A CARING retirement living development in Delph is helping residents put in place their wishes for their future care by signing up to an innovative End of Life Care programme.
Staff at Stoneswood are just over halfway through completing the scheme’s Six Steps to Success workshops over ten months so they can offer high quality advance planning and care.
The programme, which is delivered by Lisa Daly, End of Life Care Facilitator in Oldham, has already been introduced into 16 of 44 nursing or residential homes across the borough.
Lisa explained: “We train staff through six key workshops so they can bring the knowledge back to cascade throughout their care home.
“We help them identify people who might have health issues developing and when the right time is to look into and plan future care.
“A resident might have lived in a care or residential home for years and so want to be treated there rather than in hospital.
“The programme enables everybody to have a say in how and where they will be cared for. They can put down their wishes and plan ahead so they and their families know everything is in place.
“If there is something you want, write it down and then you can get on with living, knowing things are in place exactly how you want.
“We plan for weddings, christenings and birthdays but don’t always think about this. You don’t have to be poorly to be planning the steps, it’s about putting them in place in advance.”
The End of Life Care programme was introduced by Lisa to Stoneswood residents and their families at a presentation last month.
General Manager Val Campbell, Alison Sheridan, Caroline Winskill – who have been attending the training workshops – praised the scheme.
Val commented: “It’s working really, really well so far. I feel it’s going to be a real benefit for the residents and their families too, as well as the staff.
“Everything can be put in place as people wish in advance so there is no panic at the end.”
Stoneswood Retirement Living is a privately owned development set in a tranquil four acre site on the edge of Delph.
It includes a 41-bed residential home as well as five newly built one and two bedroom ‘assisted living’ apartments and four two bedroom ‘independent living’ cottages for people aged 60 plus.
For more information about Stoneswood Retirement Living, call 01457 874300 or visit their website: www.stoneswoodretirement.co.uk
