Great Oaks invests in robotic technology
Great Oaks invests in robotic technology to boost residents’ health and wellbeing Residents from Great Oaks care home in Bournemouth have benefited from the addition of two new robotic animals as part of the home’s pet therapy sessions, Biscuit the robotic dog and Arthur the robotic cat. Great Oaks is already home to the residents’ pet budgie called Smuggler which often brings a smile to everyone’s face when he starts to sing. It has been recognised since Smuggler was introduced to the home, that he has encouraged social interaction and visibly reduced stress and anxiety in residents with dementia. Biscuit the robotic dog and Arthur the robotic cat are a welcome addition to the home’s dedicated pet therapy sessions. Biscuit responds to touch and speech, just like a real dog would, making him the perfect companion. Arthur mimics a cat’s typical behaviour by meowing, purring and lifting its paws in response to speech. Michele Blake, wellbeing manager at Great Oaks, explained: “Animals have always been part of our varied care programme at Great Oaks due to the positive impact they have on our residents’ wellbeing and overall health. However, the recent investment into the robotic pets means that our residents now have access to them throughout the day and can pet them for longer. “One of our residents had been quite unsettled one morning and soon after she interacted with the cat, she appeared much calmer while stroking it, and told everyone how lovely her new pet was. We always welcome new ways to grow and enhance the high standard of care which we provide and look to incorporate new technology into the home that is going to benefit our residents.” Great Oaks is managed by Encore Care Homes, with two other care homes in Christchurch and Fareham, and a fourth due to open in Poole later this year. The 80-bed care home is fitted with state-of-the-art facilities, designed to enable staff to provide the highest standard of 24-hour, personalised care and ensure residents are comfortable and happy in their surroundings. Please visit www.greatoaksbournemouth.co.uk for more information or call 01202 476960.
Great Oaks welcomes new care home manager
Registered nurse Sara Muslin has joined the team at Great Oaks in Bournemouth as care home manager. Sara has been a registered nurse for more than 30 years and has vast experience in the care sector, having managed care teams for over 20 years. Sara has spent the past six years as a registered manager for care homes which specialise in nursing, residential and dementia care. In her new role, Sara is responsible for all aspects of the day-to-day running of the home, ensuring that the highest standards of care are maintained and that the Care Quality Commission standards and guidelines are adhered to at all times. During the first few weeks, Sara will take the time to get to know all of the residents on a personal level, seeing them regularly in order to deliver ongoing person-centred care. Each resident has a personal care plan covering the totality of their needs, which will be regularly updated and reviewed by Sara as part of this process. Commenting on her new position, Sara said: “I am thrilled to be joining a team that is so welcoming and passionate about delivering a high standard of care to residents. The home’s values reflect how care should be delivered and how I myself, would want to be cared for. “I am looking forward to being part of the very best care organisation in the south, which puts the health and wellbeing of residents at the heart of everything it does. I will also ensure the home remains a happy, safe place where residents thrive and the team are proud to work.” Great Oaks is the latest addition of an established family of care homes managed by Encore Care Homes, with two other care homes in Dorset and Hampshire. The 80-bed care home is fitted with state-of-the-art facilities, designed to enable staff to provide the highest standard of 24 hour, personalised care and ensure residents are comfortable and happy in their surroundings. Please visit www.greatoaksbournemouth.co.uk for more information or call 01202 087444.
Great Oaks care home welcomes soft food diet specialist
Great Oaks in Bournemouth has appointed a soft food diet specialist to allow for a wide range of diet requirements to be catered for at the care home. Patrick Fensterseifer, head chef at Great Oaks, specialises in the production of dysphagia meals which means he is able to cook dishes for residents who have difficulties with swallowing. Patrick is passionate about preparing meals that are flavoursome, nutritious, well-presented and meet the specific dietary requirements of every resident. As a Dorset Healthcare NHS dysphagia practitioner, Patrick has a wealth of knowledge which has enabled him to lead the rest of catering team confidently and help expand their skills and understanding of the disorder. Patrick has more than 18 years’ experience as a head chef and has demonstrated to the rest of the team that it is still possible to be creative when catering for a resident who requires a soft food diet. Great Oaks also works closely with Dining with Dignity, a specialist training provider, to help meet the nutritional needs of residents who have dysphagia. The catering team receive training from a specialist Dining with Dignity chef, who also provides a bespoke workshop plan, which includes demonstrations on how to prepare puree meals. Patrick Fensterseifer, head chef of Great Oaks care home, said: “At our home we are so passionate about going the extra mile to put a smile on our residents’ faces. Meal times are treated with great importance, everyone has individual needs and we take the time to get to know what each resident likes and doesn’t like to eat. “Every meal is prepared using fresh, locally-sourced ingredients to ensure our dishes are as nutrition-rich as possible. When we create meals for our residents with dysphagia, we like to challenge ourselves to serve soft diet food, which still look like their solid counterparts. We use a range of mould and piping techniques that allow us to create a variety of appetising courses which contain the vital ingredients that boost our residents’ health. I am a member of the National Association of Care Catering which ensures the team are continually learning, creating new recipes and evolving the catering offering at Great Oaks.” Great Oaks is the latest addition of an established family of care homes managed by Encore Care Homes, with two other care homes in Dorset and Hampshire. The 80-bed care home is fitted with state-of-the-art facilities, designed to enable staff to provide the highest standard of 24 hour, personalised care and ensure residents are comfortable and happy in their surroundings. Please visit www.greatoaksbournemouth.co.uk for more information or call 01202 087444.
Great Oaks is a home from home
Making the decision to move into a care home, or to help a loved one move in, can be a hugely upsetting and challenging time so making the right choice is important. Vi spoke about her experience of choosing Great Oaks, managed by Encore Care Homes, for her partner Derek and how it feels like a home from home for both of them. Sadly, my partner Derek can no longer do anything for himself as he has Alzheimer’s disease and chronic kidney disease, so we needed to choose a care home that would be able to cater for all of his care needs. Great Oaks is situated just a few minutes away from our home in Wallisdown so we made the decision to view it and were not disappointed. The rooms and facilities on offer are outstanding and finished to such a high standard, which confirmed this was the right place for Derek to live and call his home. It was an incredibly hard choice to move Derek into a care home, but the whole process has been made so much easier by the caring friendly nature of the team at Great Oaks. The staff are all so kind and welcoming every time I come in, and I’ve got to know those that are looking after Derek and trust them 100 per cent – I know they genuinely have his best interests at heart. Three carers in particular, Alison, Katie and Karen show Derek a great amount of care and attention. I have also built up a great rapport and relationship with them, which has helped to make my visits even more enjoyable. There is a real family vibe at Great Oaks, and a homely feel, not just for the residents but for their spouses and families too. I visit every day, and I’m always actively encouraged to use the communal areas as well as the facilities, which I really enjoy doing with Derek. Particularly taking part in the home activities. I’m always made to feel so relaxed. Recently, Derek’s condition has deteriorated. His concentration has gone, which makes it hard for him to focus on activities. Thankfully there are lovely gardens at Great Oaks which Derek will happily take a stroll in during the warmer weather. He does also like to spend time with another resident, Terry, as he is encouraged to socialise by the care team. I can honestly say that we have been made to feel part of the family at Great Oaks, which has made the whole transition process so much easier. Alzheimer’s is a cruel disease and it’s heart-breaking to watch a loved one with this terrible illness. But when I see Derek smile, it really lifts my spirits. I’m glad he is living somewhere comfortable, homely and surrounded by such compassionate and friendly nurses and carers. The care Derek receives is exceptional, and I couldn’t really ask for more. Great Oaks is the latest addition of an established family of care homes managed by Encore Care Homes, with two other care homes in Dorset and Hampshire. The 80-bed care home is fitted with state-of-the-art facilities, which are designed to enable staff to provide the highest standard of 24 hour, personalised care and ensure residents are comfortable and happy in their surroundings. For more information please visit www.greatoaksbournemouth.co.uk or call 01202 087444 to speak to a member of the team.
