A new role has been created at Ashlynn Grange Care Home to ensure all residents can benefit from the activities on offer and spend more quality time with team members.
Clare Challis, who has worked at the Peterborough home for several years delivering the Lifestyles programme, has been appointed as our Specialist One-to-One Activity Co-ordinator.
The specialist role is designed to extend the Lifestyles programmes beyond group activities, ensuring residents who prefer their own environment can still take part in arts and crafts, baking, puzzles and games.
She has spent time with individual residents at the 153-bedroom home to understand their tastes, hobbies and preferences in order to offer further person-centred activities for each. Many of those Clare is working with are living with dementia and can find the hustle and bustle of group activity sessions overwhelming.
The new role is part of Athena’s drive to ensure Every Moment Matters – that residents and their visitors enjoy every aspect of their experience within the home.
We provide an extended programme of activities throughout the week to stimulate residents, support their cognitive skills and to help them socialise, and this extends that one step further.
Clare said: “I was excited to take on the role because it is an amazing opportunity to spend quality time with those residents who have limited mobility or who prefer to stay in their rooms and not attend group activities.
“Some residents are just happy to have a friendly chat and some company rather than participating in activities, and other residents have a whole list of things they would like to do.
“I believe that through activities we have the ability to make a real difference to someone’s day. Now I can do that on a more personal level and I love being able to put a smile on someone’s face.”
Desiree Jooste, Registered Home Manager at Ashlynn Grange Care Home, said: “I am passionate about Lifestyles, we want our residents to continue with hobbies they have enjoyed for many years and to help them discover new interests through our Lifestyles team.
“In her role as specialist one-to-one co-ordinator, Clare is able to open up that opportunity to even more of our residents and give them additional quality time. She can read, play board games, support with needlework or do gardening with those who may have restricted mobility or be feeling isolated.
“This new role ensures we can make every moment matter.”
