first time that the company has held an event in aid of Guild Care and we are gremendously thankful for their stirling efforts and to the companies and clients who supported the evening. The proceeds raised will go towards providing much needed support for Worthing’s older people during the winter months'.

Last Monday our Healthy Living Centre 'Sing for your Life' group appeared on Channel 5's 'Celebrity Wish List.'

 

It was the second appearance for George as his story had featured in episode 4 when celebrity Sheree Murphy went on a musical treasure hunt for charity 'Sing for your Life.'

 

We were approached by the charity to support them with the documentary to raise the profile of the excellent work they do improving the health and wellbeing of older people through song. The Healthy Living Centre was one of the first Silver Songs clubs in West Sussex in 2007 and following on from that we worked with their now Programme Director, Adrian Bawtree on Guild Care's 75th Anniversary concert 'Live and Kicking'.

 

George was interviewed about his role as carer to his wife who had dementia and what they had both gained from attending Silver Songs sessions. This was all edited into an episode of Celebrity Wish List with Sheree Murphy who dashed around the countryside trying to obtain instruments, keyboards and a special music box. Sheree met George to hear about the difference 'Sing for your Life' sessions made  with his wife and mentioned that he would love to meet the charity’s founder Stuart to thank him.

 

This was all arranged at Seaford and the programme culminated in Stuart and Adrian being surprised with the equipment that Sherree had acquired and a new website for the charity.

 

Tina Cook, Guild Care's Patron and Olympic Gold Medallist presented Guild Care's staff awards to the delight of everyone concerned.  Read the full story on our news item.

Residents and staff at Irene House, Parkfield Road, Worthing celebrated the 35th Anniversary of the home being opened in 1970s style.

Staff dressed in zany colourful bell-bottomed outfits and crazy wigs much to the delight of residents. It was a great atmosphere and those heady days of the 70s were recaptured with live music, dancing and a party buffet.

Irene House was Guild Care’s fifth residential home following a surprise gift from a generous benefactor, Mr Tom Gowland, who wished to set up a worthwhile memorial to his wife who died in 1966.

The property was originally built in 1924 as a private home before it became known as Marlposts. The home had numerous changes over the years but on 26 September 1975 Mr Gowland laid the foundation stone for the extension. The home officially opened under Guild Care in October 1976.

Mr Gowland spent his last couple of years at Irene House and, as requested, he was treated like all the other residents even as far as paying for his own care.

West Sussex County Council launched an innovative new online service to provide advice and information on care funding on 19 October.

 

The new service called Carewise, was developed by the County Council, the Society of Later Life Advisors (SOLLA), Age UK (West Sussex) and the West Sussex Forum (of which Guild Care is a member) to signpost older people, their families and representatives to sources of specialist and trusted information about the different care and funding options available.

The website can be reached through www.westsussex.gov.uk/carewise

Specialist Care Funding Advisers have been selected and endorsed by Carewise in whom people can have the utmost confidence. Advisors have been accredited by SOLLA (a not-for-profit consumer facing organisation), and in addition are required to be ~

• Approved by Trading Standards ‘Buy with Confidence’ scheme
• Have an enhanced Criminal Records Bureau check
• Complete a Safeguarding Adults-at-Risk training course

At our AGM last night, Chief Executive Suzanne Millard announced Guild Care’s plans for a new purpose built care home for the community of Worthing. The 84 bed home (all with en suite facilities) will support Worthing’s increasing number of older people in need of  residential dementia care through to highly specialised end-of-life nursing care.  We also also plan to incorporate into the home in-house community space for respite day care services for dementia sufferers. For more details read our news report.

Earlier in the day service users from the Healthy Living Centre and Lovett  were filmed during a singing class taken by Adrian Bawtree of Sing-for-Your-Life. The programme entitled ‘Celebrity Wish List’ is due to be aired in November on Channel 5.

Find out more about our charity’s by reading our Annual Review available from our Head Office at Methold House, North Street, Worthing or our care homes and charity shops. Alternatively we are happy to send you a copy. Please ring 01903 529779.