To add to the homeliness at Alex Wood House care home Cambridge, residents are encouraged to bring their own furniture, curtains, pictures and other personal belongings to create familiar surroundings in their room.

A profiling bed is provided in each room, however you can bring your own single bed, if it is assessed that this is suitable for staff to assist you with your care and support needs.

All residents have the right to access their personal records and care plans, and it is important to us that they are involved in both the preparation and regular monitoring of their health and social care needs and plans.

Residents at Alex Wood House care home  may remain registered with their own General Practitioner, if it is within the surgery’s catchment area in Cambridge. If this is not possible residents can register with a doctor of their choice within the local catchment area. Care staff will be able to support with this, and liaise with your GP if you require a visit. Nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and other professionals from the local GP practice visit as needed.

Residents may need hospital treatment from time to time, but generally staff can care for residents even though their needs may change.

We try to offer a ‘home for life’, however, residents’ care needs may change significantly and if we are unable to meet these needs in a Residential Care Home setting, a move to a Nursing Home may be required. A Nursing Assessment and Continuing Health Care Assessment would be carried out by the District Nursing team.

We will always respect your wishes and with your permission, consult with  your family, power of attorney or advocate, if possible, to complete this transition as smoothly as possible, and continually evaluate our service with you.

Mealtimes are, of course, important. All meals are cooked on the premises in partnership with Apetito.  We offer a varied and seasonal menu, and a choice of main options. Light refreshments and snacks are available during the day in the living and dining rooms. Residents can help themselves to snacks and drinks and may also offer refreshments to their guests or ask care staff to help.

Meal times are protected and we request that visitors do not come during these times.

Friends and family are welcome at any time during the day or evening, with the exception of meal times which are protected to ensure that all residents have a pleasant dining experience and adequate nutritional intake.

Residents can entertain guests at the home and invite them for meals (for which there is a small charge payable). Residents are encouraged to spend time with friends and family outside the home and there are many opportunities to participate in a wide variety of events in the home and within the local community.

A hairdresser, chiropodist and optician visit on a regular basis and visits to a dentist can be arranged by the staff. Daily delivery of newspapers and magazines can be arranged

All of the above services are not included within the Care Home Fee’s and incur a cost. Please contact the home for current prices.

A weekly shopping trolley facility is provided within the home for small purchases of toiletries and sundry items.

Regular Church of England services are held by The Church of Good Shepard within Alex Wood House. Visits from other denominations can be arranged. There are also opportunities to attend religious services of your choice outside the home. Every effort is made to ensure the specific needs of varying cultural backgrounds are met.

The cost of a care home depends on where you live, what type of care you need, your savings and if you own a property. Care homes fees are inclusive of accommodation, laundry, meals, heating as well as other utility costs. 

Registered Care is means tested by the Government, meaning most people who decide to live in a residential care home have to pay a contribution towards the cost of this care.

When visiting the Care Home the Manager will be able to discuss the charges. If you have personal assets of over £23,250 then you will be required to fund at least some of your care. If you own your own home this asset will be taken into account unless a partner continues to live in it. If your assets fall below the £23,250 threshold, help with fees is available from your local Social Services Department.

Before residents can get help to pay the charges of a care home, a care need assessment and a financial assessment will be completed by the Local Authority to agree the type of care that is required, and your eligibility for funding. Further information on fees can be found at: yourlifeyourchoice.org.uk

Yes – specialist care, such as dementia care, will normally charge a higher fee. 

The alternatives to care homes include sheltered housing accommodation which is specially designed for older people to allow them to live independently. All properties have their own front door, kitchen, and bathroom. Sheltered housing is usually available to people over the age of 55 and normally has a call answering system installed for reassurance. 
 
Extra care is sometimes known as ‘housing with care’, ‘very sheltered housing’, ‘assisted living’ .   Residents live in self-contained flats, but care staff are available to help with getting in and out of bed, washing and dressing. Can help with cleaning or provide meals. Care staff are based onsite and are typically available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  Rent is payable for the accommodation and these other services are chargeable.

There are many different types of care available

• Local community services care  which is care delivered in your own home within the community 
• Live-in care  –  qualified carers living with you in your own home, to keep you comfortable and independent at home supporting you with your specific needs  
• Residential care  –  offers someone the perfect way to give someone as much of their independence back by giving added security of 24 hour care and support in a care home setting
• Extra Care or Assisted Living – independent accommodation with care and support with care staff based on site and available 24 hours a day if required. 
• Dementia or Alzheimer’s care – specialised care provided by specialist carers in the preferred setting

• Respite care – short term care provided by carers at home or in a residential setting

When choosing a care home for someone living with dementia it is important that you choose a care home that specialise in supporting people with dementia and highlight this on their website and marketing materials. However, when you visit a care home to see if it is suitable, whether it says it specialises in dementia or not, it is best to ask a few questions. Questions you ask may include:

• How many carers have had training in dementia care, at what level, and do they have certificates?
• Can you talk to a couple of the carers who have dementia care experience?
• Can you talk to other families who have a relative who has dementia in the care home to hear about their experience?

By asking these questions and talking to people it should give you an indication of the care homes standards of dementia care. 

Make sure to check each care home’s Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection report 

There is no difference between care homes and a residential home. Residential homes are generally used when a person becomes highly dependent on others for assistance with personal care and general daily tasks. Residential care homes are frequently termed as care homes. 

We offer high standards of care by trained and dedicated staff. Our teams aim to create for residents a comfortable and safe environment that feels like their own home and where friends and family are very welcome.

Residents are treated as individuals with their own, unique needs. They are encouraged to remain independent, keep up with hobbies and interests and make new friends CHS evaluate the experience that our residents have, to constantly improve our service.

Residents and their well-being are at the ‘heart of what we do’ and are the central focus of our care homes.

We want our services to support people to have a better-quality life, whilst offering good value services.