Selfless carers moved into Westbourne Care Home during lockdown
THE STAFF AT WESTBOURNE CARE HOME HAVE BEEN SHORTLISTED FOR THE ‘SOCIAL CARE COVID HERO AWARD’ IN THE GREAT BRITISH CARE AWARDS
There is no doubt that the last year has been tough for us all due to the ongoing pandemic but care homes have struggled even more than many realise.
Westbourne Care Home is a family-run home nestled under Robin’s Wood Hill and its director says it has recently been through “the most challenging time in its thirty-year history”.
But, while family and friends were not able to visit and the whole world shut down, the wonderful team at Westbourne really came into its own.
Many of the staff members even moved into the care home during the first lockdown in a bid to keep residents safe from the virus.
For the past year their kindness, sense of fun and person-centred care has kept residents safe, happy and looking forward to better days.
Links with families, friends, local nurseries and schools, who all used to visit regularly, were maintained with video calls and letters and residents have many new penpals.
The care home’s motto is more prominent now than ever before; ‘Residents do not live in our workplace, rather we work in their home.”
And staff members have tried to make each day exciting by trying new activities with the residents. Regular recipe trials have proved to be a real hit throughout lockdown, along with the home’s gardening club and Knitting and Nattering sessions.
Now that residents can have visitors again the team is delighted to be sharing the home with friends and families and the testing and infection control processes are keeping the whole home safe as the year moves on.
All staff members are tested three times every week - once with the lab-tested swab and twice with the rapid tests. Residents have got very used to tests too and are tested monthly or more often if they are feeling under the weather.
Plus, all residents and staff have been vaccinated and there are weekly GP visits to ensure the safety of everyone at the care home. Westbourne is delighted to now be welcoming new residents for short or long stays, for residential or secure dementia care.
Josie Dalli, director of the care home, said: “Westbourne is a lovely home-from-home environment which is just the right size that everybody knows everybody and there is a real family feeling. Throughout lockdown, the most important thing for me was that the wellbeing of staff, as well as residents, was prioritised.
“Our activities team is brilliant and you will see from our Facebook page that we are always trying new things.”
“We love using the garden and also a monthly recipe to get the residents involved in home life and now that families and friends can visit again, we are so delighted to watch the emotional reunions happening.”
“It’s been a heartbreaking year at times but we are so proud to have been short-listed as finalists for the Great British Care Awards “Social Care Covid Hero” Award with a final in July and as an associated invitation to tea at the House of Lords. The staff team are real heroes.”
“We are all individuals and at Westbourne, we believe in person-centred care and treating people with dignity and respect.”
“This springtime might not be giving the Westbourne resident gardeners the weather they would like, but it is certainly a positive time and spirits are high.”
What do the families of residents think?
Caroline (daughter of a resident) said: “We cannot believe how perfect Westbourne was for mum, allowing her to enjoy the last year or so of her life in a caring and stimulating environment. All of the carers were thoughtful and kind and had the knack of making mum feel like she was the most important person they cared for.”
“The variety of activities also helped to keep her stimulated and she even did some things that we would never have imagined her doing. The excellent food also deserves a mention. Westbourne also made dad very welcome and although he wasn’t there for long, it was to our great relief that we knew he was so well cared for and close to mum.”
Sue (daughter of a resident), said: “Westbourne was Mum’s home for almost three years. Mum settled in very well and enjoyed all the activities on offer, especially the bingo. The last year or so jigsaw puzzles became one of her favourites and she was often busy in the lounge sorting out the pieces. Quiet times in her room would find her completing word searches or reading one of her many books. Mum was always happy. The staff were kind and considerate and showed her much respect.”