Celebrating life at Barchester

South Chowdene Care Home recently came together to celebrate Carers Week and recognise the dedication and hard work of its team members.

Colleagues enjoyed a special appreciation event with refreshments and treats, providing an opportunity to thank carers for the compassion and kindness they show every day. The celebrations highlighted the difference staff make to the lives of residents and their families and reinforced the importance of teamwork across the home.

The occasion also provided the perfect opportunity to congratulate the home’s Employee of the Month. Surrounded by colleagues, the deserving winner was presented with flowers and gifts in recognition of their commitment and outstanding contribution to resident care. 

In addition, team members and the community carers were invited to take time out during a relaxing Careers Pamper Day on 09th June, where they could unwind, recharge and enjoy some well-deserved “me time” as a thank you for all their hard work.
General Manager Anca said:
We are incredibly proud of our team and grateful for everything they do. Celebrating Carers Week, recognising individual achievements and providing opportunities for staff wellbeing are all important ways of showing our appreciation for the remarkable people who care for our residents every day.       

The Queen of the South, her attendants and the Cornet party visited us at Lochduhar. As they entered Lochduhar, we asked them to blow their horns, which they did.

There was a lot of excitement as the Queen of the South and the attendants showed off their new dresses. The party visited all the communities at Lochduhar and our residents were pleased to see them. Some of our residents and staff then went to town for Guid Nychburris and the crowning of the Queen.

Residents recently enjoyed a wonderful morning out with a scenic bus trip to Surrey Hills Beauty Spot-  Newlands Corner.

The group spent the morning taking in the stunning countryside views, breathing in the fresh air, and enjoying a relaxing change of scenery. The outing was filled with smiles, laughter, and plenty of conversation as our stunning ladies admired the beautiful landscape.

Of course, no trip out would be complete without a sweet treat! Everyone enjoyed a well deserved ice cream.  A special highlight of the day was watching resident Doreen enjoy her favourite classic Mr Whippy with a flake, which certainly brought a smile to her face.

The trip was a great success, and everyone returned home with happy memories of a lovely morning spent together. 

If you are interested in learning more about life at Lotus Manor or would like to arrange a tour, please contact us directly on 01483 359340 or email us at lotus.manor@barchester.com

We went all out country and western, with Live entertainment from Ray Smith.     

Many of our residents are country and western fans, in a recent residents meeting they asked for a country and western themed day.

On Tuesday residents enjoyed a visit to the Dementia Cafe which is held at the Baptist  Church Hall along Rockingham Road and is run by the Rotary Club. Residents spent time socialising in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. 

They listened to a live band playing a variety of familiar songs, which had everyone singing along, clapping and tapping their feet to the music.

The outing provided an opportunity to reminisce, engage with others, and experience the positive benefits of live music, leaving everyone smiling and in good spirits.
Thank you to everyone for making us feel so welcome.

What a wonderful time we had recently aboard the Alison MacGregor, run by the Solent Dolphin charity. 
Our boat trip took us on a relaxing cruise along Southampton Water, passing impressive cruise ships and huge container vessels before stopping off at Ocean Village.
A huge thank you to all the amazing volunteers whose dedication and hard work make these wonderful outings possible, we all had the best time on the water.

Over the past couple of months, the ladies of our Knit & Natter group have been busy working on a very special summer project. Together, they have created a beautiful flower-inspired bollard cover, which is now proudly on display in Romsey as part of the town’s annual community bollard dressing event.
This week we took a trip to see all the decorated bollards, and it was such a delight to spot the ladies’ finished creation alongside so many other fantastic designs. From a knitted soldier to flamingos, gnomes and much more, the creativity on display is simply amazing. It's such a lovely way to bring colour, character and cheer to the town centre.
We were absolutely delighted to be part of this much-loved annual tradition and would like to say a huge thank you to organiser Trish and all the volunteers who work so hard to make it happen.
If you'd like to see the knitted bollards for yourself, they'll be on display until the beginning of August. You can find our flower-inspired creation by the statue of Lord Palmerston in the town centre.

This week residents enjoyed a delightful morning excursion to a garden centre at Clandon Park. They had fun exploring their stunning outdoor plant displays and enjoying a refreshing drink in the cafe.