Daily Life and Visiting

Information for families, friends and visitors

We want the move into our home to be as smooth as possible so that residents can quickly feel happy and at home. While each of our homes has its own character, all of them combine great care with a ‘family’ atmosphere based on kindness and respect for everyone.

Visiting

Family and friends are welcome to visit anytime. However, please keep in mind that this is our residents’ home, so we ask that you be considerate during mealtimes or evening visits. We encourage relatives and friends to spend quality time in the home and participate in daily activities to experience your loved one’s daily life.

If you are visiting for an extended period, we welcome you to join your loved one for a meal. We can arrange for you to enjoy a private meal in a designated area of the home.

All visitors must sign in and out using the visitor’s book at reception.

Moving into a care home is not always the easiest thing to come to terms with. By reducing visits during the first few weeks, it can help your loved one settle in quickly. It gives them a chance to make friends and get comfortable with life in the home. We know this can be challenging for you, so please speak to the team either before or during your visit to get a feel for the best visiting frequency.

 Our team wear name badges and we’ve got a handy guide to our team roles and uniforms if you would like to know who does what.

We are always here to help you.

Health Professional Visits

Residents already registered with a local GP and other professionals can stay with them once you’ve moved in if they wish. If the resident is from outside the area, we will help them to find, choose and register with a local practice. Doctors will usually visit the home either regularly or upon request.

As part of your care planning, we regularly work with you alongside local health professionals and multi-disciplinary teams, including the SALT team, District Nurses in residential homes (or Community Nurses), Chiropodists and many others.

Information on daily life in our homes to help you feel settled straight away

Personalising your room

We want your loved one to feel happy and comfortable in their new home. That is why we encourage you to personalise their room. This can be done by bringing in some personal possessions, such as photographs. However, please ensure that any items you bring into the home are safe, fit for purpose and are not a fire hazard.

Laundry

Our dedicated Housekeepers provide a daily personal laundry service. Most of our homes offer this service on-site, and it is included in the weekly fee. Please make sure all clothes are machine washable, suitable for tumble drying, and labelled with your loved one’s name. For items needing dry cleaning, inform a team member, who will arrange for this service at an additional cost.

Hairdressing

Hairdressing services are available to all residents. Please ask a member of the team for the price of these services. If residents wish to use their own hairdresser, they are welcome to visit the home or the resident can continue to visit their salon.

Post

Residents’ post will be passed to them on the day it arrives. At the request of the resident, our team can help you open, read and reply to post. Any mail for posting can be sealed and handed to the Home Administrator to be posted that same day.

Religious Services and Worship

Representatives from local places of worship representing all faiths visit regularly for special services and communion. For residents who wish to attend a service at their local place of worship, we can provide timetables. If there are any specific requirements, a member of the team will be happy to assist.

Medication

Our care teams are highly trained in the safe administration of medication. We have robust policies and procedures, fully aligned with legislation, to ensure the safe administration, storage, and disposal of medication. In most cases, the care home team is responsible for ordering, storing, and administering residents’ medication. Therefore, it’s crucial that relatives and visitors do not give additional medication to residents or leave any medication in their rooms.

Any medication brought into the care home must be given directly to the senior team member on duty. If you have any questions about yours or your loved one’s prescribed medication, self-administration, or the associated risks, please contact the Home Manager. Our internal and external auditors conduct regular quality audits to maintain high standards.

Personal monies

We cannot take responsibility for residents’ personal finances, but in certain circumstances, we can hold small amounts of money for residents upon request to cover immediate needs. Please limit the amount to less than £100, though you can top it up as needed. All funds are securely kept in a single bank account for all resident in the home. We keep individual records for each resident showing the amounts held and any deposits or withdrawals. The bank account does not earn interest, so no interest will be accrued on the money we hold for you.

We aim to provide easy and flexible access to your money. However, we cannot cover any expenses if there are insufficient funds in your account. It is your responsibility to keep track of your spending and ensure enough funds are available for additional purchases. All expenditures must be approved by either the resident or their representative before payment is made.

If you have any questions in the future about daily life and visiting, please don’t hesitate to ask. Our friendly team is here to help with any information or advice you may need.