Residential Care Homes

Communion is shared with residents at a number of local care homes. The following was written by Sandra Williams, Activities Coordinator for Larchfield Care Home for our 2010 Annual Report.

Larchfield Care Home, provides specialist dementia care with nursing, and has now been open 4 years. We are grateful to All Saints Church for the spiritual care given to our residents from the inception, which enables people to continue to practise their faith and be a part of the wider community. A big thank you to Fr Jeremy Harris and Brigitte Ranger for their creative ministry, which they have tailored to the needs of those we care for. Residents of all denominations are welcome to attend the monthly services, and the services focus on enabling memory recall, as well as the senses, to aid communication and participation.

A variety of resources have been brought into the home to assist in sharing ‘God’s Word’. Highlights have been the ‘Mary and Martha’ doll which was passed around the room – very kindly one of your parishioners knitted us one, as it was such a success and residents were reluctant to hand it back. At our Harvest Service, Fr Jeremy brought the sheaf of bread, so intricately made for your own Harvest Service, which everyone loved to see and touch.

In May 2010, Fr Jeremy and Brigitte invited our Home Manager and me to join them in attending a seminar entitled Improving the quality of End of Life care for elderly people in Care Homes run by The Simeon Trust, who promote the spiritual life of the elderly in residential homes. Unlike other delegates we attended as a team already working together for the common good.

In November 2010, I was privileged to be invited to your Stewardship Meeting to speak about the spiritual needs of those in care, as well as their loved ones. It was good to learn about All Saints mission to further develop your ministry amongst the community living on the Larchfield estate.

Our Christmas Carol Service was a memorable occasion and so inclusive. Residents, relatives and staff joined together to celebrate. La stood in for Fr Jeremy and gave a memorable sermon, using a parcel with many layers of wrapping paper. The ultimate gift was the baby Jesus. Our overseas staff shared carols from their own countries and we finished with another sensory element – tea and mince pies!

Brigitte and I continue to be amazed at the way people challenged by a dementia have the most wonderful capacity to remember hymns from deep within their memory – in particular Silent Night. Very recently we have also discovered that the Triune blessing; ‘May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all’ remains close to people’s hearts and in their memories. May we thank All Saints Church for extending God’s love to our home and for your fellowship