At Eastleigh, we offer nursing, residential and dementia care at our Minehead home, making us unique and sought after by those searching for care homes in West Somerset. If you’re already a Somerset resident then staying nearby is the obvious choice. However, if you’re bringing a loved one into the area for residential or nursing care, this is probably a different side of life to that which you’re familiar with. Why choose Minehead care homes West Somerset? Our Minehead home is more accurately described as ‘homes within a home’. We offer nursing and residential care, as well as specialist dementia care. The home is just a short distance from Minehead itself. So, why should you choose care here? Minehead is a peaceful and relaxing coastal town, but it also has plenty of amenities. Here our residents can gain access to the beautiful coast, as well as being in an area of the country prime for visiting families. Our residents are never short of visitors! The beach at Minehead is wonderfully flat and there are several areas, as well as the promenade, which are wheelchair accessible or ideal for a short stroll. Also within Minehead is the harbour where pleasure cruises […]

Living in a Care Home: How to Personalise Your Loved One’s Experience When we talk to the families of potential new residents at our care homes, there are understandable concerns. One of these concerns, which lurks behind many questions, and indeed potentially holds back a sensible move, is how to ensure your loved one is treated as an individual and receives both personalised care and an adapted environment. It is right and understandable that you are concerned that a loved one may lose their sense of identity when they move away from their home. At Eastleigh, we believe that a resident’s care and environment should be tailored for them so that they don’t lose this sense of identity. Our goal is that residents benefit from the care home environment and structure, without losing their individuality. Moving to a care home or nursing home should be about providing security and safety, without compromising the individual. There are ways in which families can help to achieve this. For further information about what is required and the preparation you need to undertake before moving, follow the previous link. Be open about your concerns When it comes to elder care, there are a great […]

Old People’s Home for Four Year Olds If you’ve enjoyed the Channel 4 series called Old People’s Home for Four Year Olds, then you may be feeling inspired to find out more about the impact of children on older adults. If you haven’t seen any of the series, it is both fascinating and heart-warming viewing, and you can watch past episodes here. Old meets young The basic premise of the two series was to investigate the impact that extended exposure to the very young had on care home residents. In a nutshell, a preschool moved into a residential care home for a period of time as we watch powerful friendships between young and old formed. What’s more, the older adults experienced improvements in mood and physical ability. The benefits of intergenerational care The benefits of intergenerational care vary depending on the individual. However, some of the positive experiences include: Extended networks: Families with young children may live far from extended family. Additionally, older adults may be separated from their extended families, or, in some cases, never had children themselves. Both parties therefore benefit from extending relationships across generations which is missing in modern society. Improved mobility: Older adults were seen […]

It is vital that care homes are skilled at encouraging independence in the elderly. This may seem contradictory with the aim of providing care, but we believe that quite the opposite is true. While ensuring a high level of care and safety, promoting and actively working to maintain independence in elderly individuals brings a sense of control, self-esteem and dignity.

Benefits of Care Homes We don’t often realise that care homes bring with them immense and diverse benefits. Fear that the disadvantages of care homes outweigh the benefits usually rest on the inconsistency of care between different homes. At Eastleigh, we are focused on maximising the many and varied benefits of care homes at all of our nursing homes in North Devon. The Benefits of Eastleigh Care Homes Time: For families with time-poor lives, and elderly individuals needing time, we can ensure that your loved one gets the time they need. In turn, this impacts on the quality of the time you spend with your loved one knowing that there needn’t be other demands vying for your attention. At Eastleigh, we consider it a privilege to spend time sharing memories. Exceptional Diet and Nutrition: We find that many elderly people struggle to enjoy a delicious yet nutritious diet regularly. At Eastleigh, we ensure exceptional menus. You can see our care homes sample menu here. Practical Housekeeping: A benefit to care homes is that all the housekeeping is taken care of, there’s nothing for the elderly person or the family to do. Personalised and Appropriate care: Under the same Eastleigh umbrella […]

How to Get All the Essential Vitamins When Living in a Care Home Fundamentally, you should be getting all of the vitamins you need, and in the right amount, from your diet. In a care home, you may be concerned that this isn’t the case. It’s important, therefore, to choose a care home which takes nutrition and diet seriously. Food should be tasty, satisfying and well-balanced. At Eastleigh we pride ourselves on our delicious and varied menus. Take a quick look at a sample menu at an Eastleigh home here.

What Preparation Is Required For Your Move To A Care Home? It can be a trying time for all involved when a loved one finds themselves moving into a care home. Confusion, disorientation and isolation can easily take hold, especially among those contending with a mental affliction such as dementia. Fortunately there are several methods available for easing the transition. Moving day The day of the move to their new address should be as undisruptive as possible, so if you can, try to do it at a time that will least likely interfere with their routine. Give them some guarantees by providing them with a solid timeframe and ‘reward’ for when the entire transition will be over. For example, if they regularly watch Channel 4’s Countdown then reassure them that the move will be completed in time for that day’s episode – accompanied by their new home’s delicious tea and cake offering! Familiarity Help make your loved one’s new environment feel less alien by bringing some of their personal items along. For visual comfort adorn the walls of their room with treasured photos, fill shelves with their favourite books and ornaments, and ensure any special, sentimental items they have are […]

Why Should You Consider Assisted Living For Your Loved One? Daily chores can become increasingly difficult as the years creep up on us. Some of the routines we take for granted such as cooking, cleaning and even getting dressed can seem like mountainous tasks. Just because peeling potatoes or reaching for the top shelf are no longer possible, however, it doesn’t necessarily mean that we want or need someone with us 24/7.

How to Find a Care Home near You in Devon or Somerset When it comes to how to find a care home, the prospect can be daunting. Yet when you find a care home which suits the needs, and desires, of your loved one the relief is huge. You should be able to feel reassured that you’re not ‘making do’ or compromising when it comes to the care that your family member receives. However, most individuals face the question of how to find a care home without any experience, and often not knowing where to turn. This post will help you understand what you need to know to find a care home near you.

How to Choose a Nursing Home in Devon Devon is the fourth best place in the UK to retire. That’s a worthy accolade, based on the number of pensioners living here, the access to healthcare, healthy living, pension income, weather, crime rates, and disability-free life expectancy. We’re proud that our county is such a fabulous place to be for your retirement. However, doesn’t this mean that it’s a tall order when it comes to how to choose a nursing home? How do you know how to choose a nursing home, and whereabouts you or your relative should be?

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and social care in England. They are responsible for inspecting elderly care homes, and reporting on them including giving them a ‘rating’. This system, as well as providing ‘checks and balances’ for the care of vulnerable individuals in England, also provides those looking at potential homes with some data to understand how ‘good’ a home is. Homes can be rated ‘outstanding’, ‘good’, ‘requires improvement’, or ‘inadequate’. Not all homes have yet been assessed, but the majority have. These reports help us to understand what makes the best care home for the elderly.