Even without the visiting difficulties of the last year, knowing how often you should visit elderly parents is often a topic on the minds of adult children. This can feel like a particularly pertinent question if your elderly parent lives alone or is in a care home. Even if your family member lives nearby, your dependent or immediate family, career and other commitments can sap your time leaving very little to spare. Yet feelings run high on this matter. Infamously Pope Francis stated that not visiting elderly parents was a “mortal sin” in 2015. We don’t feel it’s anything like as clear cut as this, or fair to place this moral burden on already stretched members of the ‘sandwich generation’, but it does go to show how important an issue it is. There is no standard answer to how often you should visit elderly relatives. It is a very personal situation and one which is difficult to quantify. Many factors come into play such as distance, childhood experiences, sibling dynamics and more. Here we look at the benefits of visiting an elderly parent, and how to ensure quality visits, so that you can determine the right visiting frequency for you. […]

Last night saw the first event in the Eastleigh Care Homes Cup. To kick off the competition we had an inter home game of Rounders, with Raleigh mead, Minehead and Head office putting in teams. After a couple of warm up games, a bite to eat and a couple drinks. It was time for the main event, with Raleigh Mead putting in such a strong performance with some big hitters. Head office split and mixed with the Minehead and Raleigh Mead teams. Raleigh Mead still managed to come out on top, taking the trophy back to South Molton. Minehead are already pushing for a rematch, blaming the loss on Adam Caswell dropping catches left, right and centre. Thankyou to everyone that attended and well done to all the players.Also thank you to Upton Coaches for providing the transport.

  Choosing family holidays with elderly parents is a way to unite the generations and create wonderful memories for all to share. However, holidays for elderly parents need a little more thought and care to select a destination that will be both enjoyable and accessible. Holidays give everyone a fabulous break from the norm, and we love sharing our residents’ excitement when they are looking forward to a break away with family and loved ones. So, whether it’s a mum and daughter trip, or a whole extended family excursion, we’ve rounded up the most suitable potential destinations in the UK for holidays for elderly parents. Your holiday planning Before we dive in with destinations, a few quick words about the things you’ll need to bear in mind when organising a holiday with an elderly loved one. Always consider your loved one’s unique needs. If they receive professional care – either in a care home or at home – you can speak to their carers about the most important factors to consider. You will have two main choices: staying in self-catering accommodation or in a hotel. Hotels are usually highly accessible and may have accessible rooms with specialised bathrooms. Alternatively, self-catering […]

Paying for care home fees can be worrying. It’s made quite bewildering by the different rules and terminology around available financial support. Here we help you understand your financial options, specifically with explanation of the savings threshold for care home fees, and help you understand what help may be available and what you may need to pay. When to pay for care Through frailty, isolation or dementia, it may be necessary for a loved one to receive support and care from those outside the family. The purpose of this care should be to ensure a high quality of life, and meet the individual needs of the person. The Care Act 2014 establishes the legal obligations of councils in England to ensure care provision. It sets how the level of care needed is determined and how it may be financed. The rules are set nationally, but there can be local variation. The costs of care, and who is responsible for paying them, vary according to a number of different factors such as where the care is provided, what care is needed, and what care is available. The broad concepts of funding care In a very broad nutshell, your local council may […]

If you’re searching for a residential care home or nursing home for you loved one, it’s vital that you are reassured that they will provide a high standard of care. CQC reports can give you some of that peace of mind. A care home is inspected and rated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). They decide if the care home is ‘outstanding’, ‘good’, ‘requires improvement’ or ‘inadequate’. Understanding how CQC reports are undertaken can help you compare different care homes and feel secure in the decisions you make for your loved one. What is the CQC and what do they do? The CQC (Care Quality Commission) is an independent regulator responsible for all care providers in England. They are charged with ensuring that care providers (including GP surgeries, hospitals, domiciliary care services, community care, dentists and care homes) are providing high-quality care that is safe, compassionate and effective. It is a requirement for all care providers in England to register with the CQC and undergo their inspections. These inspections involve different elements including unannounced visits, a review of records, and collation of feedback from service users and staff. From the inspection, CQC reports are created. You can look up the […]

Life-like dolls which resemble human babies, or soft cuddly toy animals, when given to those with dementia with the aim of achieving therapeutic effects, are broadly known as dementia dolls. Dementia dolls have been shown to be hugely beneficial to those with dementia, most notably in the later stages, and as such, their use is now loosely termed doll therapy. This isn’t simply ‘playing’ with a toy, but has a valuable purpose. Let’s explore more. The benefits of dementia dolls and doll therapy Various studies have been undertaken concerning dementia dolls and their benefits. More studies need to be done, but broadly speaking dementia dolls bring a number of worthwhile benefits, if used appropriately: ·         Enjoyment and soothing Those with dementia can find life confusing and bewildering. Many get simple pleasure from holding and caring for a dementia doll. It can help them feel secure, remembering a time when they were a parent of a young baby, and it feels reassuring. It brings up feelings of affection and value. They have been shown to bring calm to distressed or anxious individuals with dementia, and that is hugely valuable. Indeed, the studies consistently show that increased happiness levels are strongly associated […]

It’s a tough question, loaded with emotion, heartbreak and loss, but at some point you’ll probably find yourself wondering ‘when should someone with dementia go into a care home?’ Dementia is progressive. But it’s not always predictable. What is predictable is that, unfortunately, as time goes on you can expect your loved one with dementia to gradually need more care. However, knowing when is the right time for a care home is extremely variable and dependent on various different factors. There’s no single way of saying when the time is right. It’s about identifying when the right time is for this individual and their family. When should someone with dementia go into a care home? To understand when the right timing may be, it’s essential to first understand why a care home may be required. If you don’t understand this, it’s much harder to decide when to make the move. Fundamentally, a care home can make things both safer and easier for both the individual dementia patient and their family. A dedicated dementia care home, like three of our Eastleigh homes, is specifically designed to meet the individual needs of those with dementia. Meeting their needs is central to daily […]

Am I legally responsible for my elderly parent?   A lot of the information that will bombard you, as you wonder ‘Am I legally responsible for my elderly parent’ won’t actually be relevant. Much of the information out there covers the fact this is different from state to state in America. Here in the UK, it’s much more consistent. Knowing if you’re legally responsible for your parent in the UK is thankfully more straightforward and clear. Am I legally responsible for my elderly parent in the UK? The very short answer to this question is: no, you are not legally responsible for your elderly parent if you’re in the UK. When it comes to practical advice about care for the elderly, things are straight forward on paper. However, as with many things in life, the short answer doesn’t always paint the whole picture. Fundamentally, you are not responsible for your parents in a legal sense. The reality may be quite different though depending on your morals, whether you’ve taken out contracts with a care provider on their behalf, or if you’ve got power of attorney. Morals v legality Whilst in law you aren’t responsible for your elderly parents, morally you […]

Too inspired to be tired Ella & Zoey will be walking between all three of the Eastleigh Care Home sites on Friday 18th & Saturday 19th June 2021. They will start their walk at our Minehead home at the top of Periton road, making their way across the moors to our Raleigh Mead & East Street sites in South Molton.  This is roughly a 30 mile walk.  Ella & Zoey are raising funds to give back to the residents and staff of the Care Homes. They would like to organise a traditional village fete in the Eastleigh grounds with animals, traditional competitions and food etc.  Owner/Managing Director of Eastleigh Care Homes, Mr Wilson has agreed to match any amount raised by donations. Please share with your friends & family to help Ella & Zoey reach their target. Any donations would be greatly appreciated: https://gofund.me/fea15991

What is Respite Care? Exploring Options for Elderly Loved Ones Respite care is a short-term, temporary break from caring for a loved one. It’s a service that we offer here, at Eastleigh, in our residential homes, when space allows. The goal is to give you a vital break. What is respite care? The reality is that caring for an elderly loved one can be demanding and exhausting. Even if you don’t have other commitments, ranging from your own dependent children to a job, caring for a loved one is physically and emotionally demanding. It is impossible to do it non-stop for months or years without burning out. A break is essential. Respite care is a way of giving the carer a temporary break from their caring commitments, whilst also ensuring that your elderly loved one is still appropriately cared for. There are a number of different ways in which respite care can happen. The simplest and easiest to organise is probably the type of respite care we offer here at Eastleigh: your elderly loved one temporarily moves into residential care, rather like a hotel stay. Their care needs are met, within the typical infrastructure of the residential or nursing home, […]

Creating a Personalised Care Plan for Dementia Patients A personalised care plan for dementia patients is essential for ensuring their needs are met, but also that structure and routine is provided that enables those caring for them to meet their needs. Additionally, the process of creating a care plan for those with dementia ensures that areas that have been forgotten or overlooked can be addressed. The concept of a personalised care plan for dementia With dementia, it’s fair to say that it’s sometimes difficult to truly see the individual. Instead, often people see the disease. As such, they miss who this individual was in the past, who they are now, and the future they have ahead of them. Yet, we firmly believe that it is only through considering the dementia patient as an individual that we can fully care for them, helping them gain meaning and contentment in daily life. For us, there is no one-size-fits-all approach that works when creating a care plan for the individual with dementia. There cannot be a single set of routines to apply! Instead, this person, their needs, and their past and future, need to be considered. That’s the essence of a personalised care […]

“Dementia Action Week is a national event that sees the UK public taking action to improve the lives of people affected by dementia. In 2021, the Week will take place on 17 – 23 May. Stand up for your loved ones this Dementia Action Week. Coronavirus has exposed the fact that families facing dementia have been failed by a social care system that is inadequate, hard to access, costly and unfair. People with dementia have been worst hit by the pandemic, accounting for a quarter of all coronavirus deaths in the UK. The time has come for governments to set right decades of unfairness and underinvestment and to build a social care system we can all be proud of.” Please see following link for more information regarding Dementia Action Week: https://www.awarenessdays.com/awareness-days-calendar/dementia-action-awareness-week-2021/ Below are a few of Eastleigh Care Homes previous posts regarding Dementia, which may be of use. Spotting the early signs of Dementia in men How to meet the nutritional needs of those living with dementia What is Sundowning in Dementia? How do I arrange Dementia Care?