Meadowbrook Care Home

🌟 **What a brilliant evening we’ve all had at Meadowbrook!** 🌟

Our second event was an absolute success!

🧀 The Cheese & 🍷 Wine evening was filled with delightful company, great music and an unforgettable atmosphere.
Everyone joined in the singing and some of us dared to dance too 🪩 💃🏻 🕺

A huge thank you to our talented singer Andy Vocals 🎤 for brightening up the night with your incredible performance, and to our sommelier Sarah from LETS TALK WINE 🍷 for bringing the perfect pairings and sharing your wine expertise.

🤩Our team truly outdid themselves, from the kitchen to the bistro, housekeeping, support and management team, every detail was perfect.

🌟And of course, a special shout-out to our incredible care team—the heart and soul of our home —who go above and beyond in looking after our wonderful residents. 💙

Looking forward to the next event and creating even more amazing memories together! 🤩

Cheese and wine tasting is on tonight at 6 pm.

Look forward seeing you all 🍷 🧀

🏃‍♀️ We had a wonderful session with Tamara from Therapy Gyms and she truly brought joy to our residents!

Her engaging exercise class had everyone moving and smiling.
The session included fun activities like boxing 🥊, throwing, stretching, and more – a perfect mix of movement and enjoyment! 🧘

Exercise offers so many benefits to the elderly, including:
- **Improved mobility and balance**, which helps prevent falls.
- **Increased strength and flexibility** for better day-to-day function.
- **Boosted mental health**, reducing stress and lifting mood.
- **Enhanced cognitive function**, helping maintain focus and memory.

Thank you, Tamara, for helping our residents stay active and healthy while having a great time!

👩‍🍳 Cooking is my passion ❤️

🌟Today we are introducing our Deputy Manager Ruby 🌟


“My name is Ruby and I am immensely proud to say that I’m part of the amazing Meadowbrook team as the Deputy Manager.

My journey started as a Weekend Receptionist at the age of 16 where I fell in love with being able to go the extra mile for those living within a care home to make a positive difference to their day. From here, this opened a whole new career pathway that I hadn’t ever realised was possible. I have been extremely fortunate enough to be able to gain experience over a range of roles within the administration and care department in my career to date. In addition to this, I also studied to gain my NVQs – achieving distinctions.

I’m incredibly motivated to continue my progression for not only the benefit of myself, but most importantly our residents and the outstanding team I have the privilege to work alongside every day.”

Welcome to the team Ruby 🤩🤗

🚒 We had a fantastic morning as the Bishops Stortford Fire Brigade came to visit our residents!

Not only did they provided an important fire safety talk, but they also brought along their fire truck for everyone to explore!
Our residents had so much fun checking out all the equipment and learning about the amazing work our firefighters do to keep our community safe.

Thank you to the incredible team at Bishops Stortford Fire Station for such a memorable and informative visit! 👨‍🚒👩‍🚒

# FireSafety

🌟 How lucky are our residents at Meadowbrook Care Home! 🌟

Did you know that at Meadowbrook, our residents have exclusive access to our beautiful private dining room? It's the perfect setting to enjoy a special meal with your family or friends, and the best part is—it’s all included in your weekly price! 🎉

Simply call reception or chat with one of our friendly staff members to pre-book this lovely space.
❤️We love creating memorable moments for our residents, and our private dining option is just one of the many ways we go above and beyond at Connaught Care. 🍽️💫

"A big thank you to Sheila and her beautiful family for featuring in this picture." 🤗

Early morning walk in our beautifully landscaped garden 🪴

🐶 We had such a heartwarming visit from Boo, the adorable therapy dog from Essex Therapy Dogs and his very kind owner Andy 🐾

🐾 Boo brought so much joy and comfort to some of our residents, spreading smiles all around.

Thank you so much, Andy, for bringing Boo to brighten our day!

We’re already looking forward to your next visit.

🐶💖

🤩We had the pleasure of welcoming the talented Jane Stringer to Meadowbrook.

She brought so much joy to all the residents with her wonderful singing and dancing! 🎶 🎤 🪩 💃🏻

Everyone had an amazing time, and her beautiful voice truly lifted our spirits. Jane’s interaction with the residents is always great and unique.

“Red sails in the sunset” was beautifully sung by our resident June.

And of course Jane sang one of my old favourite: “Secret love” by Doris Day ❤️

🤗 Doug went to personally thank her at the end of her performance for sharing her gifted voice with us. 😊

What a pleasure it was to have you here, Jane!
We're already looking forward to your next visit! 🤗

🌟Only 1 week to go until our next event 🌟

🧀🍷 Join Us for a Delightful Cheese & Wine Evening on Tuesday the 17th of September 🍷🧀

We’re excited to invite you to our upcoming Cheese and Wine Evening, and guess what? Everyone is welcome! 🎉

Come and indulge in a variety of delicious cheeses paired perfectly with fine wines. Whether you're a wine expert or just looking for a relaxing evening with great company, this is the perfect event for you.
Enjoy a warm, friendly atmosphere and connect with others in our community.
Bring your friends and neighbors for an evening filled with good taste, laughter and enjoyment.

We can’t wait to see you there!

RSVP:
[email protected]

🌟 Weekend activities highlights 🌟

🎨 Arts session was a hit with Anita.
She decided to draw a beautiful heart shape and painted it with two stunning shades of red.
The creativity and passion in her artwork is truly inspiring! ❤️💕
Anita is proudly displaying the canvas on her bedside table 🤩

🧘 We practiced yoga and meditation on Sunday morning to prepare our body and soul for the day ahead☀️

🧳 Armchair travel took us to the south of France 🇫🇷 and inspired us to talk about past holidays memories ❤️

🧑‍🍳 The ladies have been busy mixing the ingredients to create some delicious fairy cakes 🧁 😉

Huge congratulations to the incredible residents, staff, and visitors of Meadowbrook for completing the half marathon charity run in support of St Clare Hospice 🏃‍♀️🏅 🏃‍♂️

Despite the bad weather, we didn’t let anything stop us – we are resilient and strong, and we did it anyway! 💪🌧

Thank you to our hospitality team for keeping us refreshed with cool and nutritious drinks along the way. 🥤

**If you haven’t done it yet and still would like to donate please follow the link below:**

https://www.justgiving.com/page/meadowbrookhalfmarathon?utm_medium=fundraising&utm_content=page%2Fmeadowbrookhalfmarathon&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=pfp-share

Together, we can make a difference! ❤️

We headed to Stansted Airport today for some plane spotting at the end of the runway, excited to see some action in the sky! ✈️

But to our surprise, there weren’t many planes flying today. 😅 No worries though – we made the most of it with a nice drink at the café and a great chat about our favorite holiday destinations.
Sometimes the best moments are the ones you don’t expect! 🛫☕️

🏃‍♂️ Countdown starts now: ONLY 48 HOURS TO GO until our charity run!! 🏃‍♀️

Meadowbrook Care Home is thrilled to announce a special charity event to support St Clare Hospice.

On the 5th of September, residents, staff, and family members will come together complete a total distance of 21 km.

This event is more than just a run; it's a united community effort to raise essential funds for St Clare Hospice. The hospice provides outstanding palliative care and support to those facing life-limiting illnesses in West Essex and East Hertfordshire, including Harlow.
By participating in this half marathon, we aim to support their mission and ensure they can continue offering compassionate care.

**Please donate to St Clare’s hospice on the link below**

https://www.justgiving.com/page/meadowbrookhalfmarathon?utm_medium=fundraising&utm_content=page%2Fmeadowbrookhalfmarathon&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=pfp-share

**Embracing Diversity at Meadowbrook!** 🌍

“Do you know what a foreign accent is?
It’s a sign of bravery” (Yale law professor Amy Chua)

At Meadowbrook, we celebrate the richness that different cultures and languages bring to our community.

Our Events Manager, Claudia, is a shining example of this. Proud of her Italian origins and her foreign accent, Claudia has lived in the UK for almost 20 years, and she remains deeply connected to her heritage.

A foreign accent doesn’t imply a lack of intelligence—in fact, it’s the opposite! It shows someone smart enough to know two languages and brave enough to navigate life in a second one.
Claudia embodies this, using her bilingual skills to empower others in learning a new language. 🇮🇹

We are thrilled to announce that she will be hosting **weekly Italian classes** for our residents! 🇮🇹✨

It's never too late to learn a second language, and the benefits for the brain are enormous.
Studies, conducted by the University of Edinburgh, have shown that learning a new language can delay the onset of dementia by several years.

Join us in this exciting journey of language and culture🌍 and let’s celebrate the diversity that makes Meadowbrook a truly special place to live. 🌟

🧑‍🍳 We run cooking sessions from Meadowbrook every week 👩‍🍳

We had a wonderfully productive baking afternoon yesterday!

Fred wasn't too keen on getting his hands stuck in the dough but he took on the role of a supervisor, giving Claudia instructions and making sure all the ingredients were just right from butter to flour, raisins and eggs.

Once the scones were baked, Fred couldn't resist—he thoroughly enjoyed a whole scone with butter and jam whilst relaxing in the cinema watching a movie 🎦 🍰🧈🍓

What a fantastic afternoon we had! 🎤
Colin from Me & My Rock n Roll Friends treated us all to some amazing live singing, and the residents were absolutely loving it.

Everyone joined in, singing along to their favorite tunes. 🎵
Residents and staff danced like professional dancers! Very impressive moves🤩💃🕺

It was so heartwarming to see so many smiles and hear the laughter filling the room.

These moments remind us of the joy that music can bring into our lives.

Here's to more fun afternoon like this! 🎶 🪩

💪 Our Dedicated Personal Trainer Molly is Bringing Fitness to Our Residents!** 💪

We are thrilled to highlight the daily work of our dedicated personal trainer who is offering one-on-one training sessions for our residents! 🌟

Molly’s personalized approach ensures that each resident receives a fitness plan tailored to their unique needs and abilities.

Whether it's building strength, improving flexibility, or boosting overall health, Molly’s sessions are making a real difference in our residents' lives.

The benefits of regular exercise are truly transformative. From enhancing mobility and balance to boosting mood and mental well-being, these sessions are empowering our residents to stay active, independent, and vibrant. 🏋️‍♀️✨

Let’s keep moving and keep smiling together! 😊

🌿 **Enhancing Well-Being in Our Care Home: The Power of Tai Chi and Mindfulness** 🌿

We are excited to share the incredible benefits that our residents are experiencing from our regular Tai Chi and Mindfulness sessions! 🌟

These gentle practices are more than just exercises; they are pathways to improved physical health, mental clarity, and emotional balance.
🧘 Tai Chi’s slow, deliberate movements are perfect for enhancing mobility and flexibility, while its meditative nature helps to reduce stress and anxiety. 🧘‍♀️

Meanwhile, mindfulness sessions are providing our residents with the tools to stay present, cultivate a sense of peace, and connect deeply with their surroundings. The combination of these practices is boosting their overall well-being, helping them to stay calm, centered, and joyful. 💖

We are committed to enriching the lives of our residents through activities that nurture the body, mind, and spirit.

Our events manager is planning these transformative sessions every week and is tailoring them to individual abilities 🙌

At Connaught Care, we pride ourselves on delivering person centred care tailored to each resident's unique wishes and needs.

When Fred expressed a desire to visit an old-fashioned pub, we made it happen with a delightful afternoon outing to a local pub.

We also had an amazing time at South Mill Arts where we explored Bishop’s Stortford Museum and delved into the fascinating history of the town and its surroundings.

It was an afternoon full of wonderful memories!
🍺 🍻 🎭

🌟 🎪 🎩 🌟 What an unforgettable day we had at Meadowbrook today! 🌟 🎪 🎩

We were thrilled to host over 100 guests, and the smiles on everyone's faces said it all.

The food was absolutely delicious and beautifully presented, with a drink selection that seemed endless. The circus acts were nothing short of brilliant!

Councillor Richard Townsend Aka The Mayor of Bishop's Stortford paid the home a visit this afternoon and had a lovely chat with our residents.

A huge shoutout to our amazing team, who put in so much effort to make the day a huge success. From the mouthwatering treats crafted by our skilled chefs, to the refreshing cocktails and mocktails provided by our hospitality team, to all the care, support and housekeeping team that helped with everything and not to forget our fantastic ring master who made it all happen. 🍰 🍸 🎩

We’re already looking forward to welcoming you to our next event!

We are ready for you!!! Cirque du Soleil is starting at 2 pm 🤩🎪

🏡🤝🤩 Meet the team! 🏡🤝🤩

Today we are introducing our Head of Hospitality - Dawn ☕️ 🍸 🍲

“Covid 19 changed my career path and bought me into care and I’ve never looked back. Having worked in the public and private sectors redundancy during the pandemic caused a rethink and a change. Starting as a domiciliary carer, then into care homes as a full time carer I’ve made my way back into hospitality. I now get the best of both sides of care, relationships with residents as well as family and friends. It’s a wonderful way to get to know the whole person, our resident.

Always the social butterfly I’ve never had any problem building rapport and friendships so heading the hospitality department fits my personality perfectly. A good cup of tea and a hearty meal can be one of the many joys as you get older and I aim to make it a pleasant and enjoyable experience every time.

Working alongside the Events Manager Claudia, will allow me to spend spend quality time with the residents, getting to know there back history, family, likes and dislikes. We’re all here to ensure our residents lives a life more extraordinary.

On a personal note I am a mum of two grown up sons, a Nana to the most beautiful granddaughter and soon to be wife to my fiancé as I’m tying the knot in November. My hobbies include gardening, reading, cooking and socialising with friends and family.

My core values include professionalism, integrity and understanding and I showcase these values throughout my work and relationships. My passion lies within Dementia and how it effects all those it effects. From those who live with it, to family and friends, staff who provide care and others. It is an illness that requires much more education and understanding in society. The care environment helps me develop to help others.
I very much look forward to being of service”.

🌸 **Experience the Warmth of Meadowbrook Care Home** 🌸

On Doris's first day at Meadowbrook, she leaned in and whispered in my ear, "What's your favorite color?" I asked why, and she smiled, "Because I'd love to knit you a blanket."

Doris’s love for knitting is more than a hobby; it’s a beautiful connection to her past. During one of our Reminiscence sessions, she shared stories of knitting baby blankets for the entire neighborhood after World War II. These memories are precious, and I am honored to help Doris relive them.

On a recent outing, we picked up some pastel-colored wool and a new pair of knitting needles for Doris—her favorite. Since then, she’s been joyfully working on a new blanket.

Inspired by Doris’s passion, our Events Manager is starting a knitting club, with Doris leading the way. She’s thrilled to be in charge! 😉

At Meadowbrook, our activities are always person-centered, tailored to our residents' needs and wishes. Our team at Connough Care is dedicated and highly trained to supporting residents with dementia, helping them bring out their very best.

💙Introducing our Senior Lead Daisy 💙🤗

“My name is Daisy. I started in the care industry at the age of 18 and have progressed to senior lead at Meadowbrook.

I have worked hard towards gaining my NVQ’s.

Working in a healthcare setting is something I have always been passionate about and love spending my time getting to know the residents and making a difference to their lives.

I have a little boy who is 11 months old, he is my absolute world and the reason I want to do well in work.

I have been a keen netball player for many years and still enjoy playing whenever I can.

🌟 Exciting News from Meadowbrook Care Home! 🌟

We’re hosting a special charity event on the 5th of September to support St Clare Hospice!
Our amazing residents, staff, and family members will join forces to complete a total of 21 km together.

🏃‍♀️ 🏃‍♂️ 🧑‍🦽 This isn’t just a run—it’s a powerful show of community spirit to help raise essential funds for St Clare Hospice. They do incredible work, providing top-notch palliative care and support to those facing life-limiting illnesses across West Essex and East Hertfordshire, including Harlow.

By taking part in this half marathon, we’re supporting their mission to continue delivering compassionate care. 💙

If you would like to make a valuable donatation and make a real change, then follow the link below.

Thank you for your support 🙌

https://www.justgiving.com/page/meadowbrookhalfmarathon?utm_medium=fundraising&utm_content=page%2Fmeadowbrookhalfmarathon&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=pfp-share

Meadowbrook fundraiser for St Clare Hospice (Hastingwood) Help Stephen Orwin raise money to support St Clare Hospice (Hastingwood)