Choosing a care home is an important decision for every family, as we all want to ensure the best for our loved ones, but with so many considerations to take into account, SoGlos talked to Edwardstow Court Care Centre about exactly what people should consider researching care homes.
About the expert – Lynne Elliott, home manager of The Orders of St John Care Trust Edwardstow Court Care Centre
The Orders of St John Care Trust is one of the UK’s leading not-for-profit care organisations working solely to provide high quality care for older people with 16 care homes in Gloucestershire — including Edwardstow Court Care Centre in Stow-on-the-Wold.
Priding itself on delivering care to the highest standards, which includes learning as much as possible about each individual to deliver tailored care and support to meet particular needs and preferences.
Lynne Elliott is the Home Manager of Edwardstow Court Care Centre. She has a vast amount of experience working in the health and social care sector, specifically working with older people.
Tell us about The Orders of St John Care Trust’s Edwardstow Court Care Centre
Edwardstow Court Care Centre is a 48-bed purpose-built care home. We support people who live with Dementia and those that just want a quiet, comfortable life without the worry of managing day-to-day chores whilst being able to enjoy freedom to do what they want to do when they want to do it.
Edwardstow Court opened in 2018 and there are three levels in the home plus a ‘village street’ which boasts a shop, a hairdressing salon and a café which leads out into the pretty garden.
Each level comprises of two households with eight rooms, two lounges and two destination themed lounges. All six of our households are named after sheep as Edwardstow Court sits in in Stow-on-the-Wold, in the heart of the Cotswolds.
What should people consider when they’re looking for a care home?
If I was looking for a care home for a loved one, I would look at the care home reviews online and the Care Quality Commission Inspection report initially. We are delighted that Edwardstow has an average review score of 9.9 out of 10 and is rated ‘Good’ by CQC.
I would then focus on the home and the facilities that it offers and ask these key questions:
• Is there a colourful garden where people are able to sit?
• Are the staff pleasant and friendly?
• Do the residents look comfortable and content?
• Is the environment clean and tidy and in a good state of repair?
I would also ask to look at the menus and the activities calendar and ask what a typical day would look like and arrange a chat with the home manager. It’s important to get a feel for the person who is responsible for the health and wellbeing of the people living in the home.
What advice would you give to a family who are looking at care homes?
Ensure that you get the feel of the home and make sure they deliver what they say. I would chat with the team and the residents to obtain the views of the people who live and work in the home and ask myself whether I would I be able to live in the home myself.
What makes Edwardstow Court home unique and worth considering?
We are lucky to be situated in the heart of the Cotswolds and close to the local market town of Stow-on-the-Wold. We have strong links in the community and being purpose-built we have lots of space for our residents to enjoy activities and relax. The home is bright and cheerfully decorated with an incredibly caring team on site 24/7.
The homes been specifically designed to help the residents – tell us more about this.
Each household at Edwardstow Court has its own kitchen where residents can help themselves to drinks and snacks, whenever they wish. There are lots of spaces and quiet areas to sit including a garden room, balconies overlooking our beautiful, enclosed gardens and destination lounges at the end of the corridors with their own unique theme.
The home is a natural sun trap and the residents are often found taking a snooze in the sunshine. Each individual room has furniture ergonomically designed, featuring a sliding door into the ensuite shower room and easy to open wardrobes.
We encourage our residents to bring personal belongings from their home to make their new room feel like a home from home and more familiar. This could be their favourite armchair or picture frames to hang on the wall, each room becomes personalised and authentic to them.
What does being a home manager at Edwardstow Court involve?
It is a privilege to be at the helm of the home as a manager and looking at innovative ways to make life as interesting and fulfilling as possible. Being manager of Edwardstow Court involves me ensuring that we meet all the current CQC regulations and Health and Safety Legislation.
I also must adhere and implement the policies and procedures of The Orders of St John Care Trust to ensure the quality of care is provided in safe and happy environment. I need to lead effectively and always be approachable and ensure that the residents and staff in the home have a safe and create a happy and stable environment for everyone.
What is the most rewarding part of being a home manager?
The most rewarding part is making sure that the residents are safe, content, and happy and truly being able to make that difference to someone’s life.
