HC-One are celebrating National Activity Professionals Week taking place from January 19 to 25, 2025, by honouring the amazing Wellbeing Coordinators who work in care homes across the UK and the significant roles they play in making an exceptional contribution to enrich the quality of life, health and happiness of those who they support through the activities they provide.
At HC-One Scotland’s Murrayfield House Care Home, in Edinburgh, the team have been praising the hard work and dedication of Wellbeing Coordinator, Margaret Finch. Margaret has a real passion for ensuring that residents at Murrayfield House can participate in meaningful activities at the care home.
She takes the time to get to know the residents when they arrive at the care home to ensure she captures all the important details, including their past careers, hobbies and interests. Margaret then makes it a personal mission to ensure that regardless of the residents’ abilities that she goes to all lengths to reconnect them to the activities they used to enjoy.
Margaret brings energy to Murrayfield House and ensures that the residents’ activity choices are sourced and hosted. Since joining the team at Murrayfield House in April 2024, Margaret has hosted a ‘Taylor Swift Party’ at the home which allowed the residents to get to know some of Taylor Swift's songs before she performed at Murrayfield Stadium, thus allowing the residents to be part of the big event.
Margaret sourced Taylor Swift masks, pom-poms and glasses, which residents enjoyed taking photos donning the items in the home’s photo booth. Margaret’s also created an American Hoe Down to celebrate Care Home Open Day.
Residents donned their cowboy hats and neckerchiefs to enjoy hotdogs and popcorn in the garden whilst being entertained by the staff line dancing and playing the guitar. Margaret has also hosted local church groups, where she has shared her flower arranging skills.
In addition, Margaret sourced an opera event for one of Murrayfield House’s residents who used to be an opera singer. A local group now come into Murrayfield House to practice their classical singing and in return they host private concerts for the home’s residents.
Resident Eilleen Vaughan at HC-One Scotland’s Murrayfield House Care Home, stated:
“Margaret is so driven, positive and makes things happen. She puts a lot of thought into it.”
HC-One’s Foxton Court Care Home in Morpeth, Northumberland, have been celebrating the work and achievements of Jessica Lye, Wellbeing Coordinator, who was a finalist in the Care Activities Co-ordinator/Facilitator of the Year Award category at the National Care Awards 2024. Jessica moved to the North East in 2006 and previously worked as a Lab Engineer before deciding to change career paths.
Jessica joined the care sector and never looked back. Jessica loves her job and has been working in care for over 21 years.
Jessica transferred into the Wellbeing Co-ordinator role in 2023, and prior to that she worked as a much-valued carer at Foxton Court. Jessica’s fun and vitality made her an excellent candidate for the Wellbeing role.
Her passion about the impact that healthy living and exercise has on the mental and physical wellbeing of individuals has motivated her to make it her mission to incorporate exercise into many of the activity sessions delivered at Foxton Court.
Jessica arranges for an exercise instructor from the community to visit the home on a weekly basis and then delivers her own ‘Music and Movement’ class too. The difference these sessions have made to those who attend is astounding.
Mobility and general movement have improved in residents significantly and there has been a reduction in falls. An example of this is when a resident at Foxton Court required assistance to mobilise which had an impact upon her independence.
Resident Marjory Nichol-Smith was encouraged and supported by Jessica to join in with the armchair exercises hosted by Jill Milburn every Friday and Music and Movement sessions. The sessions and exercise had a massive impact on Marjory’s mobility.
Her mobility has now improved to the point where she can mobilise around the home independently with her Zimmer frame and her flexibility has significantly improved. Inclusion and person-centred care are at the heart of everything Jessica does, and everyone is encouraged to participate in activities.
Resident, Linda Patton, at HC-One’s Foxton Court Care Home, said:
“Jessica is the life and soul of Foxton Court. She throws herself in to everything wholeheartedly. She’s pleasant, nice and friendly. Jessica helps and cares for everyone regardless of their needs.”
At HC-One Scotland’s Ballumbie Court Care Home in Dundee, the team have been commemorating Wellbeing Coordinator, Margaret (better known as Maggie) Pryde’s accomplishments.
Maggie supports Ballumbie Care Home to engage with the community to provide a positive impact for all of those who use the service. Maggie is passionate and enthusiastic in everything that she does and inspires others through her actions and the impact that this has is noticeable.
She works tirelessly to promote wellbeing and standards at Ballumbie Court. Maggie motivates and encourages all her team members to create meaningful engagement.
Her mantra is meaningful engagement is everyone’s job, and her team constantly rise and respond. Maggie recognises that small interactions are just as important as the big ones and strives to make every moment count.
Maggie is a role model to others, and she ensures that ideas and events are shared with the wider wellbeing community within HC-One. Maggie has developed a group to support residents living with dementia at Ballumbie Court.
She has explored how to support her residents using more alternative methods and has created a special environment to support this, hosting ‘Namaste’ sessions. Maggie’s proactive approach has made a positive impact on resident’s wellbeing as well as their stress and destress.
Maggie emphasises the importance of opportunities outside of Ballumbie Court and takes the residents out on a variety of trips and activities, including ice skating, visits to the local football stadium, redesigning the garden area with the gardening group and developing a new BBQ area to compliment the homes newly renovated bar.
One of the residents at Ballumbie Court had been a figure skater in the past and talked about wanting to go ice skating. Maggie arranged for resident Jane Reekie to go to their local ice rink and spend time being wheeled around the ice. Jane’s family were able to surprise her by meeting her there and it created a very special memory for them all.
Resident Jane Reekie from HC-One Scotland’s Ballumbie Court Care Home said:
“Maggie is the best! She talks and listens to me. Maggie made my wish come true to go ice skating again which was amazing.”