There are around 220,000 emergency hospital admissions each year in the UK related to falls in those over 65. Half of over-80s fall each year. Falls can result in a range of injuries from bruises to hip fractures. But there are other issues too. Falls can lead to the individual losing their confidence, reducing their mobility and experiencing a lower quality of life. A fall or a fracture is the leading cause of elderly individuals moving into residential care, alongside deterioration in health.

It can be daunting considering how to choose a care home for your loved one. There are so many things to consider. We understand that you really want to make the right choice. Central to this is getting advice on what to look for. At Eastleigh care homes in Devon and Somerset, we want to make the transition from home or hospital to a care home as smooth and easy as possible. You can always call us on 01769 573166 for advice about your loved one, but here are some important tips to help you make the choice:

One of the hardest aspects of moving into a care home is the sense that the resident loses their feeling of being ‘at home’. At our Devon and Somerset care homes, we know that it’s possible to make a care home feel like home. There are a few tips and tricks.

All too often, the decision to move to a residential care home is made amongst negative thoughts. It’s all too easy to focus on a loss of independence, or how it represents a sizeable life change. However, the benefits of using a residential care home are broad and extend to the individual themselves, and their family.

We don’t underestimate how difficult it is for people to choose the right care home for their family member. Often, individuals haven’t been in this position before and it’s a whole world of new experiences and decisions. This is made harder by the reality that it may feel very difficult making the decision to move your family member to a care home anyway.

We have some incredible landscapes within a short distance of our North Devon care homes. Ideal for spending time with an elderly relative out of their usual setting, many of these views can be accessed by the frail or wheelchair dependent. With Spring just around the corner, now is the perfect time to wrap up warm, pack a thermos of tea, and go and enjoy these North Devon views together.

We are often asked by relatives what they should pack when their loved one is moving into a residential care home. This article is intended as a guide to help you prepare with confidence. Before your loved one moves in, it can be helpful for you to visit the particular care home they are moving to and see their new room for yourself. At Eastleigh, we have different residential and nursing homes in North Devon and Somerset. While each room is spacious and well-furnished, the dimensions and facilities differ slightly from one to another. By visiting the room you can get a sense of the available space as well as get to ask any questions of the on-site staff. Always ask what furniture and items are included. It’s important that if you do decide to bring items of your own furniture that they do not unduly crowd the space and form a trip hazard. Questions to Ask Before you Start Packing Don’t make assumptions, but do ask questions! This way you can find out what is included and what you need to pack. Good questions to ask include: Is bedding provided? Are towels provided? What is the laundry service and […]

Whether it is because Christmas is just around the corner, or because there’s a birthday coming up, or you simply want to show you care, you may struggle to think of gifts for a relative in a care home. Here are our favourite suggestions for gifts which will be appreciated by those in a care home.

A care home should be a happy, caring and enjoyable place to live. The move to a care home is often fraught with negative emotions. Yet, the care home should feel like home whilst meeting the actual care needs of the individual residents both now and down the line. This means that choosing the right care home can be incredibly complex, especially as many family members will never have undertaken this task before. This is our guide to choosing Somerset care homes for your loved one. The Right Home for the Individual at the Right Time The first step is to consider the individual and what they need. Your primary consideration should be the level of care that the person needs now. However, you also should consider what care may be needed in the future. Moving in later life, into a care home, can be an incredibly difficult move to make even though it will bring benefits. Therefore, if possible, you want to prevent the need for a future move in a year or two. This can be a difficult concept to face, but it is important. There are three main types of care home you need to consider in […]

We take a unique approach to provide care homes in North Devon. At Eastleigh Care Homes we consider it vital to provide exceptional care which fosters appropriate independence in a setting which feels as much like ‘home’ as it can. This means that instead of considering residential care, nursing care and dementia care as three completely separate types of care, we provide all within close proximity to each other, in South Molton. This approach enables us to offer residents a holistic approach to their care as it changes over time. It is this which marks us out as different, as well as our pioneering and innovative care and luxurious settings. Finding the right care home can be complicated, but at Eastleigh our goal is to make it a positive and supportive experience. Choosing a care home in North Devon When you consider a care home in North Devon you will primarily need to consider the type of care your loved one requires. You can get a care needs assessment completed by the Devon County Council and this will help you determine what level of care is need. This will point you towards residential care, nursing care or dementia care. The […]

How to Make a Space Dementia Friendly At Eastleigh’s Raleigh Mead North Devon Care Home, we have been rated by the CQC as Outstanding for our dementia care. There are lots of different elements to this, but of vital importance is how we’ve created a ‘dementia-friendly’ living environment. This has been achieved through various approaches from careful lighting to furniture designed with a dementia patient in mind. Dementia friendly spaces can be easier to create than you may realise. It takes a little forethought and effort, but with a few changes you can create a space that is both safe and welcoming to someone with dementia. Here we reveal our top tips for how to make a space dementia friendly. 1. Dementia friendly lighting If you make one alteration to the space being used by someone with dementia it should be to the lighting. Lighting makes a huge difference to how secure someone can feel due to their ability to make sense of their surroundings. Focus initially on plenty of good natural light. This is less likely to cause shadows, especially by making sure nothing is blocking the window. Additionally it can help someone follow the pattern of time over […]

When considering care homes in North Devon you’ll be faced with a wide range of options. Devon stands out from much of the country for having a disproportionately large number of elderly residents. The result is that there is a lot of choices when it comes to choosing a care home. But how do you know you are picking the right one? Here we explore what you should look for when choosing care homes in North Devon. A home, not an institution It’s vital to remember, especially when choosing a North Devon care home on behalf of a loved one, that this will be their new home. This seems obvious to say, but it is easily overlooked as you consider which level of care your loved one needs. Whilst it is vital to consider whether they need residential, nursing or specialist dementia care, it should always have a homely, welcoming and comfortable feel. It should feel like home. The types of care home Typically, care homes are divided by the type of care they provide. Mostly this falls into three levels of support: Assisted living, or sheltered accommodation: The residents live independently but benefit from onsite management and potentially access […]