Contact us for any enquires: welcome@hillcrofthome.co.ukwww.hillcrofthome.co.uk

Head Office: North Road, Carnforth,Lancaster LA5 9LXT: 01524 734433 F: 01524 720050

Issue 6, March 2017

Newsletter

A 10-year-old girl who helps out at ourLancaster Hillcroft Nursing Home hasbeen hailed a “young hero”.

Anna Wilson, from Heysham is a regularvisitor to the nursing home inWestbourne Road, Lancaster and onthe 14th of February she was given aspecial award by the

Directors of the company.

Her grandfather, Alan Langridge, has been aresident at the home, which specialises incaring for those with dementia, for the past twoyears.

Tracey Burrell, the Matron of the nursing homeexplained that “nothing is too much” for theyoungster.

She said: “When Anna comes in she isn’t fazed by the otherresidents, she will sit with them, talk to them and help giveout drinks at meal times.“She’s been doing it since she was about eight.”

To thank Anna for her caring nature she was presented with a special award and a bouquet of chocolateheroes.

Anna said: “It means so much to be given an award likethis. I think caring for people is very important and I enjoycoming in here and seeing everyone – they are like anextension of my family.”

Many of the residents at the Lancaster home exhibitchallenging behaviour and interaction with children canreally “brighten them up”.

Mrs Burrell said: “When Anna comes in she’s justfull of enthusiasm and the residents reallyrespond to her energy. She comes in to visit hergrandfather but she takes the time to talk to theother residents and always brings a smile to theirfaces.”

Anna’s mother, Wendy Langridge, spoke of howproud she is of her daughter and believes her

daughter will go on to care for others later in life.

She said: “Coming and visiting herGrandad here has definitely broughtout Anna’s caring side and she’s verycomfortable when visiting here.

“Receiving this award will mean a lot toher.”

Special award for schoolgirl hero

Recipe Corner Here’s a great recipe to try at home

Cheese and Onion Quiche

Have a go at puttingtogether this beautifulhome cooked recipe thatour talented chef, NigelHeywood, has beencreating in the Hillcroftkitchen.

Ingredients:

1 onion finely chopped3 eggs284ml double creamCheddar cheese1 dessert spoon of corn flour - mixedwith water

For pastry:

280g plain flour140g cold butter

Method:1. Cook onions in water for about 10

minutes, then drain.2. To make the pastry, rub flour and butter

together until crumbly. Add 8 tbsps ofcold water, then bring everythingtogether until combined, then roll out.

3. Line the quiche case with the pastry andplace a large circle of greaseproof paperon the top, fill with baking beans andblind bake for 10 mins. Remove paperand beans and cook for a further 5-10mins.

4. Beat the eggs, cream and corn flourtogether and add salt and pepper. Mixthe cheese and onions together andplace on the bottom of the quiche caseand pour over the egg mixture. Bake for20-30 minutes or until set at 200C/fan180C or Gas Mark 6.

NEWS…

All six Hillcroft homes will be going head-to-head to raisemoney for charity.

The quiz night, which will take place at the Royal Station Hotelin Carnforth, aims to raise money for Alzheimer’s Research.

The event, which has been organised by our Lancaster home,will see a team from each home battle it out on Monday 10thApril from 7.30pm.

A spokesperson from Alzheimer’s Research said: “EveryMighty Quiz raises money for vital, life changing dementiaresearch that will help future generations in the fight backagainst dementia.

“Our vision is to create a world where people are free fromthe fear, harm and heartbreak of dementia.”

With the majority of our homes looking after residents whosuffer from dementia, Alzheimer’s Research is a charity thatis close to Hillcroft’s heart.

As well as all the homes taking part, Hillcroft’s Directors willalso be supporting the event, as well as a team from HeadOffice.

One of the Directors, Louise Mattinson, said: “This is a charitythat all our homes were eager to get behind.

“The Mighty Quiz doesn’t just give us the opportunity to helpfund vital research into Alzheimer’s, but also gives us thechance to meet up with colleagues from our other homes andtake part together.”

With each person paying £5 a ticket on the night, the hope isthat Hillcroft can raise at least £300 for the charity.

The winning home will take a small trophy home in the hopethat this event could be turned into an annual one forHillcroft.

Homes going head-to-headfor Alzheimer's Research

www.hillcrofthome.co.uk

CQC inspections - “Good”

Contact us for any enquires: welcome@hillcrofthome.co.uk

Issue 6, March 2017

Lyn came to Hillcroft House as their very first resident when the home in Galgateopened in 2012.

She has always lived life to the full and is due to celebrate her 90th birthday in Julythis year - her banners are all ready and waiting.Born in Bala, South Wales in 1927, Lyn left Denbigh Grammar School alwaysknowing that she wanted to be a nurse.

She started her nurse training in Liverpool Walton Hospital during the Second World War and had theopportunity to travel to Africa with the Queen Elizabeth Colonial Nursing Service.It was there that she met her husband Stan, who was an engineer in the Merchant Navy. After two yearsthey married in Africa and Lyn was given away by a very good friend who was a Doctor also working outin Africa.

Lyn and Stan returned to England when Lyn was pregnant with her only child Heather and they went tolive with Lyn’s parents.

Family is very important to Lyn and although Heather lives down south she visits her mum regularly andspeaks on the phone to her. Lyn also has 3 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild on the way.Before becoming a resident at Hillcroft, Lyn’s hobbies included tennis and bridge, although Stan wouldhave preferred her to play golf with him, which she did for a while but badly.Lyn’s motto in life is: “Do what you want to do, persevere with your ambitions, and go for it as you onlyget one chance.”

Lyn is very content here at Hillcroft and says she couldn’t be in a better place.

The story of Llinos Wallace

The staff at two of our Hillcroft homes are overjoyedto have been rated “Good” in the latest round ofCQC inspections.

In the past couple of months Galgateand Caton Green have beeninspected by CQC - the Care QualityCommission.

The CQC are an independentregulator of health and social care inEngland and carry out inspectionsevery two years.

Both homes have received a ratingof “Good” in all five areas, whichinclude: Safe, Effective, Caring,Responsive and Well-led.

Linda Halpin, the Matron of our Caton home andAudrey Warriner, the Matron of our Galgate home

were very pleased with the results.

Linda said: “It’s all down to the staffand team work.”

In the report from the Galgate home itsaid: “People told us they were treatedwith kindness and compassion in theirday-to-day care. Relatives spokepositively about the care at HillcroftHouse.”

In the report written up for Caton, itsaid: “People received personalisedcare that was responsive to theirneeds, likes and dislikes.“The provider organised activities to

stimulate and maintain people’s social health.”

At the time this newsletter has gone to print theDirectors have voiced how proud they are of all sixhomes having a rating of “Good” from CQC.

Recommend a FriendThe first person to benefit from our Recommend a Friend scheme has been awarded £100.The scheme which was launched six months ago is to encourage staff referrals.

Fiona Firth, who is a Nurse at our Morecambe home recommended her son Will, to work atHillcroft last year.If you work for Hillcroft and know somebody who would be a great addition to our team thensimply recommend them.

Home Hero

The latest round of Home Heroes have been picked and this time there were 7 instead of 6.A special nomination was made by a relative for our Executive Head Chef, Steve Davis and because he works at allour homes we couldn’t attribute him to just one so he has also received one of our chocolate bouquets.

The other winners are: Barbara Kitchen from Carnforth, Josie Main from Caton, Liz Robinson from Morecambe,Lynn Tomlinson from Galgate, Sarah Hague from Lancaster and Szidonia Vass from Slyne.

Well done to all 7 and remember nomination forms can be found at Reception.

Staff Corner

Contact us for any enquires: welcome@hillcrofthome.co.uk www.hillcrofthome.co.uk

years and when he eventually retired from that job hewas still keen to give something back to the community.

At around a similar time he adopted a six-month-oldborder collie and a couple of years later it was suggestedhe sign Raffa up to “Pets as Therapy”.

This is a charitable organisation which offers Raffa’sservices as a meet and greet pat dog.

We are proud to say that Geoff and Raffa are part of theHillcroft family and it’salways lovely to see them.

If you happen to passthem on your visit don’thesitate to say hello andgive Raffa a bit of welldeserved fuss.

Issue 6, March 2017

A former police officer who workedin the force locally for more than 40years spends his retirement visitingnursing homes with his pet dog.

Geoff Armstrong, 72, along with hisborder collie, Raffa are regularvisitors to all six of our Hillcroft

Nursing Homes.

Raffa, who is loved and adored by many of our residentsbounds into a different Hillcroft home most days,desperately eager to play.

The idea of taking Raffa round the homes was suggestedto Geoff by a friend a number of years ago.

After retiring from the police force after four decades ofservice, Geoff worked as a manager at Age Concern for 10

Geoff & Raffa