What are the services that the fee includes?
The fee includes all boarding and lodging, meals, in house laundry and 24 hour care. Within the 24 hour care we include interfacing with GP’s, DN’s and medication available from GP’s on prescription and handling any emergencies.
What are the extras that we would have to pay for?
Chiropody services, hairdressing services, newspapers, periodicals, external laundry, dry cleaning, escort services, personal special toiletries, TV subscription services, telephone and cost of outings. These are not included in the fee and have to paid for separately.
Do you charge a top-up?
Fundamentally Cloverdale believes that ‘Top Ups’ are morally not justifiable. Therefore the fee for private residents is the same as social services sponsored residents and there are no “Top Ups”.
What are your visiting hours?
Any time any day within reason e.g. not at 2 am in the morning without a prior appointment.
Can I take my relative for outings?
Yes, all we request is that you inform the Manager or Team Leader and let them know when you will bring them back. This is primarily for monitoring and security reasons.
Yes – we aim to provide one outing a quarter. Residents have a choice of whether they want to join in the outing or not. Residents and resident relatives have inputs to the type of outings that the home should arrange through Resident Relatives meetings held at regular intervals.
Do you provide nursing services?
No, Cloverdale does not provide nursing services i.e. we do not have a Nurse on duty 24 hours a day seven days a week. However, our Team Leaders are trained First Aiders and can generally cope with all emergencies. General nursing services e.g. monitoring of sugar levels, insulin injections are provided by regular calls from District Nurses arranged by GP’s.
Would I not be better of choosing a Nursing Home or a Dual Registration Home?
Clearly the choice is yours. But before making the decision, you need to consider whether your relative really needs a nurse monitoring them on a 24 / 7 basis. There are some things that a residential home can not do e.g. ‘peg feed’, drips etc. But it can deliver excellent social care and even Tender Loving Care during the final stages where the continuous monitoring of a Nurse is not needed. There will be more social interaction in a residential setting and your relative may not have to see the distress of some truly nursing residents. Most elderly people do not really need ‘nursing care’ in their lives or final days. However, if such a need arises, Cloverdale has a sister home nearby (part of the same group) where we can make arrangements for a transfer fairly quickly without any notice.
What happens if the needs of my relative change?
We will work with you to find the right home which can satisfy the needs of your relative. We will work with you on the transfer and initiate the transfer as immediately as possible. The notice period of four weeks will be waivered under these circumstances. Within the company (we are a part of a group of 9 homes), we can usually find a solution within the group but this decision is entirely yours. You have the right to decide where you would like to take your relative.
How do you assess my relative’s needs and therefore the fee relevant to his/her needs?
The Manager and/or Team Leader will conduct a very comprehensive pre-assessment at the location of your choice e.g. hospital, your relative’s home or Cloverdale. The outcomes of this assessment are discussed with you and also whether the Home can meet the needs of your relative. The fee relevant to these care needs is also discussed at this time. These needs and fee are confirmed both verbally and in writing with you before accepting an admission.
Will my relative get bored?
There are plenty of activities going on in the Home. A visit to the Home to see these activities in action; the current activity timetable, in house entertainment etc. is most welcome. The choice of whether your relative wants to join in these activities is left up to them. Our staff will encourage them to take part but will not force them. If on the other hand, your relative prefers to watch television or listen to the radio in her room, then every room is equipped with a television and a radio can be arranged. Subscription TV services can be arranged if needed. There are also some residents who have started a cross word puzzle group, dominoes group, scrabble group and even a knitting group. Cocktail evenings are arranged once a month and resident relatives are very welcome to these evenings.
How do you keep me informed about my relative’s health?
We will take instructions from you on admission. Ideally we would like to keep you informed on a 24 hour basis i.e. be able to call you and let you know of any adverse circumstances. But if you prefer to be disturbed at night for emergencies only, then we will record this in the care plan and act accordingly i.e. it is totally your decision on how and when you would like to be informed. Of course you can come and discuss your relatives’ physical, mental, health or social needs at any time with the manager when the manager is present or with the Team Leader who will keep the manager informed. There are also six-monthly reviews, you will be informed about these and your presence at such reviews is most appreciated. You will also be requested to review, make your inputs and sign the care plan at regular intervals.
Do you provide palliative care?
For our existing residents we always provide ‘palliative care’ when needed. For new residents, this depends very much on the pre-assessment that we conduct.
What type of activities do you organise?
We have a very comprehensive activities time table which includes chair exercises, Bingo, reminiscence sessions, card games, dominoes, Scrabble, quizzes, old time singing, dancing and karaoke. We also have in house entertainment every two months and planned outings once a quarter. Every resident birthday is celebrated with a cake which is shared with the other residents and their relatives. Events such as our Easter Party, Summer Fayre, Christmas Fayre and Christmas Party are musts and are celebrated with a great deal of gusto.
What happens during public holidays especially during Christmas?
Public holidays are like any other day in the Home, fully staffed and special events are celebrated with a great deal of enthusiasm. Staff encourage residents to wear Easter Bonnets during Easter; the home is fully decorated with Christmas decorations and Christmas tree during Christmas. Most residents prefer to spend Christmas in the Home and enjoy the traditional Christmas meal in the home. Staff join them in the games after the meal and it is a fun occasion. On the other hand, if you want to take your relative home for any of these events then you are welcome to do so. Staff will prepare them and give you any medication that may be necessary during that period. The freedom and choice is left entirely between you and your relative.
Can my relative keep his/her own GP?
Certainly and this is what we prefer. We will work with your GP. On the other hand, if your GP does not want to continue providing this service (not their physical area etc.), then arrangements can be made with the GP surgery in the village.
Yes, we treat the first four weeks as a trial period. During this period you can terminate your stay with us with a two days notice at any time. Of course you can also make arrangements to come only for a few days to let your relative ‘try and experience’ a residential stay in a Home.
Do you have extended day care?
Our normal day care is from around 10 am until 4 pm. However, if you would like extended hours of day care this can be arranged. Please discuss with the Manager or send the Manager an e-mail.
Can I leave my relative for the occasional week end?
Yes, arrangements can be made for week end stays. Typically, these cost slightly more but again please discuss with manager or send an e-mail.
Can my relative bring his/her personal belongings?
We like our residents to personalise their rooms with their own memorabilia like pictures, ornaments and other small items. Some larger items like bed, cupboard, dressing table etc, can be arranged but must be discussed with the Manager before admission.
If it is a pet which can be kept in the room like budgie or fish then yes, otherwise no. We can not take cats or dogs or other exotic pets for many reasons including allergy and desires of other residents, hygiene, risk to other residents and staff and time taken by staff.