A good care home for older people

Read our story about a good care home for older people.

This story is about a care home in Surrey that consistently exceeds best practice standards. It's especially good at providing activities for its residents.

Inspectors are continually impressed by the homes huge notice board of multi-coloured posters.

The posters are written in large, easy-to-read letters, that show the week’s activities.

Activities include musical therapy workshops, aromatherapy classes, choral singing, plays, concerts and even a pantomime.

“Sometimes I think it’s more like a holiday camp than a care home,” joked Sandra, the manager.

“We have two activity co-ordinators for just over 40 residents, and their main aim is to find out what the residents want and then go about organising it.

“We never impose our own ideas on residents about how we think they should amuse themselves– it’s all up to them.”

One male resident used to be a carpenter and cabinetmaker. Now he has his own woodworking workshop in a converted summerhouse.

“That was quite difficult with Health and Safety, as you can imagine,” said Sandra, “especially as this man had recently had a stroke, and he was going to be using quite heavy duty power tools.

“We had to completely change the lighting.”

But she says that working hard to please the residents is always worth it in the end.

“Visitors to the home always remark on the happy atmosphere.

“I think that’s partly because our residents feel valued, empowered, and involved in activities that make their lives interesting.

“It’s only when people don’t have a varied and absorbing lifestyle that they start to become unhappy, and that’s when problems can occur.”

Young people involved with the Prince’s Trust often come in to take part in activities, such as Scrabble and other games.

Recently, some of the residents attended the young people’s graduation ceremony.

Part of the community

The home always encourages its residents to go out to the doctor or the dentist, rather than having health professionals come to them.

Sandra believes that it’s important for older people to feel part of their community, and not be tucked away from it.

One of the residents likes to go to the local pub everyday for his lunch, so the home provides an escort for him.

He only has half a pint of beer, but he says it makes him feel good to have the regulars say ‘hello’ to him.

Those with dementia, though, often prefer simpler, more everyday activities.

“They usually like to be involved with the washing up, or the dusting, or baking cakes in the kitchen,” said Sandra.

“For people with dementia, it’s partly having a routine and it’s partly feeling needed.

“It helps to build their confidence and contentment, because it gives their lives a sense of purpose.”

The home also encourages its residents to handle their own financial affairs for as long as is practical.

They can bring in their own possessions and furniture if they wish, and all of them have private rooms.