Melbourn Springs

Socially distanced but emotionally closer to family and friends While we may have been practising social distancing during lockdown, many have realised their emotional bonds with loved ones have strengthened. More than a third (36%) of respondents in the East of England who have parents said they felt ‘emotionally closer’ to them as a result of lockdown. Despite this, 15% have argued or had a disagreement with their parents during lockdown. 35% of respondents living in the region who have a sibling felt emotionally closer to them since lockdown, and 25% of respondents felt closer to their neighbours while 29% felt closer to their friends. Relationship hopes post-lockdown Lockdown has made many people experience first-hand the benefits of quality family time. More than half of respondents in the East of England (52%) agreed that the experience has inspired them to make more effort with loved ones in the future. When asked exactly what lockdown relationship habits people would like to continue in the future, family walks/spending time outdoors together came in top (30%), followed by video calls with family (28%) and spending more quality time with family (25%)

Claire, concluded: “This Relationships Week, we want to help everyone in Cambridgeshire celebrate the best of their lockdown relationship realisations and address the more difficult ones. I’m encouraging everyone to start a conversation about their relationships this week, whether it’s to thank someone for their support during lockdown or to begin addressing issues that have been swept under the carpet in recent months.”

Relate Cambridge is now taking appointments for counselling sessions, including virtual sessions via Zoom or telephone. The appointments line is available Monday to Friday between 9am and 1pm. Please call on 01302 347 866 to book your appointment.

For more information about relationships week, visit relate.org.uk/relationships-week.

We have welcomed our first permanent residents to Melbourn Springs and look forward to welcoming those planning to move into our beautiful home in the next few weeks. Fortunately, I can confirm that our home has remained free of the virus and all our staff and residents have tested negative. We are also enrolled on a re-testing programme too!

It has been so lovely to create many happy memories together and make each of our residents’ individual experiences special, with moments of life skills, arts and crafts, enjoying the beautiful sunshine, starting our home’s raised vegetable plot/herb gardens – not forgetting the

Brand new purpose built site

Flexible options for home and business Monitored CCTV, gate entry by key fob Easy access for removal company lorries Entry from 06.00 to 22.00, 7 days a week Insulated, damp free containers owned from new and carefully maintained Over 10 years of experience Friendly and family run

Visit our website: www.lawstorage.co.uk Call us: 01223 874629 Email us: paul@lawstorage.co.uk

Please note, we have moved to: Butts Farm, Malton Road, Orwell, SG8 5QR

Let us lighten your load

• Boiler servicing & repairs • Landlord certi cates • Boiler replacements • Bathroom suites • Natural gas, oil & LPG • Heating system upgrades • General plumbing & repairs

Phone: 01763 260007

www.boilercareandrepair.co.uk

Sunflowers that our residents have planted alongside the Melbourn Primary School Sunflower Competition.

The residents have enjoyed their meal-time experiences which have included delicious favourites, homemade baking and a scrumptious Roulade too!

Respite Breaks are also a great way to have a little boost to re-charge – they can even be booked a year in advance and rooms are always available!

Our resident family garden visits are also working well to ensure that we keep everyone safe and protected.

I look forward to many more sunny days ahead and many more special moments at Melbourn Springs. General Manager, Karen Allen Queens Official Birthday To celebrate the Queen’s official birthday we held a special afternoon tea for our residents to enjoy the occasion together, topped off spectacularly with a cake fit for a Queen made by second chef Annie Symonds.

Our residents helped decide on the actual colour and it was a close call between Red, Blue or Purple for the Crown, but the team agreed with Royal Purple for our creation. Staff voted on the design and The Crown won, nominated by manager Karen Allen.

We were all blown away by Annie’s amazing cake, with resident Iris exclaiming, “I have never seen anything like it – absolutely excellent!”

It seemed a shame to cut the ‘work of art’ but we all enjoyed a slice together, which was truly delicious, and there were smiles all round as we sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to our Queen. This special cake and day will definitely be remembered by all of us at Melbourn Springs for many years to come.

Said Karen: “We have a hard working and vigilant team and we are welcoming new residents with strict protocols in place. It will mean the world to everyone this week that we can also finally welcome families in to see their loved ones as well.”

Melbourn Springs Home blessing The staff and residents were delighted to welcome Revd Lizzie Shipp to bless their home. Originally planned before the home opened it was a really special day for the blessing to actually take place – after the home’s meet and greet checks had been completed and socially distanced from home gardens of course.

Revd Lizzie kindly produced an order of service and was welcomed by General Manager Karen Allen, Home Services Advisor Dan Amis, and the home team.

After a deluge of rain earlier in the day fortunately there was not a single drop throughout the service. Revd Lizzie proceeded to bless the Reception, Dining Room, Lounges and some of the homes residents’ bedrooms (which all have access to the home gardens)

Karen Allen said, “This is truly a special day, a few tears of happiness were shed and this moment will be sure to be remembered for many years to come. Thank you very much Lizzie!” Dementia Awareness Week Our Home Services Advisor Dan conducted a Dementia Friends session for our staff at Melbourn Springs, to support National Dementia Action Week and the extensive Barchester Dementia training programme that all our staff have already completed.

Laura, our Activities Coordinator, also demonstrated our Magic Table – a specialist sensory table in our Memory Lane Activity Cafe.

Keep an eye out for the next Dementia Friends session and Magic Table community events at Melbourn Springs. Hampton Court Comes to Melbourn Rain certainly did not stop our residents gardening activities as they prepared their very own hanging baskets for our home gardens.

After careful selection and positioning of the flowers we think you’ll agree that our residents did a sterling job and their baskets look absolutely splendid, with one resident chuckling, “Who needs Hampton Court when you have our gardens at Melbourn Springs?!?”

Revd Lizzie proceeded to bless the Reception, Dining Room, Lounges and some of the homes residents’ bedrooms