The past few months have been challenging for care home residents and their families, everywhere. Lockdown meant an immediate cessation of face-to-face visits at the very time relatives desperately wanted to support their loved ones. Thanks to early planning Colten Care with brilliantly capable and caring staff has managed the brunt of the crisis and also provided clear and consistent communications throughout which helped everybody to keep calm. Now whilst hugs and kisses are still of course not possible, a safe visiting protocol across the 21 Colten Care homes is enabling real life reunions; families are responding with their own votes of confidence.
Sue Pritchard’s husband Bryan lives at Colten Care’s Kingfishers care home in New Milton, rated Outstanding in successive inspections by care sector regulator the Care Quality Commission.
Like families across the country, the couple found it hard to accept the loss of visiting opportunities due to lockdown. For three months they relied on phone calls and Skype. That was until the introduction of Covid safe visits involving a specially designed see-through screen positioned in the home’s entrance way. Sue was one of the first relatives to take advantage of the new protocol. “It was wonderful,” she says. “We have been married for 44 years and have never been apart for this length of time. It was a thrill to be with him again, very exciting. We chatted away quite happily and it’s reassuring that we can look forward to the next one. Of course it has been an upsetting time but the safe visit protocol is marvellous. These meetings are so important.”
Sue feels the home’s overall handling of the Covid crisis has reinforced her view that Bryan is in safe hands. “I am reassured about the home being a safe haven. That comes from the regular communications and updates we receive which are open and transparent. The reassurance came early. They were absolutely onto any initial questions about, for example, PPE, food supplies, GPs’ visits and hospital discharge – all the things you would be thinking about as a relative. And we are always encouraged to respond if we have any questions. I feel listened to.”
It has been a similar experience for Nick Amor whose mother Evelyn has lived at Colten Care’s Castle View home in Dorchester for just over three years. Like Sue, Nick was overjoyed to hear of the safe visit protocol. “I had been visiting three times a week,” he recalls. “It was sad I couldn’t see mum because of lockdown. It has been so lovely to see her again. We’ve now done the second visit. We hadn’t seen each other for so long. She looked well, she’s clearly eating well, and she was glad to see me.”
Nick is full of praise for the way Castle View has dealt with and communicated about its handling of the Covid risk. “They’ve done an excellent job, outstanding. There have been no cases of the virus at the home. The staff couldn’t have done any more. I can’t fault them at all.”
Families newer to Colten Care have likewise been impressed with its approach. Janice Perkins’ mother Terry only moved to the Lymington home Belmore Lodge at the end of January 2020.
“I’m an ex-nurse and so was on the look-out for anything amiss but it was all fine,” says Janice. “Since then, I’ve continued to be completely reassured. I was going in most days before lockdown. Mum found the separation very difficult to start with. Since then, it’s been fine. While it has been nice weather she has been able to go out into the garden. She loves to be outside. It has made a great difference to her. Phone calls and Skype have been very helpful too, and now we have been able to have our first shielded visit. I was able to see that she looks good.”
Janice says any concerns she had about the wider media portrayal of care homes during the pandemic have been allayed by regular communications from Belmore Lodge and Colten Care generally. “We get all the information we need and if you have any queries, they get sorted straight away. I would certainly recommend Belmore Lodge to others. From my perspective I am happy with it. I appreciate the staff. They are doing brilliantly.”
With more than 30 years’ experience, Colten Care is an award-winning family-owned care home company. It has 21 quality care homes covering Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire and Sussex and offers a range of services spanning residential, nursing and dementia care.
Colten Care operates six residential nursing and care homes in the New Forest, including three in Lymington: Belmore Lodge, Court Lodge and dementia specialist Linden House. There are also homes in Brockenhurst (Woodpecker's), New Milton (Kingfisher's) and Mudeford (Avon Reach). Click on the links to find out more about each home...
If you, your partner or parent would like to experience a Colten Care home first-hand, Colten Care is now offering the opportunity to stay for two weeks completely free.
For terms and conditions, and how to apply, please call 01425 482464
Colten Care homes are reassuring havens despite the challenges posed in these difficult times. Residents enjoy companionship and joining in with lots of activities including singing, music, exercise and arts and crafts sessions. There is the opportunity for gentle gardening activities in the summer sunshine, and for corresponding with community pen pals of all ages, sharing experiences and strengthening friendships.
This is made possible by the expertise of each home team who are focused on making sure residents live well and have opportunities to enjoy life. All the homes are registered for nursing care and staffed by dedicated nurses and health care professionals with extensive experience in caring for age-related conditions and fully trained in infection control.
Colten Care are making an amazing offer this summer of 2 weeks free at their homes, whether your stay is simply for respite or on a longer term-basis.
* Please note terms and conditions apply.
With more than 30 years’ experience, Colten Care is an award-winning family-owned care home company. It has 21 quality care homes covering Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire and Sussex and offers a range of services spanning residential, nursing and dementia care.
Colten Care operates six residential nursing and care homes in the New Forest, including three in Lymington: Belmore Lodge, Court Lodge and dementia specialist Linden House. There are also homes in Brockenhurst (Woodpecker's), New Milton (Kingfisher's) and Mudeford (Avon Reach). Click on the links to find out more about each home...
If you, your partner or parent would like to experience a Colten Care home first-hand, Colten Care is now offering the opportunity to stay for two weeks completely free.
For terms and conditions, and how to apply, please call 01425 482464
Covid-19 and Lockdown have restricted face-to-face visits at care homes everywhere but thanks to effective planning and clear communications, Colten Care has kept relatives reassured, and relatives have been praising the carers.
Read this week's advertisement feature here; then below we feature Colten Care's annual Celebration of Life, when relatives and residents share memories of loved ones who have passed away at Colten Care's homes in the past year - this year this took place, naturally, online!
Meanwhile, Colten Care’s annual Celebration of Life is usually an opportunity for relatives, friends, current residents and staff to get together in person and reminisce about those who have died.
With Covid restrictions ruling out face-to-face community gatherings this year, team members decided to hold an alternative-style event.
They invited families and friends of the residents to join online meetings and share personal memories and time for reflection.
The intimate event featured poems, music, hymns, readings and prayers. In some homes, local vicars conducted services via Zoom.
Participants were encouraged to write about their loved ones in short email messages. Staff transcribed these onto memory cards which they tied to ‘memory trees’ in the homes’ foyers and gardens.
There were many affectionate and personal contributions such as: “Isobel – a wonderful wife and lover of music”; “Norma – loved sitting in the sunshine”; “Betty – had a wonderful motherly nature”; and “Jessie – loved travelling the world playing sports”.
Pictured here is part of the event which took place at Linden House specialist dementia care home in Lymington.
Celebrations across the homes included staff and current residents hand-painting pebbles in memory of those they have lost, with the resident's name, along with a picture depicting their hobbies or interests; the pebbles were then laid in what will now become a permanent ‘Forget-me-not’ garden and people can come and sit on a bench opposite taking time to reflect as they look at the stones.
Vanda Baker, Home Manager at St Catherines View, dedicated dementia care home in Winchester, said: “Although we couldn’t meet in person with families this year, we still wanted to give everyone the opportunity to reflect and reminisce. As the name suggests, Celebration of Life is all about remembering the individuality of residents we have had the privilege of knowing. It is an ideal chance to celebrate the joy, laughter and experiences of those who came to stay with us.”
Sally Smith, Nurse Learning and Development Manager, who leads Colten Care’s end-of-life care strategy said: “Covid has created a really difficult time for many people and families across the world. For our part, we didn’t want the restrictions to stop our annual Celebration of Life event which has been held every year since 2017. It always proves to be a precious and heartfelt experience for those taking part. We strongly believe that good end of life care should extend to supporting relatives and friends whose loved ones have died.”
With more than 30 years’ experience, Colten Care is an award-winning family-owned care home company. It has 21 quality care homes covering Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire and Sussex and offers a range of services spanning residential, nursing and dementia care.
Colten Care operates six residential nursing and care homes in the New Forest, including three in Lymington: Belmore Lodge, Court Lodge and dementia specialist Linden House. There are also homes in Brockenhurst (Woodpecker's), New Milton (Kingfisher's) and Mudeford (Avon Reach). Click on the links to find out more about each home...
If you, your partner or parent would like to experience a Colten Care home first-hand, Colten Care is now offering the opportunity to stay for two weeks completely free.
For terms and conditions, and how to apply, please call 01425 482464
Colten Care homes are relaxing havens notwithstanding the challenges posed by the risk of Covid. Residents live well, enjoying excellent care, quality home made food and charming gardens with plenty of places to sit - in the shade when it's too warm for the sun! They can choose companionship, especially when they feel like joining in with activities and making new friends. When they prefer they can of course opt for peace and quiet; meanwhile relatives have peace of mind knowing they're being brilliantly cared for.
Read this week's advertisement feature here and consider whether Colten Care's current "two weeks free" offer could be beneficial to you or somebody you know. (This article about the benefits of respite care might help to swing it for you!)
With more than 30 years’ experience, Colten Care is an award-winning family-owned care home company. It has 21 quality care homes covering Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire and Sussex and offers a range of services spanning residential, nursing and dementia care.
Colten Care operates six residential nursing and care homes in the New Forest, including three in Lymington: Belmore Lodge, Court Lodge and dementia specialist Linden House. There are also homes in Brockenhurst (Woodpecker's), New Milton (Kingfisher's) and Mudeford (Avon Reach). Click on the links to find out more about each home...
If you, your partner or parent would like to experience a Colten Care home first-hand, Colten Care is now offering the opportunity to stay for two weeks completely free.
For terms and conditions, and how to apply, please call 01425 482464
Relatives really appreciate the care received by their loved ones in Colten Care homes. Linda Carrington's mother Pearl is 96 and has lived at Kingfishers in New Milton (rated Outstanding by the Quality Care Commission) for 3 years. Covid was a shock as it was to everybody but the key thing is how Colten have more than managed, calmly and competently.
As Linda says: "Mum got over a low point about the pandemic and now she's fine, emotionally restored. She has said that life hasn't changed much during lockdown, other than definitely missing visitors. I wonder where else, at the moment, people could say that."
It's really worth reading what else Linda has to say below.
Colten Care are still running their "two weeks free" offer - could this be helpful to you or somebody you know? (This article about the benefits of respite care might help to swing it for you!)
With more than 30 years’ experience, Colten Care is an award-winning family-owned care home company. It has 21 quality care homes covering Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire and Sussex and offers a range of services spanning residential, nursing and dementia care.
Colten Care operates six residential nursing and care homes in the New Forest, including three in Lymington: Belmore Lodge, Court Lodge and dementia specialist Linden House. There are also homes in Brockenhurst (Woodpecker's), New Milton (Kingfisher's) and Mudeford (Avon Reach). Click on the links to find out more about each home...
If you, your partner or parent would like to experience a Colten Care home first-hand, Colten Care is now offering the opportunity to stay for two weeks completely free.
For terms and conditions, and how to apply, please call 01425 482464
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