Local school pupils have won a competition to name the floors of a brand-new luxury care home, which set to open later this year.
Pupils from Preschool to Grade 12 at International School Aberdeen took part in the competition to leave a lasting legacy in Pitfodels Wood Care Home, which is opening next door to the school in Pitfodels.
Organised by the team at Meallmore, Scotland’s leading provider of older person and specialist care, the activity was designed for the pupils and staff at International School Aberdeen to meet their new neighbours, as well as marking the start of an ongoing relationship between the school and the care home.
All students at the school, aged 3 to 18, were invited to help name three of the home’s new in-house units, using local landmarks as inspiration. One suggestion was submitted per year group, and three names were selected from the entries by a panel of judges, including Pitfodels Wood Care Home Manager, Amanda Rennie, and Meallmore Area Manager for Aberdeenshire, Julie Stringfellow.
The winners were Hazelhead, suggested by Grade 1; Duthie, suggested by Grade 5; and Ferryhill, suggested by Grade 9.
Each winning grade level received a certificate and a £50 voucher in recognition of their contribution. Preschool pupils were also gifted a special delivery of books and a construction set to help them build their own versions of the new care home.
Amanda Rennie, Pitfodels Wood Care Home Manager said: “We absolutely loved working with our wonderful new neighbours to name the floors of Pitfodels Wood. Developing lasting connections with the local community is so important to us at Meallmore, and we’re keen for the home to be part of the community from day one. Being situated so close to the International School opens up lovely opportunities for intergenerational links, so we’re pleased to have already established a strong partnership with them and look forward to this flourishing over the months and years ahead.
“The suggestions from the pupils were all fantastic, and it was a tough decision to choose only three. Thanks to pupils and staff at the school for being so enthusiastic and for the beautiful thank you letters we received afterwards. It was truly a joy to be a part of.”
Janine McKimmie, Early Years Practitioner (EYP) in the Preschool at the International School Aberdeen said: “We’re so proud of our students for making a meaningful mark on our local community before the home even opens its doors. It was a fantastic activity to be a part of, offering a valuable opportunity for students to engage in an intergenerational initiative and connect with the local community. We’re very much looking forward to the first residents moving in so we can start regular intergenerational activities between the care home and the school.
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“We also wanted to say a huge thank you for the incredibly generous and thoughtful prizes and gifts. The excitement in the room was very real (and very loud!), and the kindness from the team truly made a special impact on the children. It meant so much to all of us.”
The 65-bed luxury home in Pitfodels, Aberdeen is set to open in the summer and will care for residents with a range of support needs including dementia and palliative care.
Pitfodels Wood will be located in Pitfodels, North Deeside Road in Aberdeen, and run by leading care home provider, Meallmore Ltd. Meallmore currently operates 27 homes across Scotland: 21 for older people, five for adults with mental health needs and one for adults with learning or physical disability.
