Our SMILE Campaign!

Discover heartwarming stories from our SMILE campaign, where Bluebird Care staff go the extra mile to brighten the lives of our clients in Gloucester. Read about Bob’s unforgettable football match outing, Daphne’s lunch adventure, Edna’s regular shopping trips, and Julie’s revitalising pampering experience. Each story highlights the meaningful impact of personalised care and shared moments of joy. Explore how our dedicated team is making a difference, one SMILE at a time!

Robert

Adam nominated Bob for our SMILE campaign because Adam and Bob share many interests in common like football. The majority of Bob's visits involve a lot of football talk. Adam discovered that over 35 years have passed since Bob has attended a football game!In an attempt to make things a bit brighter for Bob, Adam asked him if he would like to attend a game, and Bob happily agreed! In the world of AFC Wimbledon, Bob is the number one fan. As a result, Adam took on the task of researching the local clubs that Wimbledon was playing and he found that Cheltenham Town FC was playing AFC Wimbledon. healthcare-at-home-in-cheltenham Bob was picked up by Adam at 2pm on game day, and Adam assisted him in getting ready, and then he promptly got Bob's scooter into his car and drove him to the Cheltenham Town FC stadium. It was a beautiful day for the game, and the sunshine made it even better! Unfortunately Bob's team scored first but lost the game 3-1. Bob is hoping for a better result next time he returns!

Daphne

Care Assistant Jane noticed that being unable to go out and about had negatively affected Daphne's mood. Jane nominated Daphne for our SMILE project because Jane has been visiting Daphne since she first joined Bluebird Care in 2018, and Jane wanted to see Edna smile! It was agreed by the management team that Daphne would feel empowered if she was involved in planning her SMILE event by making her own choices. In Daphne’s quest to try something new, Daphne chose to enjoy a meal out in a place she or Jane have never been to before. We ensured the restaurant had wheelchair access, and good food according to Daphne's dietary requirements. "Earlier today Jane Dunlevy took me by car and wheelchair to the Gloucester Old Spot for lunch. As we drove to the pub the rain came down in torrents but on arrival, a bright sun reappeared. Wonderful timing. We had a delicious meal, a good chat and were well looked after by the staff. I wish to thank Bluebird for my treat".

Edna

The recipient of our SMILE grant this month was Edna, who was nominated by her carer Amber from Bluebird. Amber had noticed that Edna's mood had been low due to being unable to go out and about, and her family live too far away to visit regularly. Amber felt that a SMILE event would help lift Edna’s spirits and give her something to look forward to. With Edna involved in planning her day out, she chose to have lunch at one of her favourite places, where she had eaten before and enjoyed the food. Amber took Edna out for a few hours, and they had a lovely afternoon together. The outing had a noticeable positive effect on Edna’s wellbeing, and she said she really enjoyed being able to make her own choices. Following the success of this SMILE event, regular weekly outings are now part of Edna’s routine. She looks forward to her Tuesday trips, where she chooses the activity—often a visit to M&S or B&M followed by her usual manicure.

Julie

The recipient of our SMILE grant in December was Julie from Cirencester. We have been helping Julie to have a full body wash to meet her hygiene needs. She has been unable to have a shower for some time. Julie's carer, Sue nominated Julie because she thought a pampering shower would be good for her morale. As well as organizing a second carer for the event, we donated scented toiletries to add to the feel-good factor of the shower. Julie really enjoyed her shower, and commented that she had received compliments about how nice her hair looked, which meant a lot to her, as it had been a long time since she had been complimented about her appearance. A regular shower has now been added to her care plan, and she really looks forward to it.

Explore inspiring stories from our SMILE campaign in Gloucester, where Bluebird Care staff uplift their clients with thoughtful outings and experiences. Read about Gussie’s nostalgic day visiting her childhood haunts, Jean’s surprise 96th birthday tea, and Mary’s creative picnic in Stratford Park. Each story showcases the meaningful connections and personalised care provided by our dedicated team. Discover how small gestures can bring joy and make a lasting impact in the lives of our customers.

Gussie

Our SMILE grant recipient in Gloucester for July was Gussie, nominated by her carer Cheryl. Together, they planned a nostalgic day out revisiting some of Gussie’s old haunts, followed by a cream tea at a local hotel. Gussie shared that she grew up on Great Western Road and fondly remembered time spent with friends and family in the area. It was her first proper outing since the start of COVID, and she thoroughly enjoyed the fresh air, the chance to reminisce, and the lovely afternoon tea—especially the cream cakes and sandwiches. Cheryl said she had noticed Gussie becoming more withdrawn during lockdown, and felt that a trip out would do her good. She was right—Gussie chatted happily throughout the afternoon, and her mood was visibly lifted. Cheryl said it was lovely to see her smiling again and enjoying the company. Gussie said she’d love to do something similar again and hopes to visit the town centre for a stroll through the shops next time. The day left her feeling refreshed and valued, and she’s already been telling her friends about the experience. Cheryl hopes this inspires more outings like it for other customers in the future.

Jean

Care assistant Abi’s nomination was for our lovely customer Jean to have a surprise afternoon tea for her 96th birthday. We put the idea to Colin, who has power of attorney for Jean, what he thought of the idea, and he was all in favour. Jean had mentioned to the carers that she really missed going into her garden and summerhouse. The original idea was to take her into the garden, and for her to have tea in the summerhouse. Sadly, she wasn’t well enough for that on the day. Abi volunteered to do all the work herself. As well as making sandwiches, and baking and decorating a birthday cake and cupcakes, Abi made Jean’s room look festive with Happy Birthday bunting, a floral table runner with matching napkins, and a houseplant to brighten the room for longer than cut flowers, and the carers turned her bed round so that she could see the garden from her room. Jean enjoyed her birthday treat very much, and the celebrations were extended by her friends and neighbours coming round to see her over the next few days, and helping her finish up the cakes.

Mary

Our lovely customer Mary is living with dementia. At her review, she and her son Andrew said that Mary would benefit from some social support. We explained our SMILE grant to them and discussed several ways in which Mary could use the grant, such as a picnic or a pub lunch with other people. This would help to cement her relationship with the carers who visit her, and enable her to enjoy a meaningful activity with other people, in fresh surroundings, with a view to giving her a more rounded lifestyle. Mary was very keen on this idea. Mary is a talented artist. Napsi, one of the care assistants in Mary’s care team, added to the plan by suggesting a venue for the picnic where Mary could also spend some time drawing and/or painting, which she thoroughly enjoys, and that this would give her a sense of purpose. Stratford Park was chosen as the ideal place for this, because it is a large and beautiful park, and has good walkways, accessible toilets, and outdoor seating. Napsi took Mary for her outing, and was thrilled with how successful it was for Mary, as you can see from the photos Napsi took. All our staff take part in dementia training delivered by one of our accredited Dementia Leads, Donna Jones and Tracy Morgan. Napsi has taken this training a step further and, like many of our care staff, has gone on to complete her Community Dementia Link award.