Moving to Dove Court and settling in – September 2018:
Mum moved into Dove Court in September 2018. At 87, this was a huge decision for her to move from independent living into a care home setting. She was looking for somewhere that she felt was ‘homely and friendly, with activities that she could join in’. She visited Dove Court and immediately said she felt she could be happy there. Mum has very high needs, she was diagnosed with moderate Alzheimer’s and has vascular necrosis which causes very limited mobility.
There was some settling in needed when Mum first moved in, but this was mainly due to getting to know Mum and her likes and dislikes, but she was always made to feel very welcome. The home made a special effort to help her to settle by introducing her to the residents and personally asking her to join in the activities. We noticed on a number of occasions that carers were taking the time to talk to her if she seemed to be on her own.
Dove Court Staff and Management:
The quality of the care staff at Dove Court is of a very high standard. Turnover appears to be quite low which is essential for providing continuity of care to the elderly residents, the majority of which have memory issues.
The carers are kind and caring and treat Mum with dignity and respect at all times, encouraging independence when possible and there seems to be a genuine thoughtfulness and compassion. I have witnessed carers taking time to offer reassurance. They are also able to answer/find someone to
answer any queries that I may have. There is a good management structure in place to cover the two main areas – ‘management of the residents care’ and ‘running of the care home’ and both are of a very high standards. They are very aware of their roles and responsibilities and deal with all issues professionally, confidentially and promptly, both are very friendly and extremely approachable and nothing is too much trouble.
Activities at Dove Court:
The care home are fortunate to have an Activities Co-ordinator and an Assistant, which has a massive impact on the wellbeing of the residents. They provide daily activities relevant to the needs of the residents eg games, seated exercises, bingo, quizzes, nostalgia sessions, arts and crafts as well as one to one pampering sessions. A special effort is made on residents' birthdays with the popular karaoke which is a ‘residents' favourite’ as they get to choose the genre of music – I have seen residents and carers laughing and dancing together as well as having a hearty sing-a-long.
Regular visitors to the home including: Church groups, local school children, ‘show and tell’ and live music. There are occasional trips to the cinema, garden centres, etc. Obviously, spaces are limited as to how many residents can attend each trip, but there is a genuine awareness to be all inclusive and invitations are rotated to ensure all residents are offered the same opportunities.
Dove Court Care Home Setting – June 2019:
The care home itself is currently going through a major refurbishment. It was looking a bit ‘tired’ when Mum moved in (2018), but they have undertaken a major painting scheme throughout, updating of bathrooms and changing windows. The furniture is comfortable in the main areas and residents can furnish their own rooms.
From what I have experienced of the menu, meals appear to be nutritious and varied. Residents are encouraged to eat meals together in the
dining room, although they can choose to eat meals in their own room etc. Drinks jugs are left in rooms and drinks/snacks are offered at regular intervals – but they can also request food/ drink at any time.
Residents and family members are encouraged to be involved through open and informal discussions at regular ‘Residents and Relatives Meetings’ and are encouraged to speak about any points they would like to raise.
I am confident that mum is safe, well looked after and most
of all happy.
