Laurel Bank Care Home

Titanic Week

The residents, staff and relatives at Laurel Bank have recently been commemorating the launch of the Titanic with film viewings, talks and a craft session during which a replica of the Titanic was built.The week culminated in an evening meal to which residents were invited to bring along a guest or two. Guests were greeted at the dining room door by staff dressed as waitresses, a wine waiter offering champagne and a porter with a baggage trolley handing out 'boarding passes'. The passes were actually biographies of individual survivors of the disaster. The waitresses showed everyone to their tables, which were decorated with yellow roses and a menu with various Titanic memorabilia for the guests to keep. The menu was loosely based on that from the second class dining room on the Titanic and included poached salmon, turkey escalopes and chocolate profiteroles with a biscuit topping shaped as a sail. This was all prepared by our chef, Michael Watts,and his apprentice, Lee Bousfield.

Visit to Carnforth Station for a Brief Encounter

Please see a photo of residents who recently enjoyed a visit to Carnforth Station, the location of the shooting of the film 'Brief Encounter'. They toured The Visitors Centre and watched a short film on the making of the 'Brief Encounter' before having lovely refreshments in the cafeteria. They are pictured on the platform under the famous clock which features prominently in the film.

Al Redford's Bird Boxes!

Please find a photo of one of our residents, Al Redford, who has raised £150 for our residents by making and selling bird boxes to staff and visitors. Al has been a resident at Laurel Bank since June 2010. He likes to keep busy and gets involved with various activities. His latest project is making bird boxes. He has set up the conservatory up with wood and equipment and has been designing and making them. They have been a great success, particularly at the Easter Family Fun Day. Visitors to the home enjoy seeing him working and are very enthusiastic about Al. Encouraging residents to carry on with activities they have previously enjoyed, or encouraging them to try new things is important. Al has set his sights on a new project - doll's houses - and is busy planning and gathering materials. He is involving the ladies in the sewing group who are busy making miniature curtains and soft furnishing to dress the doll's houses.

Gold Standard

This is a photo of Rona Beswick, Floor Manager and Sheila Raymond RN who successfully steered Laurel Bank through the Gold standards framework for end of life care, and we achieved the the high status of being a Beacon site.They are pictured at Laurel Bank and with the plaque.

A busy Friday

Laurel Bank had a very busy day last Friday when, in the morning, the Owls from a local rescue centre visited. The four owls were much appreciated by everyone. We were able to hold the owls if we wanted and the owls were also taken into resident's rooms. This was followed by two performances, one in the afternoon and another in the evening, of the now infamous Laurel Bank Annual Pantomime performed by the staff. This year the production was Scrooge with a comical script written by Paula Barnes, one of senior carers. Mulled wine and mince pies were served following the performances.