Frequently Asked Questions

Choosing a Care Home

Can our relative come and look around?

Yes, we can link their visit to Aspen Hill Village with an assessment discussion. We find a visit by the prospective resident is usually the most effective way for them to see our environment and make an informed choice about their future care and for them to feel involved in the process.

Do the residents have their own bedroom?

Yes. All our bedrooms are for single occupancy, but we can accommodate a couple. All our bedrooms are individual in style and decoration.

Can a resident bring items of furniture from home?

Yes, if they would like to. We are happy for our residents to personalise their room with their own pictures and ornaments, and larger items of furniture and belongings if they would like to.

All our bedrooms are individually decorated and fully furnished to a high standard. We provide a wardrobe, chest of drawers, dressing table and chair, bedside table, bedside lighting, a breakfast table, armchair, footstool, occasional table, and at-screen colour television with Freeview. Our beds are divan beds and we provide personal bedding and towels. We can access electric hospital type beds, through the NHS if the resident requires this type of equipment, free of charge.

What’s included in the care fees that Aspen Hill Village charges?

Our fees include all costs associated with accommodation, care, meals, laundry and our organised activities and entertainments at the home.

What’s not included in the care fees?

Daily newspapers and magazines which we can arrange to have delivered. Hairdressing and chiropody, which are available with appointments arranged at Aspen Hill Village, with our tried and tested services. Items of laundry that require dry cleaning. Any resident activities that take place external to the home.

How do I know if Aspen Hill Village is the right care home for my relative?

The best way to find out is to visit and have a look around Aspen Hill Village. By visiting us and talking to our staff and other residents you will probably be able to tell whether our environment is suitable for your relative.

If I like Aspen Hill Village, how do I know if Aspen Hill Village can meet my relative’s care needs?

We can meet your relative and discuss their care needs and requirements. This discussion can take place at home, at a hospital or here at Aspen Hill Village. The choice is yours!

Day to Day Life in Our Home

What does a resident need to bring with them?

They will need to bring personal clothing, their personal toiletries and all their medication. Please remember to bring their glasses, hearing aid, walking stick or Zimmer frame and any equipment that they use on a daily basis, e.g. toilet frame, bed post, etc.

Can a resident eat their meals in their bedroom?

Yes, if they would like to, we will serve all their meals in their bedroom. Breakfast is served to all our residents in their bedrooms; we ensure this is a leisurely way to start each day. Our residents are encouraged to eat lunch and supper in the dining room with the other residents, and enjoy this sociable and stimulating environment.

Can a resident make and receive telephone calls?

Yes. All our bedrooms are fitted with a telephone socket and most residents have their own telephone number and account; that way they can receive and make calls directly. If your relative is staying with us for a respite stay or holiday, they can use our portable telephone, which can be brought to their bedroom in order for them to keep in touch with friends and family in privacy.

What happens about laundry facilities?

All laundry is managed on site by the care staff. Our residents clothing is named with name buttons, and each resident has a named laundry bag for their own use. They may request the frequency of their laundry service to suit them. Most garments are laundered and returned on the same day. The laundry costs are included in our weekly care fees. Dry cleaning is arranged outside the home, at an additional cost. Arrangements to take and collect dry cleaning will be made on behalf of the resident.

Do you Cater for Special Diets?

Yes, we do. We are happy to accommodate dietary needs and requirements. Your special requirements such as food allergies and intolerances will be discussed prior to your arrival.

What happens if a resident wants to continue to look after and administer their own prescribed medication?

Provided your relative is able to manage their own medication, we will provide them with a lockable drawer in their room, for them to safely store their medicines. We will assist them with reordering their medication supply on a four weekly basis.

What happens if a resident doesn’t want the responsibility of looking after, and reordering their prescribed medication?

We can help them with the worry of managing their prescribed medication and this is a very common reason for people moving into our care home. Aspen Hill Village uses a safe medication system that has been specially designed for care homes, called the Monitored Dosage System, from the local Pharmacy.

Care From Other Health Professionals and Services

What happens when a resident needs a visit from a doctor or the district nurse?

Domiciliary visits are arranged to Aspen Hill Village, for the resident doctors and the district nursing team, whenever they are needed – daily if required. We also have 24 hour Nurses based at the home to care for our residents.

Can a resident keep their own GP?

No, we require the resident to register with our local doctor who visits the home on a regular basis. Those residents who are on respite care, may keep their own GP, depending on the length of stay.

What happens when a resident needs a visit from the physiotherapist or continence nurse?

We can request the support from the NHS Physiotherapist and the Continence service whenever our residents require their support, for equipment or continence aids.

What happens when a resident needs a chiropodist, dentist or optician?

Domiciliary visits are arranged to Aspen Hill Village for these services on a regular basis. Some of our residents prefer to continue using a local provider, with whom they have built up a rapport and we are happy to help with those arrangements.

What happens about hairdressing appointments?

We have our own purpose built Hairdressing Salon at Aspen Hill Village. This means our residents benefit from a professional hairdressing environment and our local hairdressers visit frequently. Some of our residents prefer to continue using a local provider with whom they have built up a rapport, and we are happy to help with those arrangements.

Types of Care – Who Can We Care For?

What care needs do you cater for?

We provide Residential, Nursing, Dementia, End of Life, and Respite Care, 24 hours a day with qualified Nursing staff. We also provide Day Care.

Our residents have a wide and varying range of care needs; most residents tend to fall into two categories. Some of our residents have physical care needs due to their medical conditions and difficulties with mobility, and others need our emotional support and daily input to ensure they are safe and stimulated.

Many residents live at Aspen Hill Village for many years, and as their individual care needs increase and they become more dependent, we increase our care and support. It has become more common for many of our residents to end their days with us.

Do you take residents with dementia?

Yes, we support many residents who have mild to advanced dementia. We are equipped to care for those individuals whose dementia is advanced, and their behaviour has become difficult with dedicated facilities and qualified experienced Nursing staff. Some residents have been formally diagnosed with dementia and some have become forgetful, with poor short-term memory and require our continuous extensive care and support.

Do you take residents with incontinence?

Yes, we are sensitive to our residents’ continence, providing support in a dignified and respectful manner. Residents are supported with continence aids such as pads, catheters and stomas.

Do you help residents with their personal care?

Yes, we support all our residents with all aspects of personal care, such as bathing, showering, washing, dressing, hair care, etc. We create an individual care plan for each residents daily care needs. The care plan is reviewed with the resident on a four weekly basis to ensure we continue to meet their requirements and expectations.

Can you help residents with limited mobility?

Yes, many of our residents have difficulty with their mobility and use Zimmer frames and mobility aids such as chair raisers, bed posts, perching stools, raised toilet frames, etc.

Can you help residents with limited eye sight?

Yes, many of our residents have reduced vision, and most wear glasses. We are use to caring for residents who are blind and those who have partial sight.

Can you help residents with limited hearing?

Yes, many of our residents have hearing difficulties and wear hearing aids. We are use to caring for residents who are deaf and those who have reduced hearing.