Activities at Overslade House Care Home

Residents enjoyed live entertainment in celebration of Father’s Day on June 15. Residents were able to enjoy meeting up with loved ones  and were entertained by Bob Oakley, who sang a mixture of 50’s 60’s and country songs.

Violeta Baesu, General Manager, said: “We all had a wonderful day welcoming friends and family into the home. Occasions like Father’s Day are so important, it was fantastic to have such a lovely gathering with our residents and their loved ones all together enjoying the live entertainment.”

Bob Oakley said “It is always a pleasure to come to your lovely home and entertain the residents.”

John, resident at Overslade House, said: “I’ve had a great time celebrating with my family, it has been so lovely to see them and spend some quality time together.  Father’s Day is such a special day. I’m so pleased we were all able to celebrate together.” 

Every year on the last Friday in June, the British tradition comes alive on International Cream Tea Day. This International Day celebrates a tradition enjoyed at social occasions, lawn parties, and with guests in your home. The day is organised by the Cream Tea Society, a group founded by Rodda's Cornish Clotted Cream and Wilkin & Sons Tiptree. The day is a celebration of this quintessential British tradition and a chance to support charitable causes. The Cream Tea Society has helped raise over £1.4 million for charities across the UK through events and donations associated with National Cream Tea Day.

Residents enjoyed National Cream Tea day with lovely clotted cream and Jam scones made by Head Chef Corey Leake accompanied by sparkling wine spritzes. 

Paige on Hostessing and Activities ensured residents, friends and relatives had something to eat and drink, whilst listening to Julie Bateman, Activities Lead, and Martin Higgs, Activities Coordinator,  singing and playing popular songs in our gardens. The weather was beautiful, and the scones were delicious. Dot said, “we’ve had a lovely afternoon, thank you.”

A Senior Carer, Fiona Humphries at Overslade House Care Home in Rugby has received a prestigious 10 Year Service Award in celebration of working at Barchester Healthcare for 10 years. Fiona Humphries, now Senior Carer, started at Barchester in July 2015 and has worked with residents and their relatives to ensure that their needs have been met over the years. Staff and residents gathered to celebrate Fiona’s achievement. Fiona received flowers, vouchers and a stunning Barchester Leaf Brooch.

Adele Keenan, Employee Services Director at Barchester said: “I’m always pleased to hear stories about the long service of Barchester staff and am delighted Fiona has achieved this milestone. It is dedication like this that ensures our residents are provided with a happy place to live.” Fiona is also celebrating as her husband recently entered a competition and has won for the first time in his life, they are now proud owners of a stunning green Mustang and can’t quite believe it. Fiona said “it hasn’t quite sunk in yet!”

Duane, Fiona’s husband, said his dream car has always been a mustang and he has been saving up for one for years but life and finances always got in the way. Duane came across the REV Competition on Facebook and saw that the winning prize was a mustang. A few days later Duane was at work when he received a phone call to say his numbers had come up and he was now the proud owner of a stunning green Mustang. Fiona, Senior Carer at Overslade House in Rugby and her husband Duane visited Overslade House to show some of the residents their new prize Mustang. Resident Mike said, “now that’s a Mustang, very nice!” Our residents and staff were so pleased for Fiona and Duane. 

Violeta Baesu, General Manager of Overslade House Care Home said: “We’re delighted to be celebrating 10 years of loyal service to Fiona. She has demonstrated her dedication and loyalty to this home and its residents year after year. I speak for all of us here at Overslade House Care Home when I say that I’m looking forward to many more years of working with Fiona, our residents and staff were so thrilled to see the Mustang that Fiona and her husband have won!”

Staff and residents at Overslade House care home in Rugby, run by Barchester Healthcare, came together to celebrate the 77th anniversary of the NHS, which was founded on 5th July 1948. Everyone at the home wanted to mark the occasion and give thank you everyone to the wonderful NHS staff, whose hard work and dedication make our incomparable National Health Service the envy of the world.

Residents and staff wanted to show their appreciation by delivering cakes to our local Doctor's Surgeries and Pharmacies.  Head chef, Corey Leake, made chocolate cakes as it was also World Chocolate Day on the 7th July.  

Our first stop amongst many, was Central Surgery, where Helena and Lily came out to greet us and were delighted with the cake. John said “You are lucky there is any left I was very tempted!” 

Next stop was Rowlands pharmacy and Eloise and Ellie were also delighted with their cake.

After all their hard work, the residents had a picnic break by the canal in Cathiron, with tea and chocolate cake on board. Poor John didn’t have to suffer too long; he did have his cake and ate it in the end !

Violeta Baesu, General Manager, said: “Our NHS is amazing, the envy of the whole world.  Absolutely everyone has a story about how the NHS helped them or their family at some point in their lives.  Our NHS is always there to come to the rescue whenever we need them. We are incredibly lucky to have such a wonderful, free service available to all.”

Jean, a resident at Overslade House, commented: “When you think about all the services on offer, the NHS really is remarkable. They have helped me and my family many times. We’ve all been talking about the times the NHS helped us and everyone has a story to tell.” 

Violeta Baesu, Senior General Manager at Overslade House Care Home,  completed a sponsored skydive to raise funds for the charity  Myton Hospice. Myton Hospice were urgently appealing to raise £240,000 which could fund the recruitment, training and salary for five registered nurses for a year, to ensure more people in Coventry and Warwickshire can access a Hospice Bed.

The skydive took place on 26th April, at Langar Airfield, where Violeta Baesu took a leap of faith and dived through the clouds in a tandem skydive in honour of the charity, and raised a total of £680  with the support of sponsorship from donations.

Violeta has been a Senior General Manager at Overslade House care home for the last 7 years, but has been at Overslade House for 20 years working her way up from being a carer. Residents, relatives and staff at the home were cheering Violeta on as she aimed to beat her target goal of £500 and surpassed this.

Violeta said: “My goal for taking part in this challenge was to raise awareness of the fantastic job Myton Hospice does for the people and the families they support. Everyone at Overslade House and their friends and relatives have been so supportive and I would like to personally thank each and every one who donated to this cause.   I didn’t know what to expect but it was beautiful up there, it was for such a good cause so that kept me focused. I would do it again in a heartbeat.”

Residents celebrated V E Day on the 8th May with a lovely service in the morning, conducted by Cecil and Angela from Gift of Years, with some thought-provoking readings and lovely hymns. This was followed by a 2-min silence at midday and hearing the chimes of Big Ben ring out in London. In the afternoon, we had a good old singalong to Lambeth Walk, The Old Bull and Bush. We’ll meet again, and it’s a long way to Tipperary, amongst many others

On the 5th May, residents enjoyed watching the live broadcast of the V E Day celebrations, including the Red Arrows flypast, and also enjoyed V E Day quizzes. In the afternoon, residents, friends and family had a wonderful time listening to some of the members of the Bilton Silver Band playing nostalgic songs and also some fun tunes to singalong to, including “Who do you think you are kidding Mr Hitler”, which brought a smile to many faces.   Mavis said her grandfather played with the Bilton Silver band and Josie said her husband had also played with the Bilton Silver Band.

A wonderful spread was laid on by Head Chef Corey Leake and Second Chef, Dario Mozzettini, for our street party and flags were waved to Land of Hope and Glory.

The weather was so kind to us at our Spring Fair residents. friends and relatives enjoyed a lovely afternoon basking in glorious sunshine.

Thank you so much to everybody that came to our Spring Fair. Residents, friends and relatives enjoyed listening to the fabulous voice of Neil Richardson whilst eating hotdogs prepared by Head Chef Corey Leake.  The children enjoyed playing skittles, bowls, and enjoyed a little fishing also.  We were pleased to have raised money with our Bric a Brac stall for the Tour de Barchester.

On June 10th, Divisional Sales & Marketing Manager, Amy Melia, will dig out her cycle shoes and literally get on her bike to complete the four-day cycling challenge. Amy is joining a team of Barchester staff to cycle a mammoth 225 miles through Dumfries, Cumbria and Lancashire to Cheshire, stopping at 17 care homes across Barchester’s North West & Midlands division to meet well-wishers, have a well-earned break and refuel before continuing on their way. The team will be cycling in order to raise funds for Barchester’s Charitable Foundation, which helps combat loneliness and isolation.

Amy comments: “This is my first time doing a cycle challenge, and I’m really excited yet terrified to take part. I have been running on and off for years and I absolutely love it, but getting on two wheels is a completely different thing! It’s years since I’ve been on a bike, so wish me luck! I’m hoping to raise lots of money for the Foundation. I know all the staff, residents and relatives at Overslade House Care Home plus my family and friends are behind me and their support plus the money I’m raising will help me go the distance!”

Many thanks also to our stallholders. We look forward to seeing you again in July for our Music Festival.

Overslade House recently presented The Croft Happy Circle with a cheque for £1000. The Happy Circle is a friendly village social club with around 50 or more regular members and have been meeting in Croft for the last 62 years.

The grant had been awarded by Barchester’s Charitable Foundation, a charity that helps older people and adults with a disability or mental health problems across England, Scotland and Wales by offering grants to help people connect or re-connect with others in their local community.

Overslade House welcomed Alan Wing, Secretary/Treasurer for The Croft Happy Circle along with members and committee members to a small gathering in the home with live entertainment and Afternoon Tea to receive the cheque from resident Ambassador Anne Fletcher and celebrate being awarded the grant.

Alan, Secretary/Treasurer, said “We are very grateful for this donation and this will help immensely towards offering outings to people feeling alone or isolated”.

Violeta Baesu, General Manager at Overslade House Care Home, said: “We are always keen to show as much support as we can to local charities. The Croft Happy Circle is close to our hearts as we also try to alleviate the feelings of isolation or loneliness in our home and also for people struggling with mental health. Our doors are always open for people to join us for Afternoon Tea or events and activities.

A huge congratulations to all our Regional Directors who swapped their business suits for aprons and took part in the Charity Cook-Off to raise money for Barchester’s Charitable Foundation!

The competition was fierce, the creativity was outstanding, and the dishes were nothing short of exquisite. From mouth-watering starters to delicious desserts, each team truly impressed the Barchester Executive Board judges, who had the tough job of selecting a winner. 

Thanks to everyone’s efforts and generous support, the teams raised £16,000 to help vulnerable people and those living with disabilities connect with their communities. Overslade House were pleased to have raised £50 towards this amount with their bric a brac stall and guess the sweetie jar and also held a food quiz and live entertainment whilst awaiting the results. Our Divisional Managers won best dessert and personal favourite of CEO Dr. Peter Calveley.

We had so much fun following along with some of the amazing recipes.