Welcome to Our New Online Newsletter!
We’re excited to launch our brand-new newsletter, delivered straight from our new website! Over the past few months, we’ve had so much to celebrate—from fantastic Halloween fun to a magical Christmas filled with pantos, concerts, shopping outings, and more. If you follow us on Facebook, you’ve probably seen all the great stories we’ve shared—have you joined us there yet?
One of our proudest moments was winning the “Specialist Service/Unit of the Year Award 2024” at the Scottish Care 20th National Care Home Awards—a true testament to the wonderful community we have here at Applecross.
As we look ahead to 2025, we want you to be part of our journey! This newsletter will keep you updated on what’s happening at Applecross, share exciting upcoming events, and celebrate special moments together.
Thank you for being a valued part of the Applecross family—we can’t wait to share this journey with you!
regards,
Applecross News Team
Exciting News!
We are delighted to share that a brand-new, bespoke lift will soon be installed in our main building! While our current lift has served us well over the years, it is now time for an upgrade to ensure even better accessibility, comfort, and reliability for our residents, visitors, and staff.
This investment is part of our Maintenance Improvement Plan for 2025, reflecting our ongoing commitment to enhancing the living experience at Applecross. The new lift will provide greater convenience, improved safety, and a smoother, more efficient service for everyone who uses it.
We understand how important this facility is in daily life, and we are excited about the positive impact this upgrade will bring. We will keep you informed about the installation process and any temporary changes while the work is underway.
Thank you for your patience and support as we continue making Applecross the best possible home for our residents. Stay tuned for more updates!
Get Involved in Our Newsletter! – Calling All Residents and Relatives
We love keeping you up to date with all the exciting things happening at Applecross Nursing Home, but now we need your help to make our newsletter even better!
Do you have a story to share, a special memory, or a favourite hobby you’d like to tell us about? Whether it’s a fun resident activity, a heartwarming moment, or even your favourite recipe – we’d love to hear from you!
Here are some ideas to inspire you: Resident Spotlights – Celebrate special moments or achievements from our wonderful residents.
Family Stories – Share a cherished memory or something special about your loved one’s time at Applecross.
Hobbies and Recipes – From gardening tips to treasured family recipes, we’d love to feature your favourites!
Creative Corner – Poems, paintings, or crafts—showcase your talents with our community.
Your contributions will help make our newsletter a warm, personal, and engaging read for everyone in our Applecross community.
Send your stories, photos, and ideas to john@applecrossnursinghome.com
We can’t wait to hear from you! Let’s make the next issue of Applecross News truly special—together!
Important Update: Visiting Applecross
At Applecross, keeping our residents safe and secure is always our highest priority. To help us maintain a safe environment, we are making a change to how visitors access the building.
From now on, entry to the YPD Unit will only be through the main building entrance. We know this is a change from what some of you are used to, and we want to explain why it’s necessary. Despite our efforts, such as signage and reminders, we have continued to experience issues with visitors entering without signing in and, on some occasions, the YPD door being left open. This creates a risk, particularly for some of our more vulnerable residents.
By welcoming all visitors through the main entrance, we can ensure that everyone signs in, helping us keep track of who is in the building and making sure visits are safe and smooth for everyone. Once you’ve signed in, a member of our team will be happy to assist you in reaching the area you are visiting. When it’s time to leave, just let us know, and we’ll help you on your way.
We understand that changes like this can feel inconvenient, but we truly appreciate your understanding and support. Our aim is always to balance security with a warm and welcoming environment for residents, families, and visitors alike.
Thank you for working with us to help keep Applecross a safe and supportive home.
Welcoming Our New IT Specialist
We’re delighted to introduce our new IT Specialist, who brings a wealth of experience to Applecross. As technology plays a growing role in enhancing life at our home, he will be leading key projects to improve our digital services and connectivity.
His role is not only about supporting our systems but also about helping our residents and their families stay connected. Whether it’s assisting with video calls, helping residents access digital entertainment, or supporting relatives with online tools, he is here to help.
Applecross uses a lot of technology—and we will continue to do so—to make life better for residents and staff. Our new IT Specialist has a big role in making that happen, and we are thrilled to welcome him to the team!
If you need assistance with anything digital—from staying in touch with loved ones to using online services—feel free to reach out to him.
Stay tuned for more updates from him in our digital newsletter!
Exciting Technology Updates at Applecross
We’re delighted to share how we’re using technology to improve communication, care, and daily life at Applecross.
New Website & Intranet
Our new website is now live, making it easier for families to find information, stay updated, and connect with us. We’ve also upgraded our staff intranet to improve communication and provide easy access to key resources, policies, and training materials.
Network & Wi-Fi Upgrades
We’re improving connectivity across the home with faster, more reliable Wi-Fi. This means better video calls with loved ones, smoother online entertainment, and enhanced digital health tools.
Technology Benefits for Residents & Families:
These technology improvements are designed to enhance daily life for our residents and their families. With faster Wi-Fi and better digital tools, residents can enjoy easier video calls and messaging to stay in touch with loved ones. Improved connectivity also means more access to online entertainment, such as music, audiobooks, streaming services, and brain-training games.
How Technology Supports Our Staff:
Our upgrades are also making a real difference for our dedicated team. With an improved intranet, staff can easily access schedules, care plans, and important announcements, streamlining communication. Real-time digital care planning ensures that care records are accurate and up to date, improving efficiency and documentation. Online training modules are now more accessible, helping staff stay current with best practices and develop their skills. Additionally, better connectivity supports smart medical devices and digital tools, making daily tasks more efficient and giving staff more time for meaningful, direct resident care.
Pulse Survey
At Applecross, we’re always looking for ways to improve and ensure that our residents and their families feel heard. That’s why we’re introducing Pulse Surveys—a quick and easy way to share your feedback!
Unlike long, time-consuming questionnaires, Pulse Surveys are short, focused, and take just a minute or two to complete. They’ll help us understand what we’re doing well and where we can improve, ensuring that Applecross continues to be a place where everyone feels valued and supported.
We’ll be running these regularly throughout the year, covering different aspects of life at Applecross—from communication and events to care and daily experiences. Your input will help shape the way we do things, ensuring we meet the needs of both residents and their families.
Our first Pulse Survey is now live, and we’d love for you to take part! It only takes a minute, and your feedback is incredibly important to us.
Take the survey now: Take the Survey
Thank you for being part of the Applecross family—we look forward to hearing your thoughts!
Activities Update March at Applecross Nursing Home
Spring is in the air, and we’ve got a fantastic line-up of activities for our residents this March! Below are just some of the exciting events happening over the coming weeks. Remember, there’s something happening every day, so be sure to check the full activity schedule to see what else is on!
- Cooking with Care – 11th March – Join us for our Cooking with Care workshop! Residents will be rolling up their sleeves to make cakes, strawberry tarts, and other tasty treats. Guided by our head chef and activity coordinators, this is a great opportunity to get creative in the kitchen and enjoy some delicious results!
- Exercise & Movement Group – 12th March at 2:30 PM (Level 2 Activity Room) – Staying active is important for both body and mind, so why not join our weekly exercise and movement group? This session is designed to be fun, sociable, and a great way to boost self-esteem and well-being through gentle exercise and games.
- British Science Week Fun – 14th March at 2:30 PM (Level 2 Activity Room) – To celebrate British Science Week, we’ll be trying out some exciting hands-on experiments! From building a mini volcano to creating a colourful rainbow, this is a great chance to learn something new while having a bit of fun!
- St. Patrick’s Day Entertainment – 17th March at 2:30 PM (Main Building) – Get ready for a musical afternoon as we welcome the Neilston Strings for a special St. Patrick’s Day performance! Sing along, tap your feet, or even get up and dance as we enjoy some traditional tunes. Residents are encouraged to wear something green to join in the celebrations!
- Monthly Karaoke – 24th March at 2:30 PM (Main Building) – Warm up those vocal cords and get ready to sing your heart out at our monthly karaoke event! Whether you love the classics or want to try something new, this is a brilliant opportunity to enjoy music, boost well-being, and have fun with friends.
- Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea – 28th March at 2:30 PM (Activity Room) – We’re hosting a special afternoon tea for Mother’s Day, offering a relaxed setting where residents who are mothers can enjoy good company, tea, cakes, and a bit of pampering.
- Eid Celebration – 31st March at 2:30 PM (Level 2 Activity Room) – Come along to learn more about Eid, a special celebration in the Islamic calendar. We’ll be crafting decorations and cards, discovering more about the culture, and offering henna tattoos for anyone who’d like one!
Remember: This is just a selection of what’s happening this month – we have activities every single day! If you’d like to know more or take part in something new, check in with our activity coordinators.
Let’s make March a month full of fun, learning, and community spirit at Applecross!
