Oakwood House is a home from home for residents

Rated Good by the Care Quality Commission, the Norwich care home also won the Nursing in Social Care award at the Norfolk Care Awards 2022 - accolades that demonstrate the high standards and efforts that go into making Oakwood House a place where residents can feel truly at home.

Here we take a look at a day in the life of an Oakwood House resident...

All of the rooms at Oakwood House have recently been refurbished (Image: Oakwood House)
Mornings

A good start to the day is always important, and at Oakwood House it begins with a carer preparing a tasty breakfast for residents in their rooms. 

The rooms have recently been refurbished and all of them have an en suite, half of which are wet rooms. 

Once breakfast is finished, it's time for medications and personal care. It’s also a chance for a chat with the carers, who are always happy to have a chinwag. 

Everyone then gathers in the lounge to take part in the first of the day’s activities. 

The home’s activity coordinators put on a wide range of things to do, from bingo and quizzes to flower arranging and listening to singers. 

Activity coordinator Wendy Brown loves seeing residents smiling during the home's many activities (Image: Oakwood House)
Activity coordinator Wendy Brown said her role is rewarding. “Just seeing everyone joining in and smiling is fantastic, especially if the carers take the residents back to their rooms happy – you know you've done a good job.” 

Choice is important at Oakwood House, and if a resident would prefer to stay in their room, the carers will go and make sure they are okay and sit and chat to them and make them a cup of tea or coffee. 

Sometimes a resident’s family and friends are there too, thanks to the open-door policy at the care home. Visitors are welcome any time and are also able to enjoy a meal with their loved ones if they’d like to, ensuring everyone can spend quality time together.

Lunchtimes are a great chance for some socialising as residents come together in the dining room to enjoy a delicious meal (Image: Oakwood House)

Lunchtimes

Before you know it, it's time for lunch! Freshly-prepared meals can be enjoyed with friends in the newly-decorated dining room.

Mealtimes are always a highlight of the day as the care home’s small, in-house catering team create a choice of at least two dishes at lunchtime and dinnertime, plus a dessert.

The seasonal menu includes popular dishes such as fish and chips and a roast dinner. Snacks are available throughout the day too, including delicious homemade cakes. 

Carers can assist anyone who needs help to eat their meals and are on hand for a chat too. 

There are lots of activities at Oakwood House, from quizzes to flower arranging (Image: Oakwood House)
Afternoons/evenings

The fun continues after lunch, when it’s time for some more activities in the lounge, such as a giant crossword or arts and crafts. 

If the weather's fair, a bit of time out in the garden is always nice, and there are alfresco activities too, including gardening club and ball games.

Later on, it’s time for another delicious meal, before some social time in the library or the family room, which has a TV, or quiet time in their room.  

Whatever the resident would like to do, staff help them to do it.  

"It’s their home,” said manager Emma Hopkins, “and we are honoured to work here and be part of it.” 

The team prides itself on building relationships with each resident and their family, who are regularly updated on how they are doing. 

Carer Shirley Taylor says it's like one big family at Oakwood House (Image: Oakwood House)
Shirley Taylor, who has been a carer at the home for 11 years, says it’s the residents and staff who have kept her working there for so long.  

“It’s just the camaraderie, we all gel together,” she explained. “We're one big family.” 

For more information, go to oakwoodhousecare.org