World Championship Marathon Runner Cares For Holly Tree Lodge Residents
Trust Care is thrilled to recognise the outstanding achievement of Julie Briscoe, a nurse from our Holly Tree Lodge Care Home, who triumphed in the women’s over-45 category at the prestigious World Masters Marathon Championships held in Romania earlier this month.
Julie’s remarkable marathon time of 2 hours, 49 minutes, and 36 seconds not only earned her first place in her age group but also positioned her as the second veteran woman overall and the top European competitor in the category. Demonstrating exceptional endurance and skill, Julie crossed the finish line a full 20 minutes ahead of her nearest competitor.
Nurse Julie said: "Fitting in my training regime around my nursing duties is no small feat. I run twice a day every day, and on my work days I often run 10k to work do my 12 hour shift and then run 10k home! I have had so much encouragement from my colleagues and motivation from residents that it keeps me pushing forward, both in my work and my running. Their support has been invaluable, and I feel so lucky to be able to combine my dedication to care with my love for running."
Julie’s passion for running goes back years; she previously represented England in the general category at the World 50k Championships, where she achieved an impressive 9th place. Now, having rekindled her love for competitive running, Julie looks forward to participating in more marathons and Masters competitions globally.
Holly Tree Lodge Staff Nurse Saves Toddler’s Life
At our Holly Tree Lodge in Shafton, Barnsley, one staff member’s extraordinary actions have gone beyond her everyday nursing duties to save a young child’s life. Desiree Peters, a staff nurse who has been nursing residents at Holly Tree for 3 years, recently came to the rescue of a local toddler in a terrifying medical emergency.
Desiree was hailed a hero by local resident Emmy, the mother of two-year-old Lainey, after her quick-thinking helped save the little girl's life. The incident occurred when Lainey’s grandmother, Catherine, was watching her when the toddler had a medical episode and suddenly stopped breathing and turned blue.
Desiree jumped into action, giving life-saving medical attention until Lainey began breathing again and her oxygen levels stabilised. Despite not being a trained paediatric nurse, Desiree drew upon her past experience working in a children's ward over 20 years ago, bringing vital skills into practice. “After a long 10 minutes, Lainey started crying, and I was so relieved that we managed to bring her back,” Desiree said.
Kasia, the manager of Holly Tree Lodge, praised Desiree’s heroic actions: “We are immensely proud of Desiree. Her quick thinking and care helped save Lainey. Though we primarily care for the elderly here, we’re very much part of the community, and it’s wonderful to see how we can help others when they need us.”
Desiree’s exceptional actions have earned her a place as a finalist in the upcoming Proud of Barnsley Awards for her bravery and community spirit. Her dedication, both to the residents of Holly Tree Lodge and the wider community, is a true testament to her compassionate nature and exceptional professionalism.
How Trust Care Remembered the 80th Anniversary of D-Day
We recently enjoyed paying tribute the heroes of World War II, as our care homes across the group celebrated the 80th anniversary of D-Day with a series of nostalgic events that brought residents and their families together.
D-Day Celebrations
The homes were filled with the sounds of the 1940s as vintage-style singers performed classic wartime songs, evoking memories of a bygone era. Whilst some residents enjoyed a WWII ‘pack-up’ of which included a spam sandwiches, boiled eggs and a scone.
D-Day Stories
The celebrations featured an array of activities designed to honour the sacrifices and resilience of those who lived through the war. Union Jack cupcakes, lovingly baked, themed decorations, games and music filled our homes as did tales of courage and community spirit.
"It’s wonderful to see so many of our residents so engaged and happy," said Andrew Savage, Managing Director of Trust Care. "These events are not just about remembering the past, but also about celebrating the lives and experiences of our residents. Thank you to all our staff who made a fantastic effort to make this day so special and memorable for everyone. Your dedication and hard work is truly appreciated."
Happy Laurels Resident Joyce Jones Celebrates 104th Birthday
In a milestone celebration, The Laurels resident, Joyce Jones marked her 104th birthday! Born and raised in Woodlands, Doncaster, Joyce's journey reflects the enduring spirit of Yorkshire folk.
Doncaster in 1920
Born in 1920, life in Doncaster at that time was very different from today, coal mining was a profession for many, including Joyce’s own father, and tight-knit communities defined the town. It was during this period, after World War 1, where there was much social change, in Doncaster it was a time when new suburbs were emerging and the first council houses were built.
For Joyce, her upbringing was in a close-knit family alongside two sisters and a brother, and was shaped by the values of hard work and community.
Joyce's early years
Joyce's early passion was for ballet, passing 5 examinations in total, however, Joyce left school early to assist in her mother's home-based shop, where she developed her entrepreneurial skills. Joyce eventually, set up her own local shop, that was known for its delicious homemade goods and becoming the hub of community life.
It was during this time Joyce met Roy, her husband of nearly seven decades, with whom she shared a daughter and cherished memories until her daughter's passing in 2010. Joyce continues to enjoy family life with her 4 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren and 3 great, great grandchildren.
She and Roy enjoyed tending to their garden, relishing the fruits of their labour alongside the simp
le pleasures of life. As well as holiday abroad to places such as Switzerland, Italy and Canada.
Joyce moved to Trust Care's The Laurels in September 2021, where her commitment to living life to the full continues in her enjoyment of bingo, word searches, and cherished visits from family and friends.
Secret to enjoying a long life
Reflecting on her long life, Joyce said it was her dedication to doing everything to the best of her abilities. She and Roy found joy in each other's company, in their shared hobbies, and in the memories of a life well-lived.
Joyce enjoyed celebrating her 104th birthday with a tea party in her honour at The Laurels, surrounded by fellow residents, friends and family.
How an Aging Suit Helps Carers Resonate with Residents
The old adage ‘Walk a mile in someone else’s shoes’ has resonated around Attlee Court recently with staff using an age simulation suit to experience life as an older person.
"The suit is a great way for our staff to really immerse themselves in the daily challenges faced by some of our residents," said Michelle Smith, Care Home Manager at Attlee Court.
What is an Aging Suit?
The simulation suits, designed to replicate the physical limitations and discomforts of aging, offered staff a first-hand experience of mobility issues, diminished sensory perception, and other common ailments. From reduced mobility to impaired vision and hearing, they gained insight into the hurdles some of our residents have to navigate on a daily basis.
How an Aging Suit Helps
Speaking about the experience, Logan, a laundry assistant at Attlee Court, said: "Wearing the aging simulation suit was an eye-opening experience. It made me realise the importance of patience and understanding when assisting our residents. Simple tasks become incredibly hard, I was worried about falling over and felt as though I had to shuffle my feet to ensure I kept upright because of my limited vision, it was such a unique experience and will certainly help us empathise more with our residents’ struggles."
Michelle continued: “Using this suit to effectively walk a mile in our resident’s shoes, has really helped us to enhance our understanding of their challenges and create stronger connections with our residents. The importance of patience, appreciation and empathy has never been more apparent and it was really useful to let our staff experience this in such a visceral way.”
The initiative has received positive feedback from staff, residents and their families and has highlighted the potential for developing additional empathy-building exercises to help enrich the lives of residents at Attlee Court.
Trust Care Uses AI Technology to Help Care for Residents
Trust Care Ltd, has invested in unique AI technology to enhance the safety, comfort and care of residents.
The smart Nobi lights installed at a number of the group’s eight homes, are an innovative and unobtrusive use of smart AI technology that can detect and adapt to a resident’s needs, whilst alerting staff in the event of a fall.
"The integration of technology into our homes represents our commitment to providing exceptional care experiences, the Nobi lights look like a standard pendant light fitting but they do so much more,” said Steve Wilson, Operations Director of Trust Care Ltd. “They enable us to monitor residents' well-being more effectively and respond promptly to their needs, they help provide independence and privacy while supporting our staff to deliver an enhanced person centred care plan.”
AI Lighting
The Nobi lights come equipped with advanced features designed to enhance the care environment. They incorporate sophisticated sensors for swift fall detection and prevention, ensuring residents receive prompt assistance when needed. Additionally, the lights adjust their brightness and colour temperature based on the time of day and resident preferences, creating an optimal environment for relaxation, activities, or sleep.
Real-Time Monitoring
Care home staff benefit from real-time monitoring, enabling them to remotely assess the status of the resident giving independence and privacy whilst maintaining a secure and comfortable environment. The Nobi lights also give the ability to receive alerts about any unusual activity, ensuring a speedy response.
Steve added: “This investment in AI technology underpins our commitment to innovation and excellence in the care. By combining technology with individualised care plans and staff who have a genuine compassion for caring for others, we hope to lead the way in delivering exceptional care in the region and provide our residents and their families with a safe and comfortable home away from home.”
Wishes Do Come True For One Wrawby Hall Resident
Wrawby Hall resident Charlie Drinkhall was turning 86 and his wish… to spend his birthday with current service personnel and veterans.
Charlie served as a Grenadier Guard in the 3rd Battalion between 1957 and 1959 wished to commemorate his special day reminiscing about his time in the military with fellow service comrades.
Danielle Savage, Care Home Manager at Wrawby Hall, said: "When a new resident joins us here at Wrawby Hall, they each get to make a wish, and we try to grant them where possible. Charlie's wish was to meet up with some veterans from the armed forces."
The team at Wrawby Hall set about extended an invitation via social media to both current and past service members to join in celebrating Charlie's birthday. The social post mentioned Charlie's dedicated service to the Grenadier Guards and highlighted his enduring passion for the military.
"We'd love to be able to do something special for Charlie and surprise him, as he still has a great passion for the military," Danielle included within the post. "Unfortunately, we can't get Charlie away from the home."
The response was overwhelming, with dozens of servicemen and veterans alike rallying to make Charlie's birthday a memorable occasion, including a piper. Charlie was thrilled with the turn out and with tears in his eyes he realised the special camaraderie and bond shared among those who have served in the Military.
Charlie's birthday shows the spirit of community at Wrawby Hall, where residents' wishes are honoured and celebrated, and was featured on the local BBC news.
