The Home to Date.

A very busy year so far for all the staff and residents of Wellington House. In July we changed our registration status from a Nursing Home to Care Home. (A Care Home is the name given to what was previously called a Residential Home)

The decision to change was carefully considered by the owners and management team in light of the change in Government Policy changing the categories of resident permitted to be accommodated in Care Homes. In short all our residents were needs could be accommodated in a residential setting. So the decision was made to change registration. This change in policy and also the severe difficulties in recruiting suitable nurses forced our hand. Alas all our nurses have now left, but we are pleased to tell you that they secured suitable employment very quickly and are doing well in their new roles. Our Care Staff have risen to the challenge of their new roles with enthusiasm and have been very busy updating their training with such courses as Medication Training, First Aid, Specialist Feeding Course, Food Hygiene, Health & Safety, NVQ�s and Moving and Handling. We are especially delighted to advise that the home now has an impressive 5 members of the staff team who have achieved Moving and Handling Instructor status. We are also pleased to advise that a further 6 members of staff are �signed up� to pursue their NVQ in care. Congratulations and well done to you all.

Notable Events.Our residents have also had a busy year so far as well, the usual trips into town shopping, coffee mornings the cafe, visits by pets, church services and the over 65�s club at the local Salvation Army have all been popular outings. A trip to Needham Lakes recently went down very well, the weather was glorious, the fish and chip lunch was as tasty as ever and the wildlife this time was outstanding. A Recent Musical event in the home proved to be a breathtaking afternoon, a lady named Nikki was booked to come and entertain and together with her backing man performed a variety of songs from film and stage. Her performance was outstanding and all agreed that she was of such a high quality that she should have been on stage. She needless to say has been booked to return to Wellington House. This years weather has not been very nice but on the few days of sunshine everyone took advantage, the patio garden was put to good use and enjoyed by all, the use of the Gazebo was even needed on one or two days out there as a sun shelter! A very notable outing was made by several of our residents to the Ringshall 40�s Fete in aid of the War Memorial; this excellent day was organized by one of our relatives who live in the village. The day was a nostalgic trip down memory lane for our residents who thoroughly enjoyed the glorious weather, BBQ and all the sights and sounds of wartime East Anglia. The band played music from the era and were an American Forces band that had flown in from Germany for the event. A fly past by an American Mustang Fighter was most spectacular, military and civilian vehicles from the period were on display but the music and exhausting dancing being demonstrated was particularly pleasing to our residents.