SPONSORED EDITORIAL

A care home owner in Dover says occupational therapy has proven so popular with its residents that there are now weekly sessions available.

Occupational therapy helps people - young and old - regain their confidence, abilities and self-reliance following ill health, an injury or if they have a disability.

An occupational therapist for the elderly will typically manage the daily activities that are important for health and well-being.

Alandale Residential Home in Whitfield near Dover has seen such a positive response from the sessions provided by Sophie Jopling and Sarah Mousley of Kent Occupational Therapy that the decision was made to increase them.

“Following feedback from our residents, we now have occupational therapy sessions available weekly because they have proved so popular,” said Paul Maple who owns and operates Alandale Residential Home.

“Occupational therapy sessions can be anything from personal care routines to keeping active, socialising and enjoying leisure activities.

“Sarah and Sophie work with our residents but also with our staff to ensure that our residents are able to participate in daily life in ways that suit them and to make the most of their strengths, social contacts and interests.”

Moving an elderly parent or loved one into residential care can be one of the hardest decisions in somebody’s life.

But when caring for them at home becomes too much, or the individual themselves feels lonely, then moving them into a safe environment where they can get the care and social interaction they need is imperative.

“There is a general stigma and misconception about care homes and therefore some people may feel guilty about placing their parents/loved ones in residential care,” he continued.

“But I believe there is every chance a move to a care home can alleviate that sense of isolation and loneliness many elderly people experience living in their own homes.

Residents of the Home are looked after and kept safe while the lay out of the lounge areas enables the ladies and gentlemen to feel both part of the community of the Home.

At the same time, they enjoy an element of privacy and a sense of their ‘own space’ due to the thoughtfully located partitioning and overall structure of these rooms.

The design also enables staff to both see and hear activity throughout these areas so helping them react quickly should someone need urgent assistance.

“New residents may feel a little tentative or worried in the beginning until they see the well maintained homely environment and begin to form new friendships with staff members and other residents,” added Paul.

“Occupational therapy is great because it goes a long way towards helping to integrate new residents into the care home environment through encouraging interaction, discussion and conversation"

Other important activities on hand at Alandale Residential Home include a personal trainer who visits the care home to engage residents in Sit and Be Fit sessions.

Sit and Be Fit exercises were created in the eighties by Mary Ann Wilson - a nurse who recognised the need for functional exercise for seniors, those managing chronic conditions or people needing rehabilitation from strokes, heart attacks or other injuries.

Alandale Residential Home - which recently marked 30 years of providing quality care in the Dover area - is a family run, modern, purpose built residential home for elderly ladies and gentlemen.

The care home specialises in providing high quality long-term, short stay, convalescence and day care at competitive, inclusive prices.

Ongoing improvements include extending an upstairs bathroom into a large, fresh and modern wet room.

For more information about Alandale Residential Home, visit their official website by clicking here, email alandaleresidentialhome@ntlworld.com or call 01304 824904.