MONDAY 29 DECEMBER from 11am – 2pm
Seasons Greetings from all of us here at #PCHP.
Don’t forget we’ll be opening our doors on the 29th from 11am -2pm for our annual #WinterWarmer.
Join us as we serve up a warm bowl of soup and some good conversation.
We hope to see you then.
Menu for Friday the 12th of December
We are excited to share a delicious community meal with you today. We do our best to have a variety of options, including vegetarian and often a delicious pudding. What’s on the menu today:
Tomato and root veg soup
Fish pie with veg
Pea and lemon bites
Chocolate and coconut slice
Please check the board or ask our volunteers about allergens.
And just a heads-up, our food is served until it runs out! Do come along and enjoy.
Thank you!
STARTS THIS THURSDAY from 6 – 8pm – FREE
The Scottish Parliament’s recent passing of the Care Reform (Scotland) Bill – formerly the National Care Service Bill – marks an important milestone in the journey to strengthen the rights of care home residents.
A key provision within the legislation is Anne’s Law, which gives people living in adult care homes the legal right to maintain in-person contact with those who are important to them – even in exceptional circumstances such as an outbreak of infectious disease.
Named in memory of Anne Duke, whose family and others campaigned for residents’ rights to visits during the pandemic, it acknowledges the essential role played by families and friends in providing care, connection and companionship to their loved ones.
It builds on the Health and Social Care Standards and enshrines the right to receive visits in law. You can read more about the Bill here.
Meaningful connection with others is essential to everyone’s emotional, mental and physical health and wellbeing, and is a fundamental human right. The prevalence of loneliness, especially among older people, has been described as a public health crisis. But meaningful connection is about more than just visiting. It’s about all those relationships and connections which are vital to people’s identity, quality of life, and sense of belonging.
The Care Inspectorate, through the Meaningful Connection, Visiting and Anne’s Law Project, will soon publish new good practice guidance to support care homes in promoting meaningful connection as part of everyday care.
The guidance is evidence-based and has been developed in partnership with people experiencing care, their families and friends, care providers, and professionals across the sector. It supports a rights-based, person-centred approach to care.
The guidance includes real-life examples, reflective prompts, and practical information to support services in ensuring everyone can get the best out of life and experience connection in ways that are meaningful and meet their individual needs
Look out for the full guidance, coming soon on the Care Inspectorate website.
Come along for a very festive morning with Christmas Carols and mince pies at the Centre!
We would love to see you for our last Tea & Toast and Golden Hour of the year! 
A huge thank you to EVOC and The Postcode Lottery who have funded all of these sessions this year.
PILTON COMMUNITY HEALTH PROJECT from 6 – 9pm
At M Club tonight we’ll be meeting at Pilton Community Health Project for some snacks, hot drinks, Christmas crafts and good chat.
Join us and SHE Scotland CIC from 6pm.
Animal care charity Pet Fostering Service Scotland is calling for an end to restrictive housing policies after its service has seen a record number of people looking to put their pets up for fostering.
The charity has seen over 1,000 enquiries to use Pet Fostering Service Scotland’s aid this year, a rise in over 20% compared to last year, and is now unable to find a foster home for all pets of owners in need, which could result in pets not having a safe place to stay.
With pets often abandoned by the people they depend on for care and support, Pet Fostering Service Scotland helps those in emergency situations who are eager to keep their furry companions.
Due to a multitude of reasons, pet owners can experience serious disruption to their home lives, often resulting in the dilemma of how to survive whilst also keeping their beloved pet.
Pet Fostering Service Scotland is a charity which has been supporting pet owners for 40 years. Now, the charity is calling for a ban on restrictive housing policies.
Those who have been evicted and made homeless can often feel there is no option other than to abandon their pets. According to the charity implementing less restrictive housing policies could avoid situations like these taking place.
Often accommodation for those who have either been made homeless or require refuge has a no pet policy. There has also been a rise in pet owners looking for new accommodation that accepts pets, currently having to wait one year for suitable housing to become available.
As a result, Pet Fostering Service Scotland has had to put pets into fostering for a year or longer, which is detrimental to the animal’s health as it is too long a period. This can also be distressing for owners due to the loss of consistent and familiar companionship provided by pets.
The cost-of-living increase has had a significant impact on finding temporary accommodation for those who have been made homeless, as most housing options exclude the homing of pets.
Pet Fostering Service Scotland has processed over 1,000 enquiries for pet care across Scotland this year. 37% of those were from people in a homeless or re-housing situation and as a result could not care for their pets in the short term.
Bob Sinclair Chair at Pet Fostering Service Scotland said: “For those who have been made homeless or are facing an emergency situation, being housed alongside their beloved pet is so important.
“The significance of the companionship between a pet and owner is important for wellbeing for both sides. Changing restrictive housing policies and allowing pets into temporary accommodation could be life changing for these individuals and result in far fewer abandonment scenarios.”
The Pet Fostering Service is non-chargeable and relies solely on donations for the work they provide, and volunteers can apply to become pet fosterers.
Pet fostering gives volunteers the companionship of a pet without the long-term responsibility and can bring a sense of reward from helping those in need, both human and animal.
The charity currently has over 300 volunteers.
If you are interested in fostering a pet or want to hear more about the charity, please visit https://www.pfss.org.uk/
AN Edinburgh home specialising in dementia care has launched a pet therapy programme to combat loneliness and improve general wellbeing.
A group of three different therapets and their handlers have been visiting Cramond Residence each on a monthly basis to provide companionship and encourage residents to be more active throughout the day.
Elaine Vallance, Lead Lifestyle Coordinator at Cramond Residence, said: “Our residents thoroughly enjoy therapets’ visits and we always know when they are in the building as residents all have a big smile on their faces.
“They all offer a calming presence when in the building, their visits always leave everyone in high spirits, excited for the next visit – the simple act of stroking a four-legged friend can slow down the heartbeat and reduce blood pressure.
“Pet therapy can provide a calming effect and help alleviate feelings of loneliness and isolation.
“Our visiting therapets are among the 500 registered therapets around Scotland, currently providing emotional support to elderly residents who cannot maintain the upkeep of a pet full-time.”
According to Alzheimer’s Society, caring for an animal can provide a sense of purpose and be a helpful stress relief source to individuals with dementia who may be struggling with depression.
The home understands the importance of interacting with animals and the benefits this has on emotional, physical and social wellbeing.
The furry friends visiting the home have proved major hits alongside the varied activities programme at Cramond Residence which includes day trips, gardening and arts and crafts, all designed to keep residents stimulated and engaged.
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, functional exercise room, a games room and also a fine dining experience offering residents the opportunity to invite their family members in for a meal.
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 offers 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.
To find out more, call 0131 341 4037 or visit https://cramondresidence.co.uk/
We are delighted to be part of @SPFLTrust Winter Response Fund 2023
Starting 25th January we have a free lunch offering for our community to attend
In our community hub space we have hot meals and access to wi-fi / devices, book swap & clothing bank.
With COVID restrictions easing, a care home in Giffnock has opened its very own pub, bringing joy to the residents and the staff.
The team at Eastwood Court Care Home, on the outskirts of Glasgow, worked with an occupational therapist to look at ways of improving residents’ quality of life and provide a sense of purpose for those living in the facility.
The ‘Staying Inn’ pub opened in April and the bar has proven to be a huge success, with residents enjoying the odd sweet sherry, a quick half or even just some sparking water, improving both the mental and physical health of the bar’s patrons along the way.
Fiona Gibson, Care Home Liaison Occupational Therapist at East Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership, said that since working with the home to increase resident engagement, they have been able to reduce patients’ medication, stress and distress in residents with dementia and increase their food and fluid intake.
She said: “The opening day was brilliant and one of the staff said it was the best day they had experienced since COVID and lockdown. Residents can put their nice clothes on, have a drink, enjoy a pub quiz and during things like the Euros or the Platinum Jubilee, we had the bunting up.
“More than that, when loved ones come to visit, they can visit a place that has some meaning for residents and not just be in a room with a bed.
“They can choose if they want a beer, or a wee sherry or some chips and pub grub. Living life to the fullest doesn’t end because you’re in a care home and what we know is that when we can provide an occupation focused service for people, the overall mental health and wellbeing outcomes for residents improve. Everything that occupies your time is so important to your continued wellbeing and prevention of mental and physical health decline.”
Fiona worked with the Elizabeth Casson Trust to secure a grant to establish the bar, with donations from local businesses helping to kit it out, creating a purposeful space that residents value and enjoy.
Eastwood Court’s Activity Co-ordinator, Catherine McAllister, said: “We have regular pub quizzes, domino and musical afternoons, as well as the odd darts tournament. We’ve made mocktails and held a “forget-me-not” fundraiser in aid of the Alzheimer’s Society.
Catherine and activity co-ordinator colleagues, Lesley Brown and Jennifer Duffy, worked hard to bring the bar to life.
She added: “We have a TV in our bar which allows residents to an alternative programme to our lounge, offering choice. The Staying Inn provides a relaxing and calm environment for our residents.
It’s a perfect environment for everyone, with a wide choice of drinks to choose from our dementia friendly menu, which are served with snacks. Our residents are really enjoying our new pub and we hope they will continue to do so.”
Fiona also paid tribute to the care home staff. She added: “The team have brought the Staying Inn to life, working really hard to turn it into a reality and with our guidance and support, it really is a place that brings joy to everyone who uses it.”
The bar brings additional health benefits, combatting loneliness and isolation and, in some cases, bringing a renewed sense of purpose.
Emma Walker, Lead Occupational Therapist for Mental Health and Recovery Services in East Renfrewhire added: “It’s about improving quality of life and making sure people are functioning and engaging at their best.
“When you are in a care home, people’s functions can deteriorate quite quickly because other people are doing things for them, which can mean people lose all sense of purpose. That can lead to an increase in stress and distress and it can become a vicious cycle where physical and mental health decline.
“We’re trying to reverse some of that through tailored, holistic interventions to help people to reach their potential, even if that’s just basic things like getting their own shoes on to go to our wee pub.
“One resident was telling me about what she liked when going to the pub and her favourite tipple was a wee Babycham mixed with all sorts. There’s a lot of life to be had in a care home, no-one is calling last orders yet!”
Pictured: Residents and staff enjoy some time together at the Staying Inn pub.
