Pensioners on target at Cramond home’s new activity

ACTIVE pensioners at an upmarket care home are proving you are never too old to pick up a new hobby.

The introduction of archery to Cramond Residence’s calendar of activities has been well received by residents who channelled their inner Robin Hood as they learned how to shoot a bow and arrow for the first time.

The home’s Lifestyle team were keen to introduce an activity that many residents wouldn’t have had exposure too to complement the rich and exciting rota of activities offered which has been tailored to residents’ interests to improve their wellbeing and independence.

Garylee Rushforth, Lifestyle Coordinator at the 74-bedroom home, said: “It really was a spur of the moment idea – when I was purchasing new sports equipment for the home, I saw an archery kit online and thought it would be a great outdoor activity to try with our residents.

“Initially, the idea of archery was a very alien concept as none of the residents had ever engaged with such an activity before. However, we ended up seeing a huge turnout – with around 20 residents participating in the first session – so we decided to make the activity a regular addition.

“The residents have been loving trying out archery – there’s always lots of laughs and smiles, which is always so rewarding to see. It’s been a great hit!”

The activity was integrated into the home’s bustling events rota, among a series of other sports and exercise classes, to encourage movement and improve the residents’ physical wellbeing.

Garylee continued: “Physical engagement is vital in supporting the mental stimulation and physical needs of our residents, as well as creating a happy and thriving environment for them to enjoy.

“Working in conjunction with our physiotherapy team, we offer at least one physical activity every day. We have seen that increased activity aids mobility and reduces the likelihood of falls occurring amongst residents, creating a safer living environment.

“We offer a wide range of sporting activities at Cramond Residence – from boules, to tennis, to dance. We even held a sports day for the residents, which was a great success.”

Cramond Residence adopts a small-group living philosophy spread across three floors. That means groups of eight rooms form distinct “houses”, where residents are encouraged to eat and socialise together.

The home provides a range of activities specially designed to give residents a richer and more satisfying life, with specialist facilities and trained staff on hand to provide support & relief.

Prices at the home start from £1,950 per week.

To find out more about Cramond Residence, visit: cramondresidence.co.uk/ or contact enquiries@cramondresidence.co.uk.

Public Meeting: What do YOU want for Cramond Campus?

A reminder of the community meeting being held in Cramond Kirk on Monday!

It will be chaired by the mediator, Keir Bloomer. Keir led the process involving all parties – CBCC and the Brighouse Resident Association.

Edinburgh Care Home raises the bar with new social activity

Friday pub nights introduced to help improve quality of life for care residents

RESIDENTS at an Edinburgh care home have been enjoying a night at the pub – without even having to leave the development. 

Dedicated staff at Cramond Residence launched ‘Friday Pub Nights’ in a bid to engage residents in a social event imitating what they would ordinarily experience in their own home lives.

A pub environment with simulated pub seating, a bar, music, Sports TV and table games has been set up within the home.

Residents have used this activity to engage in lively and meaningful debates about current and past affairs, as well as enjoying a good sing-song to a wide range of music.

Garylee Rushforth, one of Cramond Residence’s Lifestyle Co-ordinators, said: “The pub nights are designed to help to combat loneliness, whilst also improving our residents’ quality of life.

“We are one of a few care home’s offering evening activities as we feel it is important for the independence and wellbeing of our residents.

“Old traditions have certainly not been forgotten at our pub nights, and frequently the first drink of the evening is welcomed with a Scots toast.”

The new activity, which occurs every Friday evening between 7pm and 9pm, has proven a hit with residents, having already developed around eight regulars.

Christian Daraio, Cramond Residence’s Client Liaison Manager, said: “The pandemic highlighted the negative effects of social isolation and loneliness, so in our care home, we have endeavoured to create a highly-enriching social calendar that fosters social interaction and enjoyment, ensuring that every resident feels involved in our small community.

“Our lifestyle coordinators have worked hard to put together an extensive activities programme and other activities offered include baking, painting, pet therapy and cheese and wine nights, to name a few!”.

All activities are optional, with residents being able to dip in and out of the daily excursions and classes. Nonetheless, participation in a few activities every week is encouraged by the Cramond Residence team to ensure residents make the most out of the offerings from the care home.

Launched in 2018, Cramond Residence offers uncompromising nurse-led care, as well as specialist services such as respite and dementia care. The care home currently has 74 residents spread across nine luxuriously-appointed homes.

Residential life is full of activities, freshly prepared meals and top-class facilities, ensuring that all residents enjoy a rich and satisfying life at the care home. The facilities provided include a cinema and function room, a games room and also a sensory experience which offers therapeutic activities for those with dementia.

Each resident also receives a personal care plan from health care professionals which is continually assessed and revised, ensuring that residents have access to the best possible level of care.

Cramond Residence offer tours of their quality accommodation and facilities in the north of Edinburgh. The tour allows potential residents and their loved ones to see the residence for themselves, meet the team and discuss any additional requirements.

Cramond Kirk Fair set to be a Christmas Cracker!

With all the favourite stalls, and Santa back in his grotto, the stage is set for this year’s bumper Christmas Fair in Cramond Kirk Halls on Saturday 3 December (11.30am-2pm).

From Cake & Candy and Crafts to Collectors Corner, Toys and Toiletries to Tombola, there will be something for everyone.  Other stalls include Books, CDs/Vinyl, Stocking Fillers, Children’s Tombola, Quiz ….  and of course our renowned array of Christmas Hampers stuffed with festive goodies.

Lots to eat too!  Teas, coffees and delicious light refreshments will be available indoors, while in an outdoor tent the Scouts will provide an al-fresco option featuring burgers and hot dogs with lashings of ketchup.

Fair organiser Louise Campbell said:  “The Kirk will share this year’s proceeds with homeless support charity Fresh Start, and also Ukrainian Families in Edinburgh, because it is a country very close to our hearts at the moment.

“We look forward to seeing you and all your friends and family at the Fair.”

New recruit strengthens Edinburgh home’s activity calendar

Language classes now available to care residents following appointment

Pensioners at a care residence in Edinburgh are being offered the opportunity to learn a new skill thanks to the home’s newest recruit.

Since joining Cramond Residence, Garylee Rushforth from Dunfermline has already made his mark by introducing a selection of language classes. The 34-year-old has drawn on his knowledge from living in a selection of European cities and speaks fluent German, Polish and is currently learning Scottish Gaelic.

Garylee has worked in the sector for over six years and most recently played a key role in planning and delivering meaningful activities for patients at an Acute Dementia unit in the Royal Edinburgh Hospital.

Now settled into the job, Garylee has been playing a central role in designing the home’s rich and engaging activities programme aimed at stimulating the mind.

He said: “My aim is to bring a structured approach to the way activities at Cramond are planned, led and delivered, ensuring that each activity contributes to each resident’s care plan while also being fun.

“My first six weeks have been a whirlwind. Cramond is a great place to work with lots of opportunities to develop my skills, share my experience and play a part in the wider care of our residents.

“As I’ve lived in a selection of countries, I know how fun it is to learn new languages and this is a passion and skill of mine that I really felt like I could bring to the table in my new role. The addition of language classes into the activities rota will be highly beneficial for the residents.

“Cramond is one of the very few care homes that really does structure itself around its residents’ wishes and needs. Emphasis is placed on ensuring residents are given the opportunity to input, consult on and determine the direction of all aspects of their care.”

Amongst other therapeutic and managerial roles, Garylee previously worked for the NHS where he delivered Cognitive Behavioural Therapy to patients across the region, with particular focus on mental health and addiction.

Garylee continued: “Cramond is like no other healthcare facility – the luxury surroundings make it feel more like a five-star hotel with care provision.

“The highlight of my time here so far has been seeing residents who would not normally engage in certain activities do so through relationship building, encouragement and measured and supported risk-taking.

“You just can’t beat seeing a resident come alive with emotion and energy after taking part in an activity that we have organised for them.”

Garylee will be contributing to Cramond’s bustling activities and excursions rota, which will see a pizza making masterclass, beer and gin samplings and a trip to the Living Memory shop in Ocean Terminal take place in July.

Established in 2018 at a cost of £8m and spread across three floors, Cramond Residence adopts a small-group living philosophy. That means groups of eight rooms form distinct “houses”, where residents are encouraged to eat and socialise together.

The home provides a range of activities specially designed to give residents a richer and more satisfying life, with specialist facilities and trained staff on hand to provide support & relief.

Cramond Residence offers high quality care for up to 74 residents offering a small-group living concept in nine houses, with all residents enjoying an exceptional range of amenities and activities, delicious food and bespoke care from a highly-trained team.

Prices at the home start from £1,950 per week.

To find out more about Cramond Residence, visit: cramondresidence.co.uk/ or contact enquiries@cramondresidence.co.uk.

Care home residents take a trip down memory lane

Valuable memory enhancing skills combat frustration for Edinburgh residents

WORKSHOPS to assist residents with memory skills have been introduced as the latest feature at a care home in Edinburgh.

With memory retention and recall being one of the leading causes of distress for the elderly, Cramond Residence has started offering memory sessions to help relieve these frustrations especially for residents with impaired cognitive function, those living with dementia and recurring memory decline.

To encourage engagement, the home’s lifestyle team keep group sizes small and use a variety of techniques incorporating visual elements such as playing cards, dominoes, flipcharts and photographs.

Lifestyle coordinator at Cramond Residence, Garylee Rushforth, said: “It was a natural next step for Cramond Residence to start providing these beneficial sessions to the residents.

“An impaired ability to recall information and events can lead to severe confusion, disorientation and a dissociation from a person’s own sense of self which is why we felt that it was so important that we fully engage with cognitive activities that can help to strengthen memory processes.

“In these sessions, we teach residents how to actively recall information in the short-term. Flashcards are used to display information and then the coordinators work with residents to teach them verbalised, visual and auditory recall skills related to this information.

“Processing the information given in a variety of mediums provides residents with multiple avenues to recall short term information easier. Carrying these out regularly will expand the memory bank and reduce time needed during the recall process.”

Cramond Residence’s team of lifestyle coordinators have created an exciting and varied programme of activities and workshops, all with the aim of providing its residents with a sense of independence and fun, as well a valuable life skills. 

Garylee continued: “The memory sessions have been a great hit and we have received some fantastic feedback from residents so far and it’s a delight to help residents on this journey and see their individual progress.

“We engage with residents that attend outside of the sessions and test their memory skills on the go and have witnessed a greater ability to recall conversations and instructions in other workshops too which is brilliant to see.”

Cramond Residence, launched in 2018, has provided small-group living for up to 74 residents in nine luxuriously-appointed accommodation with the highest quality of care.

The highly-trained team organises exciting activities and excursions for their residents and offer specialised and individually tailored care in respite, recuperation and dementia care provision.

The medication and care provided is based on a detailed personal care plan, which is continually assessed and revised by health care professionals and other experts to ensure that the best possible care is being delivered.

The luxury home will continue to channel its efforts into improving the quality of life for its residents by introducing more innovative workshops and ideas.

To find out more about Cramond Residence, call 0131 341 4037 or visit:

https://cramondresidence.co.uk/

Cramond’s Got Talent: Residents take centre stage at city care home

Excited contestants vie for the ‘Golden Buzzer’ at Cramond home’s talent show

RESIDENTS at a luxurious Edinburgh care home put on their dancing shoes and warmed up their vocal cords in anticipation of the home’s talent show.

‘Cramond’s Got Talent’ was the latest addition to Cramond Residence’s activities rota, with the aim of encouraging residents to lead fun and fulfilling lives.  

At least 10 of the home’s residents and staff members took centre stage to perform in front of a judging panel which also consisted of six residents.

Many of the performances included tributes to bands such as ABBA, whilst one resident showcased traditional Spanish dancing and another performed a piano symphony.

The idea for Cramond’s Got Talent came from one of the home’s Lifestyle Coordinator’s, Garylee Rushforth. He said: “It was great to see the residents and staff members at Cramond let their hair down and fully immerse themselves in the experience.

“The residents were really excited and couldn’t wait to witness the array of talent that was to be showcased from not only their fellow residents, but also their favourite key workers.

“Each member of the panel had their own unique judging style as they all have a range of different backgrounds and life experiences, consisting of a dance teacher, a former RAF engineer, a pianist and singer to name a few.

“One of the residents was set on taking a Simon Cowell type approach in their judging style, which certainly made for an entertaining show!”

Activities are resident-led and aim to make life as fun and fulfilling as possible. The Lifestyle Team are continually looking for new exciting and engaging activities to implement into each month’s carefully-planned programme.

Facilities provided include a cinema and function room, a dedicated games room and also a sensory experience which offers therapeutic activities for those with dementia.

Garylee continued: “The vast array of offerings at Cramond really is exceptional. I love seeing the joy on our resident’s faces when they are participating and having fun during one of the planned sessions.”

Located in Cramond, the care home was launched in 2018 to offer uncompromising nurse-led care, as well as respite and dementia specialist services, and provides small-group living for up to 74 residents in nine luxuriously-appointed homes.

Cramond Residence offer tours of their quality accommodation and facilities, allowing potential residents and loved ones to see the residence for themselves, meet the team and discuss requirements.

To find out more, call 0131 341 4037 or visit https://cramondresidence.co.uk/

Cramond Inn…or Cramond Out?

Public Meeting to Discuss the Future of the Cramond Inn –  TONIGHT 7.30 pm

The Cramond Association has arranged a public meeting to bring the local community together to discuss the future of Edinburgh’s historic Cramond Inn which has remained closed since the pandemic. 

Working in partnership with Cramond & Barnton Community Council, the meeting is geared to creating a local action group to get the Inn, owned by brewery company Samuel Smiths, open and functioning again. Speaking at the event will be a representative of Community Shares Scotland to present a ‘model’ for community ownership. 

Chair of the Cramond Association Adam Cumming said: “The ongoing closure of the Cramond Inn is one of the most important current issues of concern both for local people and for the thousands of visitors who regularly visit the Cramond Foreshore. 

“The Inn has always played a historic role in providing an important local focal point for our community, as well as providing a stunning location from which to explore and enjoy the local area. 

“To have its doors shut, with no immediate prospect of reopening is a very sad state of affairs for all of us.  We would like to open a positive dialogue with the Inn’s owners to explore all possibilities of it opening up for business and, once again, being at the heart of our local community.”

The open meeting will take place tonight Monday 24th October at the Millennium Hall at Cramond Kirk Halls, starting at 7.30 pm.

For more information, visit www.cramondassociation.org.uk 

Missing Woman: Body found on Cramond Island

Around 2.50pm today (Monday 17 October, 2022) the body of a woman was found on Cramond Island as part of ongoing inquiries to locate a missing person.

No formal identification has taken place, however the family of 47-year-old Averil Shepley, reported missing from Edinburgh, has been notified.

Officers remain at the scene and enquiries are ongoing.