We know making the decision to move from independent living into a care home can be a difficult one for many families. This is why we go over and above to ensure we provide the utmost care, support and comfort throughout, not just for the loved one who is moving in, but for the whole family.
The gentlest way of helping someone to settle in a new environment is ensuring there is a home-from-home feel from the start – and we really do pride ourselves on the attention to detail we always provide.
It’s imperative that we know as much as we can about our new family members – their likes and dislikes and what’s really important to them. As a way of celebrating and sharing best practice, Red Roofs generously shared some of the ways they have helped their family of residents feel at home with Nottingham TV. Packaged as ‘Make a Wish’, their ‘five minutes of fame’ on film presented a snapshot of three different scenarios that capture the essence of family living with us.
Our three superstars, Pearl, Jean and Doreen, and their families were delighted to share their experiences and the feedback has been wonderful. You can watch them here:
How the wishes came true
As Red Roofs manager Trish Smith said, in addition to our settling in support, we also work with our residents and their families by encouraging them all to share their wishes, and then we do whatever we can to make them come true.
Pearl
When Pearl decided to sell the bungalow she had shared with her husband for 64 years, she told us about their shared love of gardening. She told us all about the beautiful garden they created together from scratch and how it was enjoyed by their children and grandchildren. We knew what would make her happy so cleared space in our garden beds and transported her roses for her to help embed. Once she was happy with this, she asked if she could create some hanging baskets for the front of our home. We took her to our local garden centre to pick the flowers and foliage and she created several beautiful displays for us all to enjoy. More so, she also gave us all – staff and residents – a masterclass in hanging basket design!
Jean
Another gardening fan, Jean lived with her husband in Eastbourne for over fifty years, and spoke fondly of the many happy hours they’d spent together growing flowers and vegetables. We knew it would be enjoyable and beneficial for Jean to spend time in the garden again and so we arranged for two polytunnels to be delivered so she could grow tomatoes like she used to. A wide variety of tomatoes is now flourishing in the garden and Jean spends precious moments with her daughter (who has inherited her mother’s love of gardening) tending to the tomato plants. We are all delighted with the fresh pickings.
Doreen
Our lovely Doreen longed to attend the wedding of her grandson Mark but was sadly unable to make the almost 3-hour journey – so we decided to bring the celebration to her. We arranged an all-day Wedding party for Doreen, which included making button holes and confetti the night before, a wedding cake, speeches and dancing, and we all gathered together to raise a glass of fizz to the happy couple. We gave Doreen a special pamper session for the occasion, with make-up, hair and nails and even recorded a special message to her grandson and his bride. By the time the day was over, there was not a dry eye in the room.
Trish Smith, Red Roofs Manager said:
‘Make my wish come true’ has been such a big success – seeing the joy on our residents’ faces makes it so worthwhile. These wishes can rekindle happy memories or strengthen bonds with loved ones and provide mental stimulation and a sense of purpose. We truly value and cherish the precious things that have mattered so much to every member of our Red Roofs family. What a privilege it is – and how lovely for us all to be able to bring as much joy as we can to their lives.
Can you help us?
We would love local people and businesses to support us in creating meaningful and memorable experiences for our residents. This could be through offering your time, expertise, suggestions or resources. This isn’t just about granting wishes – it’s about helping us to enhance the quality of life for those who have been part of this community for many years.
If you would like to know more, please contact enquiries@redhomes.com
