Residents at Weymouth Care Home were recently treated to a rare sight when a cute 10-week old baby owl called Crystal dropped in and got to meet every resident. Local rescue centre Mike’s Owls ensured that everybody got to see the young owl up close.
Residents at Steepleton Manor had a grand sing-a-long earlier this month when local band Jurassic Drifters dropped in to play some tunes. An eight piece band performed tunes from the 60s on banjos, guitars and ukuleles, with toe-tapping and familiar songs providing residents with a trip back in time. Staff and residents really enjoyed the performance and look forward to a return visit in the future.
What is Live-in Care?
It’s not surprising that this modern solution to care is popular. Live-in Care provides a direct alternative to care homes. It combines high levels of care with the added independence and reassurance of living life in your own home. Whether you or your loved one requires personal one to one care assistance, domestic help or if companionship and independence is all that is desired, a tailored service can be created to suit your needs.
Your carer will move into your home with you, allowing you to stay in your own safe environment surrounded by your own possessions and community. This is also very advantageous if you have pets, where many care homes are unable to accommodate individuals pets, your carer will be able to assist in helping to keep your pet by your side. With the right encouragement and support, you or your loved one is able to continue living an independent, enriched life without the worry about receiving the right level of care.
Your one on one carer will learn what you need help with most and what you can ably do independently – so care is suited to your individual needs. Spending so much time one on one means they get to know you; sharing smiles, laughter, trips out, social activities and meaningful conversations together.
Live-in Care can also be provided for end of life care, so there is no need for uncomfortable upheaval to a different environment such as a hospice. Understanding that this is an extremely emotional and difficult process, your carer will offer the highest quality of care as adaptably as possible. Reassuring and supporting both you and your loved ones every step of the way.
Live-in Care Fees
The fees associated with Live-in Care vary depending on level of support required during the day and potentially the night to suit your needs, but may be more affordable than you think. Live-in Care is comparable in cost to residential homes and compared to some of the more elite homes, is a much more cost effective option. In many instances one live-in carer can provide care for a couple, which is a far more viable financial option compared to the cost of two beds in a residential care home.
For more information on funding care, we have put together a guidance document outlining the current Government arrangements which can be found here.
For more information on Live-in Care from Altogether Care or to discuss your requirements with us please contact us on 01202 894 925. Alternatively, visit our website or email contact@altogethercare.co.uk. Or if you would like to speak to us in person why not pop into one of our local branches, to find a local branch to you take a look at our map here.
Residents at Steepleton Manor were treated to a lively performance from Dorchester Historical Dance Group. Dancing 19th Century style in costumes to match, the eight dancers moved to the music whilst residents and their families enjoyed a step back in time.
Dorchester Historical Dance Group have been meeting for over 50 years and perform a range of dances from the 11th-19th century. The residents are looking forward to their prompt return and a possible ‘Tudor style’ afternoon.
Steepleton Manor resident Daphne Morrison celebrated being 100 years old on 7th May and enjoyed a special party alongside family and friends.
Born on 7th May 1917 in Guernsey she later moved to London to work as a school teacher. Daphne has two sons and a daughter and a number of grandchildren. Her love of books continues to this day and she reads on average around 25 books a month. Her favourite being thrillers.
Around 40 people attended Daphne’s party complete with a live jazz band and buffet. In addition to having a special cake, flowers and lots of cards she received a telegram from Her Majesty, The Queen.
Photo: Daphne Morrison (centre) with Brian Westlake (right), Lazlo Bartus (left) and Peter (Daphne’s Son), centre back.
Care at Home’s West Moors Office marked their first birthday this month.
Celebrations took place last week with tea and cake to mark the occasion.
Clients came to join the office staff for the celebrations and everyone enjoyed a chat over a cup of tea and some delicious home-made cake! Here’s to many more birthday celebrations to come.
Making the decision to put your loved one into a care home is never going to be easy. There are many things to consider and weigh up before you can even begin looking at potential care homes. How much will it cost, how will we fund it, what care do they require, where is best to be located – and the list goes on. So what makes a care home individual and well catered for your loved one? This is likely to depend on your and their priorities, but having well trained caring staff, located in a homely well equipped environment, with a range of stimulating and life enriching experiences to enjoy – might begin to look like an option for consideration.
Sherborne House was created with residents in mind. Specialising in Dementia with a newly opened dedicated nursing care wing, the home is furnished and decorated for you to feel at home and at ease, but also with Dementia in mind, sensory touches and memory triggers have been incorporated that research has shown really benefits the cognitive process. Sherborne House is uniquely set-up to provide the highest standard of physical, emotional and mental care available with a sensitive and supporting approach – never patronising, but always encouraging.
Keeping your loved one stimulated and continuing to provide life enriching experiences are also a priority for Sherborne House. A daily activities programme is designed around our residents, with opportunities to get to know other residents better, activities include mental and physical stimulation – and a change of scenery with seaside trips and visits to places of local interest. Where required, we also call upon various alternative therapies such as; physiotherapy, reflexology Reiki and aromatherapy to complement residents care needs.
At the start of May we opened our new nursing wing at Sherborne House, this features spacious living areas and access to landscaped gardens to enhance resident’s facilities inside and outside. We are accepting new residents for this wing now. So why not come and visit us to take a look for yourselves at the facilities Sherborne House has to offer? To arrange a visit please contact us on 01935 423210.
We understand how difficult it can be to organise financing your loved ones care, so to make the process easier we have put together some guidance outlining the current Government arrangements for the assessment process and funding towards care home fees, you can take a look at this guidance here. To find out more about Sherborne House or our other selection of care options please visit our website.
Getting out and about is essential to a person’s wellbeing and ensures that individuals can still enjoy life outside of a care home.
Residents at Steepleton Manor regularly hop on the bus to enjoy twice weekly trips to nearby attractions including Weymouth, West Bay, Castle Cove, Abbotsbury, Portland and the beautiful Dorset surroundings.
A picnic box and flask are essential companions and residents enjoy singing favourite songs on the way, which certainly brings a smile to everyone’s face!
Photo: Joyce Webb and Emily Burr
Celebrations took place at Sherborne House last week when resident Marion Percy celebrated her 97th birthday on the 2nd May.
Marion received a special cake- and a visit from an ice cream van!
Marion enjoyed celebrating with her friends at Sherborne House who were delighted to be part of her special day.
Fred Snelling, 96 from Yeovil had a double celebration recently when he scooped a special award at the Care Focus (South West) Awards and also raised a glass to his 75th Wedding Anniversary with wife, Connie, 97, who is a resident at Sherborne House Care Home.
Fred won ‘Unsung Hero’ award at a glittering ceremony that took place in Taunton on Friday 6th April. The awards are open to all individuals involved in care, support, health and housing either employed or voluntary.
Staff at Sherborne House nominated Fred, who visits his wife Connie every day and insists on supporting the team of care staff in various ways including making cups of tea and spending time talking to both staff and residents.
Caroline Sharp, Manager at Sherborne House said, ‘Fred is amazing and enjoys being part of our family here at Sherborne House. He brings a smile to our faces every day
when he visits. Whilst the care awards generally recognises excellent care that staff provides, it has a special category
for somebody that makes a positive difference to everybody and Fred is definitely that person’!
As we age, we understand that our needs are going to change and our circumstances will change with this but when it comes to that time, the emotional impact of all these changes can hugely affect our outlook, personality and health. Many individuals will experience the downsizing of space and boxes – after living in a good sized family home, which is then reduced to a small bungalow or flat and then downsized again to fit within a room in a care home. This can be difficult to deal with; changing your environment, in some cases sharing your environment for the first time and accepting that you now need assistance.
So when it comes to choosing the right care home or nursing home it is likely to be a very difficult decision.
What to consider when choosing a care home?
There are many things to consider, ask and check when looking into care homes. Everybody will have different priorities, but some considerations are likely to include:
• The type of care required for your loved one, can it be provided at this care home?
• The cost of the care home?
• Does the home offer stimulating activities and common living areas for social interaction?
• Can all your food and dietary requirements be met?
• Is there enough room to make the space your own, with possessions?
• Do you have easy access to services, such as GP’s, hairdressers, opticians etc?
How can the transition to a care home be eased?
Having a mixture of homely private space, spacious shared environments and the escape of outside facilities will provide the options of finding a space that suits an individual best – making this transition easier. Some will be excited by the prospect of sharing environments with others and having new company, others will find this initially overwhelming, craving private space instead.
Staff within any home should encourage all residents to continue living and enjoying life in their new home, whether that is keeping up a hobby, socialising with other residents, or keeping active with a range of activities and events. The more ‘normal’ the home can feel, the easier the transition is, leading to more relaxed residents.
The person-centred approach
At Altogether Care we see the person first not the age. We call it ‘person-centered care’. Our range of care options are based around best fitting your needs, to encourage you to continue living the life you love, just with the assistance you now need.
With this in mind, we have recently completed a major refurbishment and extension to Sherborne House. This brand new extension wing offers nursing care alongside the current Dementia care that we already offer at Sherborne House. This home features spacious living areas and access to landscaped gardens to enhance resident’s facilities inside and out. To find out more about Sherborne House visit our website, or for more information on how to reserve a room within the new wing opening on May 1st contact us on 01935 423210.
We are delighted to announce that a major refurbishment at Sherborne House has been completed which will accommodate a brand new nursing care wing alongside dedicated dementia care. The new nursing care wing extension will mean that Sherborne House increases its capacity to 38 bedrooms, with spacious living areas allowing residents access to landscaped gardens.
Admissions are now being taken for the new wing which opens on the 1st May 2017.
For more information please contact us on 01935 423210 or visit the Sherborne House website.
Residents and staff at Steepleton Manor Care Home enjoyed a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party and spent an afternoon making and decorating hats using cardboard templates, with feathers, pom-poms, pipe cleaners, ribbons, paint, stickers, jewels and buttons.
Home-made jam tarts went down well and residents helped staff decorate the hall with large tissue paper pom-poms, balloons, bunting and posters the residents had coloured, as well as some quotes from Lewis Carroll’s ‘Alice in Wonderland’.
A table was also decorated in a suitable style for a ‘Mad Hatter’s type of tea party – with a chess board in the middle of the table, daffodils, pinwheels, a white rabbit and an array of teapots and cups and saucers.
For the tea party, everyone enjoyed being entertained with some card tricks by one of the residents, Peter Bentley, and had a go at ‘pin the grin on the Cheshire Cat’. Special name labels with ‘nonsensical names’ (names backwards), were worn to add to the occasion.
We recently received a testimonial letter from the family of one of our Sherborne House residents who recently passed away – we are so happy to hear that our staff made such a difference to Doris’ life. Thank you to the family of Doris Britton for such kind words.
On behalf of the family of Doris Britton, We would like to express our gratification to Sherborne House Care Home, Yeovil. Once we as a family accepted that Mum/Nan was unable to return home after a long stay in Hospital, we were able to see the positives to this environment and how this Care Home could meet the individual needs of our beloved Mum/Nan.
The professional Care started at the assessment stage, where the Care Home took time to consider if their environment was the most appropriate to meet Mum/Nan’s needs.
Thankfully for us, this Care Home was felt to be a suitable match.
Mum/Nan transferred to Sherborne House Care Home and on her arrival the staff had already supported in preparing her room, making sure this was a welcoming place for her to spend time, a room which could be described as Home from Home.
Sadly for us, Mum/Nan quickly became unwell, meaning she was classed as End of Life. This proving to be a sad time for the family, however, this time was made more bearable with the care and support we as a Family witnessed for our Mum/Nan and also for us as her Family.
During this time, Family spent time within the home 24/7. All family members were made to feel comfortable and welcomed. A bedroom was provided for us to allow us a space to rest, sleep and gather our thoughts, this room was available for the duration of the time Family were at Mum/ Nan’s bedside. This amounted to 7 days in total. During this time refreshments were frequently offered and provided.
Mum/Nan received excellent personal care and all elements were documented in the appropriate way. This resulting in Mum/Nan being comfortable and having her personal care needs met.
What quickly became apparent was the knowledge all staff have in regards to all aspects of the care sector. Whenever questions were asked, the responses were always clearly explained, leaving us with an understanding of the situation.
The atmosphere within this home is very welcoming and this is down to the staff being able to work effectively as a team. Staff members support each other and embrace their roles showing a passion for their jobs.
Care staff knew when to report concerns to the Nurse in Charge and Mum/Nan was promptly seen, the situation assessed and dealt with effectively at all times.
The Manager, Caroline showed us she is hands on in providing the care, as well as effectively managing the Home.
Nothing was too much trouble for any of the staff, they all frequently went above and beyond and often asking how we as a Family are coping and feeling.
The Home registered Mum/Nan with an excellent compassionate GP, Dr Steven Wood and made contact with the Vicar to visit. Pets were also welcomed.
Staff members sat with Mum/Nan to ensure she was not alone and all said Goodbye to her, even shedding a tear, as they saw Mum/Nan as part of their extended family.
Sherborne House Care Home recommended AJ Wakely &Sons (Sherborne) as the Funeral Director. We would like to thank them for the Care and Love they have shown to Mum/Nan and the Family. They are a very professional company with compassion and empathy.
Finally, we as a family would like to thank everyone at Sherborne House Care Home for the love, support and Care our wonderful Mum/Nan received and for how you made us feel welcomed and valued throughout this difficult time.
Your love, support, and compassion throughout was very much appreciated and always will be.
-The Family of Doris Britton.
Residents and staff at Steepleton Manor Care Home were treated to a special dance performance when Dorchester Ballet and Dance Club visited in late March. The dancers aged from six to sixteen performed a variety of routines including ballet, tap and modern.
A packed audience including the dance teachers, parents of the dancers, residents and staff clapped and cheered and are hoping for a repeat performance soon.
Dorchester Ballet and Dance was founded in 1958 by Ann Hannay and Elizabeth Goodchild MBE, who wanted to “make dance available to all, regardless of age, wealth or ability”. Dorchester Ballet and Dance are a family-friendly not for profit organisation committed to providing dance classes for children and adults at an affordable price and maintaining standards of excellence in teaching for dancers of all abilities.
We have received a positive response to the opening of our three latest Care at Home offices in West Moors, Poole and Yeovil.
Our ‘Care at Home’ branches offer local people an opportunity to explore and arrange care services for their loved ones by popping into see our specialist staff, who can assist in arranging a wide spectrum of care services for people who wish to remain in their own home but may require regular assistance.
We have been astonished by the high take-up of our care service and the high degree of customer satisfaction and happiness. This, we believe, is due to the scope and reliability of our local service for local people and its pick and mix characteristics. The engagement of our staff and their commitment to providing the best service is so rewarding and exciting to be part of. Care at Home is an important part of the local health and social care infrastructure, and for many people it provides a lifeline and a chance to remain safe at home for longer.
Mara McGregor celebrated her 90th birthday recently at Steepleton Manor Care Home. On her birthday she was presented with a chocolate cake, a bunch of roses and a plant and card signed by all staff. She also enjoyed listening to a live harp and flute music performance.
Born on 10th March 1927, Mara – Marigold McGregor, was born in Penang, a small island close to Malaysia. She grew up in Africa and met her husband in East Africa. They moved to England in 1950 and have two daughters and a son.
She worked as a portrait artist and was privileged to Paint the Queen Mother, the Queen, Prince Charles and Princess Anne in live settings. She later took an interest in painting animals and has painted some famous racehorses and went on a wildlife tour to Africa with David Shepherd.
Mara came to live at Steepleton Manor in 2012 and is a much-loved resident.
Weymouth Care Home, Steepleton Manor, and Sherborne House united last week and joined forces on St Patrick’s Day to celebrate all things Irish.
Residents and staff from all three care homes enjoyed live Irish music as Accordionist Louise Dukes led the way with Irish tunes such as ‘Danny Boy’, ‘Molly Malone’ and ‘The Galway Shawl’, and residents enjoyed making Shamrock shaped collages. Over 35 people clapped and sung along to old Irish favourites such as ‘Edelweiss’ and ‘It’s a long way to Tipperary’.
Irish flags, balloons and decorations were put up especially for the day. All staff and residents thoroughly enjoyed the celebrations!
Many people wish that they could wear their pyjamas to work… and recently that wish came true for staff at Sherborne House, where both residents and staff participated in a pyjama day to raise money for charity.
The event was held to raise money for the Children’s Heart Foundation, in honour of Sebastian Leader who has undergone three heart operations. Residents and staff enjoyed a comfy day in their pyjamas, onesies and slippers, raising a total of £66.06.
Well done to all those involved!
Understanding how to care and support a person suffering from Dementia can be a challenge. Dementia is the umbrella term for a wide range of symptoms linked with the decline of memory to a level which then affects a person’s ability to independently function as they once did. The most common form of Dementia is Alzheimer’s Disease but there are also many other forms of dementia which are less common but display similar symptoms and will have similar effects upon the person suffering.
Living with dementia can have a big emotional, social, psychological and practical impact on a person especially as the disease develops. Forgetting short term memories and finding themselves very confused can upset, frustrate and anger someone suffering. In some cases their long term memories will be their strongest and nostalgic environments, pictures and music can be the triggers to open them up.
As the disease develops and the person begins to forget more this can affect:
• Personality
• Confidence
• Social ability
• Independent abilities and skills – at the beginning this could include driving and cooking but as the disease is progressive can develop to feeding themselves and controlling bodily functions
Despite the biggest impact being on the person suffering from this disease, their carer’s, family and friends will also face a huge challenge adapting to support and care. This video portrays one man’s struggles coming to terms with how his wife has changed from suffering with Alzheimer’s Disease. Often families wish to keep their loved one at home for as long as possible, in familiar surroundings, where they can care for them. But as a progressive disease it often comes to a point where professional care is required in the form of a specialist care home.
It can be difficult to choose which care home will be most beneficial to your loved ones care needs. Altogether Care’s specialist dementia care home is Sherborne House. Person-centred care is principle in our philosophy, believing that those living with Dementia who are well supported by a professional team giving them their time and energy are more likely to lead fulfilling lives for longer. Sherborne House has been furnished and decorated with Dementia in mind, incorporating sensory touches and memory triggers that research has shown really benefits the cognitive process. Clinical care is supported with a healthy diet, using fresh ingredients and menus to suit all tastes and requirements and at times we will also call upon various alternative therapies such as; physiotherapy, reflexology Reiki and aroma-therapy to complement clients care needs.
We understand how difficult it can be to entrust a care home with a loved one who you have watched suffer from the changes of Dementia which is why we offer you to spend the day with us to really get a feel for our homes.
To find out more about the tailored care that we can offer you, get in touch 01305 300 161.
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