We pride ourselves that we put the individual at the centre of everything we do. It is important that we do what we can to encourage every resident to maintain their independence for as long as possible and one way we do this is to create a stimulating environment which includes a range of activities that are tailored to meet the needs of the individual.
In keeping with the requirements of the Care Quality Commission, activities are tailored to the needs and desires of individual residents, with goals being set and outcomes recorded. This means that person-centred care extends into the design of the activities.
Resident and their relatives are consulted about their lifelong hobbies and interests and we will endeavour to incorporate these in their individual activity plans. In addition the therapeutic activities are included in the activities programme because they are essential to being able to maintain a sense of health and well-being.
We encourage visits from the residents family, we even have a skype facility to make contact and interactive more easily accessable.
Friends and families are also welcome to participate in activities and our Christmas Party and Summer Fayre are just two occasions when everyone is encouraged to join in. Our full-time Activities Co-ordinator will put together a monthly programme which could include one-to-one or group activities based on what our residents tell us they want to do. We have an Activities board which is populated with details of each week’s activities.
The Activities co-ordinator works throughout the week with flexible hours, which means that activities take place in the evenings and at weekends as and when necessary. We embrace international celebrations including Chinese New Year, American Independence Day where we organise themed activities and menus are adjusted according to the theme. In addition we provide regular entertainment from visiting performers, these include musicians, singers and theatrical groups.
No one has to join in and we respect the rights of every individual to choose. Residents are encouraged to maintain memberships in clubs and societies and, in addition Bramble House has strong links with the local community so that new interests can be developed. The home has its own people carrier and we use this to take residents on trips out, these can range from shopping or visiting friends to visiting local attractions.
We benefit from a large garden which is divided into several different areas including a sensory garden and orchard that has been designed specifically for our residents with raised beds. There are places to sit in the sun or shade, and on warm sunny days we like to take lunch or tea outside and residents can use the grounds which are safe and secure whenever they like. Our Activities Co-ordinator will often involve the residents in future plans for the garden and in planting in the raised beds or hanging baskets. Needless to say, all produce is consumed by the residents.
At Bramble House we strive to improve our services wherever possible and welcome feedback and suggestions from our residents and their relatives. We hold regular monthly meetings and carry out an annual quality assurance survey which we use to continue to develop our service.
