Rare birds spotted by Bexhill-on-Sea nursing home residents

Mistle thrushes were among the rarer birds spotted by residents at Ashridge Court Care Centre, Bexhill-on-Sea during the RSPB Big Birdwatch.

Residents sat near the bird tables outside their lounge window, in Barnhorn Road, Bexhill, where they spent an hour watching for different species of birds.

Activities co-ordinator Stuart Pemberton, a keen bird watcher himself, helped the residents identify the birds that landed on the bird tables.

He said: "It was a really successful activity and we used binoculars to help us see the birds up close. The residents loved spotting the variety of birds and we saw an amazing ten species during the hour. These included a robin, house sparrow, blue tit, woodpigeon, collared dove, magpie and jackdaw."

The numbers will be co-ordinated by the RSPB and the results will be published nationally in the summer. It will note trends in the number of garden birds and the changes in the variety of species visiting at different locations. Using this information it will comment on the state of the British bird population.

KADDY SPREADS SUNSHINE AT OPENING OF NEW DEMENTIA WING

BUBBLY TV presenter, Kaddy Lee-Preston, was a guest of honour at the opening of The Hazel Dementia Unit, a specialist dementia care wing at Ashridge Court Nursing Home, Bexhill, on January 24.

Guests filled Ashridge Court Care Centre, Bexhill,  including Cllr Joanne Gadd, Mayor of Bexhill, as they got together to celebrate as Kaddy cut the ribbon, declaring the new dementia wing of the Barnhorn Road nursing home officially open to residents.

The purpose built development features 16 new beds and incorporates design techniques shown to improve the wellbeing of dementia patients.

It offers a holistic lifestyle environment that includes specially designed large, bright rooms and lounge spaces with calming colours, carefully considered way-finding signs and the creation of zones to help residents orientate. Constructed by Kent builders, Chris Brown, over the last 18 months, there is also a hi-tech ‘Snoezelen’ sensory room that uses lights, smells and sound to help reduce agitation, confusion and stimulate calmness. It also boasts a superb decking area that ensures residents are safe to enjoy the outdoors.

Ashridge Court manager, Liz Young said that it was a proud moment for her team to witness the start of a new nursing care era at the home in Bexhill, owned by Canford Healthcare.

She said: “Ashridge Court Nursing Home is well known in the area for providing holistic resident-centred care, with high standards of nursing and medical care at all times.”

Barry Lambert of Canford Healthcare said: “Demand for quality dementia care has increased in line with national trends. We know that residents enjoy the lifestyle here, and combining with the excellent care that Ashridge Court is already known for, we now have a secure, happy environment for those living with dementia.”

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Hazel Dementia Unit Now Open

We are delighted that Hazel Unit is now open at Ashridge Court Care Centre.

Hazel Unit is a 16 bed luxury new development specifically for residents living with dementia.

You can read more about Hazel Unit in our mini brochure here.

If you are currently seeking dementia care why not come in and visit Hazel Unit, or telephone General Manager Liz Young for more information on Ashridge Court Care Centre.

Petpals visit Bexhill Care Home

Last week we were delighted to once again welcome Petpals into our Bexhill care home.
Petpals bring us our own 'on loan' pets to cuddle and stroke. They are fully supervised by Petpals staff and our own activities coordinator - this time it was Stuart - there to ensure residents and animals are happy and content.

This time our little visitors were friendly guinea pigs in a wonderful assortment of colours, with beautiful natures. Also, two tiny black kittens came who were so well behaved. Each animal was in a mini basket with a blanket, and sat contentedly. They seemed to know that they were to be good and enjoy the affection - and they certainly did!

The residents in our Sussex care home were very calm and relaxed - proof of the wonderful effects of pets!