Michael C | Review
"The home was very helpful clean with lovely staff my husband was looked after very well. We could not have had better treatment."
Greg T | Review
"My mate is really well looked after here. I know all of us are happier that he’s in a safe place getting the help and support he needs rather than being stuck in his home and struggling away. Obviously, we miss seeing him as much, but he didn’t get out much before and this way we can pop over and see him whenever we get the chance."
Chris K | Review
"Very happy with the care my father receives. He's suffering from dementia so is not always the easiest person to deal with, but he is dealt with respectfully. If he's having a tough time emotionally, we can call the home and talk to the staff, who are always understanding and appreciate the input from us."
John C | Review
"I came to visit the other day and felt compelled to leave a review. I just read an article in the newspaper about people being forced out of hospitals and into care homes. Well from my experience at Mountside, I just want to ask why that’s a bad things? My great-aunt has been in hospital many timesover the last few years and it’s always terrible and she always cries about wanting to go home. But since she’s been at Mountside, she’s so happy and free and is getting so much help and support. These guys are doing a fantastic job and we really should be highlighting what a fantastic place it is!"
Healthy Ageing | 5 Top Tips for Ageing Well
Why is it important to promote healthy ageing?
At Gabriel Court Care Home, our residents’ mental and physical wellbeing is at the forefront of our agenda. We believe it’s vital to ensure our residents remain active and eat healthy, nutritious food whilst in our care.
Keep reading to discover our 5 top tips for ageing well:
Healthy Ageing | Eat Well
Healthy ageing wouldn’t be possible without eating a balanced diet.
It’s important for elderly people to eat food that’s low in saturated fat, alongside lots of fruit and vegetables. As well as this, reputable sources recommend wholegrains, oily fish, and small amounts of low-fat dairy and lean meat.
Foods that contain folic acid are also an excellent way to maintain health as you age. Consider incorporating dark, green leafy vegetables, seafood, whole grains and brown rice into your diet.
At our Gabriel Court Care Home, we understand the importance of eating well. To promote healthy ageing, we offer an array of different meal options to suit our residents’ individual needs and preferences.
Healthy Ageing | Take Care of your Skin
As we get older, it’s vital we take good care of our skin. It is, after all, the largest organ in our body!
There are various different ways to help with the healthy ageing of our skin. One of the main ones is protecting it from the sun. Regardless of whether the sun is blazing outside, we’d recommend applying sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher on a daily basis.
Other top tips for promoting good skincare include using gentle products, limiting time spent in the sun and staying hydrated.
Healthy Ageing | Prioritise your Mental Health
Mental health often gets overlooked when discussing healthy ageing.
Leading a happy, fulfilling life with limited stress can work wonders for ageing gracefully. Although a certain amount of stress is unavoidable, keeping your mood elevated can help to improve your overall health.
At Gabriel Court, we believe mental health is crucial to our residents’ wellbeing. Depending on the individual, we boost mental health in various ways. For example, a resident who loves cooking may wish to assist with meal preparation, while a resident who loves quizzes will delight in one of our special trivia evenings!
Doing activities that make you happy and spending quality time with loved ones is an excellent way to prioritise your mental health — helping you to live and age well.
Living Well | Maintain Good Dental Hygiene
Looking after your teeth is a great way to facilitate healthy ageing.
Not only can good dental hygiene help to maintain your beautiful smile, it can also reduce your risk of developing gum disease. Gum disease can lead to all sorts of health-related issues, including heart disease, strokes, diabetes and arthritis.
To combat this, experts recommend brushing teeth twice a day, as well as flossing daily.
Living Well | Stay Physically Active
We’ve discussed the benefits of improving mental wellbeing — but staying physically active is equally as important.
The NHS recommends that older people should aim to be physically active every day. Doing so helps elderly individuals to stay strong and healthy, whilst boosting self-esteem. Even doing light exercises, such as stretches in a chair, can help to strengthen muscles.
At Gabriel Court, and across our ACI Care services, we’ve collaborated with various fitness providers. Following training, our team of talented activities coordinators can now conduct in-house sessions to support our residents’ physical wellbeing.
If you’re interested in finding out more about our care services, please contact a member of our team.
The Old Rectory named one of Southeast’s best care homes
The care home, which is run by ACI Care, was named one of the best in Southeast England in the carehome.co.uk Top 20 Care Home Awards.
Kelly Parker, registered manager of The Old Rectory, said: “We’re thrilled to be named alongside some other great care providers as one of the best care homes in the Southeast.
“The views of our residents and their families mean the most to us, and we love hearing their feedback, so to win an award purely based on that gives us a great amount of pride. We also appreciate the time they take to leave these positive words on carehome.co.uk.
“It’s wonderful for our hard-working staff to be praised and our great caring environment to be recognised, and to have these words available for us to look back on is really rewarding.”
The annual awards recognise the top rated care homes in each region of the UK based on reviews from residents and service users as well as their family and friends. The site gives the chance for reviewers to leave their feedback on everything from the home’s facilities and care and support to its cleanliness, the dignity given to residents, food and drink, staff, activities, management, safety and security, rooms and value for money.
Some standout comments left on the site included: “I have total confidence in the excellent care and surroundings, with top priority given to health and well-being” and “The Old Rectory is a caring, friendly community that you can trust.”
Celebrating 25 women whose energy, determination and strength enrich, change and save lives
Dorothy Latham
Mentor and tutor
At the age of 88, this former headteacher just can’t be stopped from teaching others. The resident of ACI’s The Old Rectory care home is helping its manager Kelly Parker study for a history degree with the Open University.
Hastings care home residents enjoy visit from dogs, cats... and chameleons!
Mountside Care Home, a branch of ACI Care that specialises in residential, respite and dementia care, organised a special afternoon for its residents to mark National Love Your Pet Day, which involved staff bringing their beloved pets into the Laton Road home.
The afternoon was hailed a success, with residents having the chance to meet several of the staff’s pets, including Tanner the house dog, Tabitha the cat and Pascal the chameleon – who was particularly popular amongst the residents, with several expressing that they wanted to keep him.
The fun-filled afternoon was finished off with a pet-themed quiz, a cup of tea and some homemade cupcakes, whilst residents reminisced about the furry friends they had once had.
Discussing the afternoon’s fun, Mountside’s activity coordinator, Shelagh Hazleton, said: “National Love Your Pet Day was a huge success within the care home, with residents particularly taking a liking to Pascal the chameleon!
“It was lovely overhearing residents discussing the pets they once had and it was such an uplifting atmosphere. Here at Mountside, we heavily focus on promoting the wellbeing of our residents, so having staff bring in their furry friends was the perfect way to do this.”
Mountside Care Home regularly hosts activities for its residents to promote wellbeing and keep them active both physically and mentally, in and outside of the home, which included regular visits from Pets as Therapy (PAT) dogs. Organising pets to visit care homes is a great way to promote residents’ wellbeing as there are huge benefits to being around animals – with them being proven to improve cognitive functions, increase moods and enhance people's socialisation.
National Love Your Pet Day is an annual event dedicated to encouraging pet owners to express their love and appreciation for their furry, scaly, or feathery friends, and celebrate the joy that owning a pet brings.
Care Services For The Elderly | Find Out More About ACI Care
Would you like to discover our care services for the elderly?
At ACI Care, we specialise in the provision of residential, dementia and respite care, striving to provide the very best experience for each of our residents.
Keep reading to find out more about our unrivalled care services:
Care Services for the Elderly | Mountside Care Home
At ACI Care, we ensure that those in our care blossom and grow. We support our residents in maintaining their previous hobbies and interests, as well as offering plenty of opportunities for them to try something new.
Based in Hastings, our Mountside Care Home offers the very best in care services for the elderly. Providing an array of professional services, Mountside offers residential, specialist dementia and respite care.
In line with the company ethos, our team at Mountside take the time to get to know our residents. By discovering their residents’ likes and preferences, staff can then tailor support to them as individuals.
As well as providing exceptional care, the team, led by Shelagh Hazleton and Kim Mann, offer a range of activities and excursions. From collaborations with fitness providers to hosting regular games evenings, Mountside Care Home enables those in their care to lead fun and fulfilling lives.
Care Services for the Elderly | Fairways Care Home
Based in New Romney, our Fairways Care Home specialises in the provision of residential, dementia and respite care.
Whether you need some assistance with getting dressed in the morning, or a bit of companionship over a warm mug of tea, our friendly team at Fairways are always happy to help.
Providing exceptional care services for the elderly, Fairways strives to keep residents entertained through a range of activities. Recently, residents celebrated ‘National Chocolate Cake Day’ with copious amounts of sweet treats — after all, true happiness can be found in homemade cake!
The team at Fairways can also organise visits and walks to Greatstone Beach, which is just a stone’s throw away from our home. Perfectly located, the area is the ideal spot for a picnic, or for a leisurely stroll along the picturesque shoreline.
Care Services for the Elderly | Gabriel Court
Our Gabriel Court Care Home provides exceptional care services for the elderly in Broadway, Kettering.
Offering accommodation for up to 44 people, Gabriel Court delivers person-centred care in a warm, homely environment.
Like their sister branches, Mountside and Fairways, the staff at Gabriel Court enable those in their care to lead happy and fulfilling lives. They achieve this by organising various activities, celebratory events and special occasions.
Recently, the care home paid homage to Scotland’s ‘Burns Night’. To celebrate, residents could opt to sample traditional Scottish dishes such as Haggis, Cranachan, and Skink. They also got to design their own tartan, watch a Burns documentary, and enjoy listening to bagpipe music.
The Old Rectory
Situated in Romney Marsh, our Old Rectory Care Home provides the very best care in a warm, comfortable, and relaxed environment.
The Old Rectory offers 35 rooms, each equipped with either an en-suite or washroom for personal privacy. With homely decor, our home has a cosy ambience, making residents feel at ease in their new living space.
Our team at the Old Rectory dedicates their time and efforts to providing exceptional care. We achieve this by organising regular PAT dog visits, alongside hosting engaging activities such as group bowling, dancing and colouring.
At ACI Care, we offer residential, respite and dementia care to help transform the lives of others.
If you’re interested in finding out more about our care services for the elderly, please contact a member of our team.
Alternatively, why not read our previous blog to discover our compilation of fun activities in Hastings?
Kent care home avoids January blues by putting the kettle on
A care home in Kent shook off the January blues by celebrating ‘Brew Monday’ with its residents, setting up a fun and tasty tea sampling to get people talking.
Fairways Care Home, a branch of ACI Care that specialises in residential, respite and dementia care, decided to ignore the dreaded ‘Blue Monday’, supposedly the most depressing day of the year, by celebrating Brew Monday instead – a day dedicated to reaching out for a cuppa and a catch-up with the people you care about.
cuppaWhile Blue Monday accounts for January's worsening weather, lapsed New Year's resolutions and the joy of Christmas fading, Brew Monday helps to combat these negative feelings by enjoying a hot beverage and socialising with loved ones.
Residents were treated to four different teas: Peppermint and Liquorice, Mixed Berry, Blackberry and Blueberry Infusion and Ginger Green Tea, with the latter coming out the firm favourite.
Brew Monday is just one of the many activities the staff at Fairways organise for their residents, to help bring variety to their days and encourage them to socialise together. The home has a busy schedule planned for the rest of January too, celebrating the upcoming National Popcorn Day, National Hug Day and Australia Day.
Alison Yarnley, Registered Manager at Fairways Care Home, said: “We always like to have something for our residents to look forward to and our fun activity schedule promotes that. The staff have been proactive with each resident, which has contributed to their wellbeing and enhanced their daily lives.
“Afternoon tea at Fairways was a fun treat for all, residents enjoyed socialising, interacting with each other and reminiscing about their memories of afternoon tea throughout their lives. Brew Monday was something simple and engaging that the residents looked forward to, just one of the many activities that create a joyful atmosphere and uplift the well-being of our residents and staff within the home.”
The activities regularly put on within the home offer a host of benefits for residents including the opportunity to socialise and form friendships, help keep the mind active, and alleviate feelings of isolation and loneliness – all of which can occur in care home residents who may miss being in their own homes with partners and family.
The Brew Monday campaign started in 2020 and was set up by mental health charity, Samaritans. It encourages groups of friends to stay in touch, share their troubles, and to dismiss the myth about Monday being 'blue' and instead start a conversation over a brew.