8 Celebrating our award winners
12 Financial first aid
4 Care with Anchor
Spring 2022
How we’re helping residents
Our range of free wellbeing services
Join our resident involvement groups
Meet our new Executive Director of Housing Services
Sharing your passions
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Hello and welcome... …to Life, our resident magazine.
with five regional heads of housing, and 16 operations managers leading the area managers in their districts. I hope the worst of the pandemic is now behind us, so I’ll be looking to evolve our service. I want to ensure resident opinions and changing needs inform its development and hope you’ll share your views. Offering an inclusive service is also important, I’m looking forward to hearing views from our new Minority Ethnic and Sensory Awareness resident groups (see page 11). Congratulations to our Loving Later Life Award winners (pages 8-9). If their
stories spark your interest, check out details of our Be Well offer, which has plenty of ideas to help you look after your wellbeing. I hope you enjoy this issue and you can share your feedback on it using the details below.
I ’m delighted to have joined the Anchor team. In the housing service this includes Sarah Chatfield Director of Homeownership, Graeme Hall Director of Customer Services and I’m currently recruiting to the vacant director of rented housing position. With just over 48,000 properties to manage, last summer we established dedicated rented and homeownership teams,
Suki Jandu Executive Director – Housing Services
Our thanks to Residents’ Council Wellbeing Lead Ann Stephens and fellow resident Muriel McNulty from Stevenson Court in Bolton for featuring on the cover.
Life magazine is available in print, or online at www.anchor.org.uk/resident- publications, so everyone can enjoy reading it how and when they want to. Please speak to your local manager if you need audio or large print versions. Anchor is the trading name of Anchor Hanover Group, which is a charitable housing association with registered society No 7843. Registered Provider No. LH4095. *There are several different phone numbers within this magazine. Calls to 0800 and 0300 numbers are usually free. Please check with your phone provider as charges for calls to other numbers may vary or be included within your call package. Send your feedback about Life magazine to: life@anchor.org.uk or write to: Life, Anchor, 2 Godwin Street, Bradford, BD1 2ST
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Helping more people love living independently in later life
W e’re always looking for ways to improve and have been trialling new ways of delivering our services at some of our retirement communities since summer 2020. This was driven by residents’ changing needs - some have more complex health and social care needs and people are living longer. We need to deliver our services more efficiently and effectively, to benefit our residents and provide them with more choice. This trial ends shortly and has shown some residents would like to be able to use technology more to access our services, while some really benefited from having access to the service and support provided by a different type of local manager role we trialled. It’s been a very valuable exercise and we’re grateful for residents’ experiences, insight and feedback, which is being considered along with our own findings, as we continue to explore how we support our residents to live independently in our retirement communities.
This is all part of our Be Me programme, and as it progresses, we’ll continue to involve residents, and members of our Residents’ Council, in its development and provide updates.
Be Me is all about supporting residents to live their lives the way they want The principles guiding and shaping the development of our rented housing service have been developed with colleague and resident feedback, • To help us deliver:a great resident experience
• An inclusive service for everyone • A flexible service wherever possible
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Peace of mind with Anchor care homes
I t’s not always easy when circumstances change and a loved one needs the help or reassurance 24-hour care provides. But did you know Anchor also offers residential care and care for people living with dementia? We have over 100 care homes located throughout England, where we take pride in creating environments based on feedback from our residents and their families, to ensure residents can continue to love living in later life. Many of our care homes have pub or cafe areas to socialise in, a number have cinema rooms and other areas, such as sensory rooms, hair and beauty salons and reminiscence areas. Our menus are also created with residents’ input, with regular tasting sessions and themed menus, and our chefs’ expertise means special dietary needs are easily catered for too.
Limegrove care home in East Horsley, Surrey recently welcomed a new resident from nearby Darfield Road, an Anchor leasehold housing location in Guildford. The resident’s daughter contacted Anchor as her mother had been assessed as needing residential care and knew Limegrove was close by making it an easier move all round. George Sargent, Deputy Manager at Limegrove explains how care colleagues are happy to help with enquiries; “We know residents and their families have lots of questions and a move into care can be an emotional experience for everyone involved. We’re all happy to help, from when an enquirer contacts us, to the day a new resident comes to live at Limegrove and we work hard to be a real home from home for our residents.”
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We regularly have welcome offers available for existing Anchor housing residents moving into our care homes. If you have any questions regarding our care homes or moving from housing into care, please contact Rachel Dodd-Smith during working hours on 07483 946072* or email rachel.dodd-smith@ anchor.org.uk .
An extra hand to live how you want W e also offer a housing option for those wanting to live
From Newcastle upon Tyne in the north to Plymouth in the south, there could be an extra care community near you. Speak to your local manager or take a look online at www.anchor.org.uk/extra-care if you’re interested in finding out about your nearest Anchor extra care community and services.
independently who may need extra help or reassurenace to do so – it’s called ‘extra care’. With more than 100 Anchor extra care housing communities across England, our properties offer high-quality homes with a range of great on-site facilities in a fully accessible setting, all within a thriving community. It’s just like living in an independent retirement flat, with the added benefit of support from an on-site team of professionals when needed. Residents choose from a range of flexible, chargeable services subject to financial assessment, to help maintain their independence. These may include onsite restaurant or catering services, personal care, housing- related support and wellbeing services.
6 Love living in later life with
L ots of us they want help to stay active, healthy and feel part of their retirement communities. That’s why we offer our Be Well residents tell resident wellbeing services - as well as involvement opportunities through our Be Involved groups.
Be Active is our online wellness and movement programme to support residents in taking care of their own physical health and wellbeing, increasing their mobility and independence in the process. There’s a range of videos, podcasts and printed exercise leaflets, teaching simple exercises, yoga, movement to music, as well as seated accessible routines - all designed to improve strength, co-ordination and balance.
We offer support to get you online, to help you stay more connected with friends and family and make daily life easier. We can help if you don’t have Wi-Fi or need to borrow tablet devices and training materials as an individual or residents’ group. Or use your skills to support other residents to learn to use new technology by becoming one of our digital volunteers.
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It’s never too late to try or learn something new. That’s why, with feedback from residents in our pilot scheme, we created Be Skilled - an exclusive online learning resource for our residents. Offering a variety of online courses - from poetry to food hygiene, Be Skilled makes it easy to try something new or rediscover something old, at a pace that suits you.
As social creatures, simple interactions with others often make our day and lift our spirits but sometimes circumstances can make it hard to make friends or stay in touch with others. Be Connected is an easy way to connect and make friends with Anchor residents across the country, without leaving home. • For a good chat and to hear from guest speakers, join our virtual coffee mornings online or by phone, at 11am every Tuesday • If you feel lonely, Reengage provide free and friendly phone calls . Ask your local manager or our Customer Centre on 0800 731 2020* to arrange for Reengage to contact you and get things started
Offering a range of free and confidential services, Be Wise provides practical assistance and support to help you make the most of your money. Whether it’s a benefit health check, help with a benefit claim, energy billing issues and meter problems or bespoke contents insurance policies for Anchor residents. Call Be Wise free on 0800 023 4477 (9am to 5pm Monday-Friday) or look online at www.anchor.org.uk/ be-wise
For more about Be Well go to www.anchor.org.uk/be-well or email BeWell@anchor.org.uk or call Becci Lynch on 07483 911705* .
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Our Loving Later Life Awards After relaunching our Loving Later Life Awards and our judges working through the mountain of nominations, we’re delighted to introduce you to the winning residents are making a real difference in their Anchor community. The Greatest GRANDPARENT(S) Neighbour LIKE NO OTHER
Mr and Mrs Stridgen from Ford Gardens, Rochdale were nominated by their local manager Lynzie Baker for their continued support during the pandemic. From planting fruit and vegetables and organising afternoon teas, to delivering salad bags to residents, making scones and even hosting sign language lessons – contributions Lynzie knows residents appreciate. “I am honoured to have these residents living at my estate.”
Geraldine Harris from Camberley Close, Northampton was nominated by her daughter because she is like a parent to her grandchildren, telling them stories and guiding them through life. The head of the family with 10 grandchildren and two great grandchildren, it’s a role Geraldine revels in. “One of my greatest pleasures is a family get together and watching the future generations grow.”
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Pawsome PET Several residents nominated Dylan, who lives with his owner at Bridgewood Lodge, Heywood as being a credit to his owner, Jean Rosser, by keeping everyone’s spirits high during the pandemic and bringing joy to the whole retirement community. Jean said: “I am so really Digital DYNAMO Gill Hayton at Denham Garden Village, Uxbridge was nominated by her friend for supporting several friends and neighbours by teaching them basic IT skills, like safe shopping and joining an e-library. “I have worked with computers for many years and I am convinced that, used safely, they can open up many possibilities for all of us.”
COVID CHAMP An impressive 12 reasons were in the nomination made by a friend of Lenny Henry at Hanover House, Folkestone. Lenny has
been shopping for vulnerable neighbours, taking neighbours out for a treat after lockdown and checking all the residents were okay.
Avid LEARNER
Ruth Rowlands from Hanover Close, Bradford was nominated by her friend after completing an IT course at 88 years old
despite never using a computer before. When asked how she felt about winning, Ruth said: “I feel marvellous! I didn’t think I was that clever.”
proud of Dylan, I love him to bits, he is my soul mate. I am so pleased; this news has really lifted my spirits.”
It’s by having pet-friendly policies enabling residents to keep much-loved companions, like the ‘Paw’some Dylan, that’s seen us win the RSPCA’s Gold PawPrint award for a third year running. We believe pet ownership is beneficial to mental and physical wellbeing and are delighted to be able to accommodate pets in many of our retirement communities.
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Sharing your passions
S omeone painting is Geoff Brignall from Sorrell Court, Kingsteignton, Devon, who took it up as a hobby over thirty years ago. It’s something that’s really kept him going through the pandemic. “I have passionate about been a painter all my working life, spending the last eight years as a painting and decorating instructor at the MOD Resettlement Service at Catterick Garrison.”
Having written and shared stories about her culture in schools, thirty years ago Patsy founded dance group ‘The Caribbean Quadrille Dancers’ who performed in the national dress of Dominica. Following her move from London to Bradford in 2017, she established another Caribbean dance group which took part in the city’s centenary Windrush celebrations. Patsy’s endeavours have even been recognised with awards from the Dominican Government, and an interview aired on the ‘She Talks’ Bradford Community Broadcasting radio series.
Another resident featured on the airwaves is Hilary Stelling from Hanover Gardens in Mulbarton, Norwich. A chance remark about sending her beloved but broken menorah, an eight-branched candelabra used for the Jewish festival of Hanukkah, to the BBC’s Repair Shop resulted in the menorah’s restoration and a television appearance. Filmed last February, there was much excitement for Hilary and her family when the episode aired in November. “Although I said I wouldn’t cry on TV, that’s exactly what I did. It has been a fantastic experience and I would do it again in a heartbeat.”
Patsy Peltier Scott from Hanover Close, Bradford has been passionately promoting her Dominican culture with others for years.
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Helping us understand our retirement communities W ould you like to input into how Anchor’s services and resources are made accessible and relevant to all our residents? As well as our Residents’ Council, we have a number of resident involvement groups (currently meeting online and by phone). These provide an opportunity to meet new people and share experiences, with more formal meetings to discuss housing and care issues faced by each group, to help shape the way we do things, such as colleague training. Two groups we’re seeking more members for are our LGBT+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and others) and Sensory Awareness groups. We’re also looking to form a new group representing residents from a diverse range of ethnicities. If you’d like to join any of these groups, please email ResidentEDI@anchor.org.uk or call 07890 030 063* during working hours.
Do you have a passion for fitness? Former fitness instructor and resident Terry Keen is a passionate supporter of Be Active and other initiatives to help residents keep moving in later life. We’d love to hear from other residents keen to share their fitness knowledge and passion to support future campaigns. Email BeActive@anchor. org.uk or call 07523 943501* if you’d like to get involved.
Byron Elliott, our Resident Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Specialist, works closely with and supports our resident involvement groups.
After undergoing an emergency triple heart bypass last year, we’re delighted to report Terry’s very much active again – with doctors attributing his successful recovery to how fit Terry’s active lifestyle had made him.
12 Financial first aid I t’s difficult to avoid news about the increasing cost of living. We’re working hard to make sure our services provide value for money. Whether that’s monitoring the energy market and buying at the best price or using our size to get a good deal from contractors. We know many of our residents are trying to make their money go further. Here are some helpful steps you can take today. I’m struggling to pay my rent/ service charge
With rising energy prices, I’m worried about heating my home While recent increases in wholesale gas prices mean the usual energy deals and price comparison options aren’t currently available, Be Wise can help you with any energy billing issues, meter problems, available grants and energy saving tips.
If you have one, your local manager is always the best person to talk to in the first instance. Through Be Wise, our advisors can offer a benefit health check and help you claim, as well as help with complex benefit queries. Or if you prefer, for tips, our online benefits calculator and more visit www.anchor.org.uk/finance
Check out page 7 for more about the free and confidential support Be Wise can offer including, Money and Energy Wise. If worrying about your finances is having a detrimental effect on your mental and physical wellbeing, our Be Well initiatives on the same page could help too. Money Wise Energy Wise Insurance Wise
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