Benslow Nursing Home |
Hitchin
About the care home
Description of home
Benslow Nursing Home is a three storey restored Victorian house; we are a friendly home offering long term and respite nursing care to people aged 60 years and over living with dementia. 29 of our bedrooms are for single occupancy and have en-suite facilities, although 5 bedrooms are large enough for sharing companions. We have 2 lounges and a dining room with patio doors, which open onto a paved patio area and attractive garden. All floors are accessible by a passenger lift.
Location
Benslow Nursing Home is located in a quiet residential area at the top of Benslow Lane and is ideally situated to the range of local amenities for both Hitchin town centre and the railway station. Getting to the home by public transport is easy as there is a bus stop at the bottom of Benslow Lane. We are close to Junction 7 of the A1 (motorway).
The environment
The first thing you notice the moment you step into Benslow Nursing Home is the home from home atmosphere, everyone’s positive and friendly approach. Staff and service users alike are always given a warm welcome. To add to this homely feel, Benslow Nursing Home is organised to resemble a home with separate areas for those who wish to sit quietly or socialise with each other in group activities. If they wish, residents can have their room decorated and personalised to their own personal choice. We encourage them to bring items such as photos, treasured ornaments and favourite pieces of furniture.
Activities for residents
We encourage and welcome service users to maintain social activities, links with family, friends and outside organisations. There is a wide programme of weekly activity which is organised and overseen by our activity organiser. These are designed to cover a range of interests, from sing-along’s and arts and crafts to cooking and reminiscence sessions. Singers and musicians come to entertain, and a Pet as Therapy dog visits the home every fortnight. Great emphasis is placed on the meaningful daily life activities which will include things to stimulate the mind and the memory. The uniqueness of the individual’s life interest and choice will always be taken in to account. For those who are able, we take small groups in our own minibus on shopping trips and to the local pub for lunch. We also organise summer outings to the seaside.
Wholesome tasty food
Every day there is a choice of menu, we serve meals that are both tasty and nutritious, using local produce where possible. Menus are changed on a regular basis and our chef likes to meet with residents to discuss their personal preferences. We cater for individual dietary requirements and, for those special occasions, our chef will be delighted to arrange something exceptional.
Friends and family
We always extend a warm welcome to friends and relatives into the life of Benslow Nursing Home with invites to Fetes, Dinners party’s entertainments and seasonal events. That’s why visitors are able to feel entirely at ease when they come here, as if they were visiting their loved one in their own home.
Garden setting
When the weather is fine, residents and their families can relax outdoors in our spacious gardens. The home has two outside areas for the residents, one to the left of the building were access can be gained via the front door. This area is grassed and also has a shaded area with a circle pathway for independent wheelchair users. The second is a patio area with a potting shed where residents can carry out garden activities. This area is secure and provides a safe and attractive outside space. Both gardens are complete with garden seating. In the summer, we organise garden parties to which friends and family are warmly invited.
Professional services
We have regular visits from a GP, physiotherapist, hairdresser and mobile library, and can arrange appointments with a chiropodist, dentist and optician, as required. To ensure residents’ spiritual needs are met, we have a Church of England vicar and a Roman Catholic priest visit us regularly. Situated in the heart of a multicultural society, there are many diverse places of worship locally, and every effort will be made to build links with these groups to meet any of the individual’s beliefs. We very much recognise the importance of personal, individual and residents focus to care, to achieve this, good communication between all members of the care team, relatives or doctor’s is essential.
Community spirit
Ensuring our residents remain involved in the life of the community helps keep them independent and active. That’s why we make sure we maintain excellent ties with charities such as Alzheimer’s Society, local schools and with outside entertainment groups, enabling our residents to spend time interacting with a variety of different people and age groups.