One of the highlights of the festive season is meeting up with friends and family, and often it involves spending quality time with older relatives.
But afterwards, did you have some worries about a loved one that made you think they may need a bit of extra support this year, or that it’s time to start thinking about care homes?
Oakwood House Care Home in Norwich offers peace of mind to the people who live there and their friends and family.
Here are some of the signs that someone may need to move into a care home and how Oakwood House can help.
Health problems
Is your family member struggling with medical conditions and needs some support to maintain their health?
At Oakwood House, qualified nurses offer round-the-clock care every day of the week.
“Our nurses support people to manage their health and physical care needs,” explained home manager Emma Hopkins.
“They administer medication and they’re involved in putting their person-centred care plan together. They also lead the care team.”
The home, which has been rated ‘Good’ by the Care Quality Commission, won the Nursing in Social Care award at the Norfolk Care Awards 2022.
Loneliness
Perhaps your loved one is struggling with loneliness, maybe they’ve stopped going out and about and don’t interact with people on a day-to-day basis anymore.
There’s a real sense of community, where they can speak to like-minded people, at Oakwood House.
“They can meet people with similar needs and build up relationships,” said Emma.
As well as meeting new people, they can see friends and relatives, who are welcome to visit at any time thanks to the open-door policy. Dogs are welcome too.
Becoming withdrawn
Becoming withdrawn and showing less interest in their usual activities can also be a sign that someone is not coping with living on their own.
There are lots of activities they can discover, or rediscover, at Oakwood House, from cooking and gardening to art and chess.
Residents can even suggest new activities at residents’ meetings, which are held monthly.
Wendy Brown, one of the activities coordinators at the home, said: “Seeing the residents happy and excited, talking about the fun they’ve had and thanking us for a lovely day is priceless.”
Personal care
If your loved one is finding keeping up with personal hygiene, or cleaning their home, a struggle, both are taken care of at Oakwood House.
A team of housekeepers maintain the home, including everyone’s rooms, which have been newly renovated.
Each room has an en suite/wet room where personal care can take place.
Plus, there’s on-site pampering at the hair salon, Studio 52, which is currently being renovated.
The housekeeping team also look after everyone’s laundry.
“Everything is taken care of,” said Emma.
Vulnerable in their own home
Perhaps in general you feel your relative is more vulnerable in their own home nowadays, by being a bit forgetful when it comes to turning things such as the stove off or having the occasional fall.
“Oakwood House is a safe environment with a friendly team,” said Emma, adding that it can become a home from home, as people are encouraged to personalise their room as much as possible and bring their personal items with them.
If any of these signs ring true for your relative, get in touch with the team at Oakwood House.
Deciding that it’s time for your loved one to move into a care home is a difficult decision, but Oakwood House aims to make the transition as easy as possible.
“I’d like to reassure people we are here to help, care and support people and make it as peaceful a journey as it can be,” concluded Emma.
For more information, visit oakwoodhousecare.org or call 01603 954484.
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