Most of us can probably agree that wellbeing is much more than simply keeping physically active and eating the right things. It is an active process of becoming aware of, and making choices towards a healthy and fulfilling life.
Irrespective of one’s age or mobility, wellbeing is something that can be achieved by having a rounded life surrounded by the things and people that make us happy. Wellbeing is about ‘thriving and not just surviving.’
To enable us to achieve this in our homes, we employ two full time Lifestyle Coordinators, who work closely with residents, families and staff, to ensure all activities give our residents a sense of purpose, self-esteem and personal fulfilment.
Our ethos at both Rosebank and Churchfields has always been centred round the health and happiness of our residents. Our mission has always been to go far beyond providing high quality care but also to create a welcoming atmosphere where every one of our residents and their families feel right at home.
In order to create a home where everyone feels valued, we place a high emphasis on recruiting the most highly skilled, kind-hearted care staff possible. We want our residents to feel relaxed when in the company of staff and so a caring, thoughtful temperament combined with the right values is crucial when we recruit.
Rosebank and Churchfields are both situated in the heart of beautiful Oxfordshire. From day one we have always wanted residents to play an important role in the local area, which is why we frequently open our doors to the community. In recent years, we have forged links with schools and businesses in our respective villages to offer intergenerational sessions with nursery children, weekly coffee mornings, choir practice and Wellbeing Wednesdays, where residents are treated to pampering sessions.
Residents are given the opportunity to voice their thoughts and needs at regular resident meetings. Our latest additions to the Rosebank family, ‘Wills and Harry’ the rabbits, were purchased from the Blue Cross after residents expressed their wishes for pets at the home. They were enthusiastic about helping to prepare Rosebank for the arrival of the bunnies and now take an active role in caring for them.
Mealtimes are another important part of life at both homes and they are designed to be flexible and enjoyable. We do not believe in implementing a strict menu where there is no choice, which is why our excellent cooks get to know our residents and do their utmost to accommodate their personal preferences through the preparation of delicious meals using fresh ingredients. We not only understand how important it is for our physical and mental health to maintain a nutritious diet, but we also realise the socialising opportunities that meal times can bring to our new and existing residents, which is why we encourage visiting friends and family to stay for lunch or afternoon tea at any time.
We invest a lot of time and effort in maintaining a safe, comfortable and loving environment at Rosebank and Churchfields in which residents can live life to the full and truly flourish. We have a genuine belief that a care home should be a truly positive experience and wellbeing should be top of the agenda when it comes to person centred care.
About the Author
Jane Roberts and her husband Gerry, own and manage Rosebank Care Home and Churchfields Care Home, both set in rural Oxfordshire. Since acquiring Rosebank in 2008, and most recently Churchfields in 2016, their ethos has been to provide outstanding long and short-term care for residents.
Gerry is a GP and Jane trained as a Nurse at Middlesex Hospital, London. For the last 15 years Jane has been involved in developing care homes.
