Our care starts with the individual. Their needs and wants come first and this dictates the care they receive. We pride ourselves on helping to improve the lives of our residents by working with them and their families to create a bespoke care plan. We don’t have huge care homes that can house hundreds of residents as we want to ensure the high quality, personalised care received is always the same, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We run two care homes - Cramlington House, on the coast of Cramlington and West Farm Care Centre based in Longbenton. Cramlington House opened in June 2013. It consists of three separate buildings that, overall, are home to 63 residents. The home is situated on the coast of Cramlington and it’s extremely close to a chemist, supermarket and post office as well as doctor’s surgeries and various religious churches. It has been purpose-built following our many years of hands-on experience about the type of care that is needed for those living with dementia. Providing care for dementia is a learning and developing journey. Cramlington House signifies how we have refined and tailored dementia care, understanding that it affects not only the person living with it but those around the individual too. To the very last detail – whether that’s the colour of a toilet seat or door handle to personalised and characterised bedrooms – Cramlington House provides a completely new offering to the traditional care home model. The home offers a very detailed activity programme that’s resulted from input from the residents, staff and families. Activities include outings to local places of interest, trips to the local coffee shop or pub, tea dances with the Alzheimer’s Society, clubs at the local church, film shows, arts and crafts, keep fit classes, bingo, dominoes and even haircuts, blow dries and manicures for residents who would like a little bit of pampering at our very own in-house hair salon. We also have our own chiropodist who visits the home every six weeks. What’s more, we provide one-to-one sessions between residents and staff so that they receive important and valued one-to-one contact and attention. The staff at Cramlington House are specifically employed based on their specialist skills and experience in caring for those living with dementia. They’re highly committed, specially trained and able to build relationships with those who live there. We provide ongoing training for employees so that their ability to provide the very best of care continues to improve and develop. Opened in 2012, West Farm Care Centre is a purpose-built centre based in the heart of Longbenton and our highly trained and dedicated team are there to help residents settle into their new home and community as quickly as possible. It is home to 50 people living with dementia. Those who live here are not just a number – they’re treated as the individuals they are and we ensure that they continue to live as independently as possible. Our residents can enjoy their independence while having the comfort of knowing that care is available at any time of the day or night. All bedrooms are spacious, comfortable and homely, with an en-suite bathroom and modern décor. The Shore Unit within West Farm particularly recognises the specialist requirements of those with dementia and other memory impairments, at all levels. With this in mind, our Shore Unit encompasses modern, spacious bedrooms with en-suite wet rooms on the first floor, which are specifically designed to provide such residents with surroundings that are homely, safe and stimulating. Our staff in the Shore Unit have all undergone specialist training in managing and caring for varying stages of dementia. Each person’s care plan is tailored specifically to their personal, physical and social needs. We will fulfill any specific wishes or choices of those living there and their families. There are a number of activities that residents can participate in as and when they want to and as little or as much as they want. From tea dances, bingo, armchair aerobics and baking days, to tapas nights, summer fayres and trips to the beach, we welcome suggestions from all to ensure everyone can get involved. We also welcome families and friends to join their loved ones and take part in the activities or come along to events such as live entertainment or annual Christmas and summer fetes. For residents who enjoy getting their hair or nails done, we have a regular visiting hairdresser and beauty therapists to pamper and preen. They also offer a choice of therapeutic massages for that extra indulgence. Notably, we work with an independent dementia specialist who spends dedicated time at West Farm each week with families and residents creating dementia specific activities and crafts, creative workshops and helping residents create their own individual ‘life story’ books. The Shore Unit also holds monthly themed events which family and friends of residents are welcome to come along to. The staff at West Farm – whether that’s a cleaner, a kitchen assistant, a member of senior management or a carer – have one shared duty and that’s to treat residents with love, respect, dignity and compassion. Furthermore, all staff at West Farm are part of ‘Dementia Friends’ – the flagship Alzheimer’s Society Initiative. The home we provide was designed with what those living there want – comfort, safety, warmth and a happy, stimulating home. For more information about our homes and the care we provide, please get in touch:
West Farm Care Centre: 0191 218 9626
Cramlington House: 01670 591 930
or email: info@craighealthcare.co.uk
