Specialist Physical Disability Nursing Care Bristol
Bristol Care Homes are a group of 4 independently owned nursing homes in Bristol that offer compassionate and caring specialist physical disability nursing care to suit your or your loved ones’ individual needs. Bristol Care Homes provide residential and nursing care to people who have mild, complex or profound physical disabilities as well as neurological impairments. Our nursing care is second to none and is built around the needs of each individual.
Regardless of the level of physical disability, each person who lives with us or comes to us for day or respite care has a bespoke and personal care plan that is individual to them and their needs. The care plan details the support they need both physical;y and mentally to enable them to remain as independent as they can be, to make choices, and be involved in decisions that affect their lives. Our care plans include any advice from an individual’s medical team, consultants and GP and they are regularly reviewed and updated to ensure always relevant and cover the care and support that is needed by an individual.
Our Teams
All the carers in each of our homes have the qualifications and experience to care for people with mental and physical disabilities and we get to know them and what they enjoy doing every day. The social aspect in our homes is extremely important to us and everyone who lives with us and their families all says what a lovely family atmosphere there is.
There is a qualified Nurse on shift 24 hours a day. 365 days a year in each of our 4 nursing homes and they are supported by our experienced and qualified care team.
Our teams are made up of nurses, carers, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, support team embers and our chefs who provide the physical and holistic needs of everyone who lives or stays with us both physically and medically.
We work alongside individual health teams including GPs, Specialist Consultants, Specialist Care Teams, Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists to ensure a person’s care plan is adapted and regularly updated to suit their changing needs. We work together to ensure strategies are devised and implemented to provide rehabilitation as well as maintenance of physical functioning so that daily skills are maintained and improved where possible and to ensure our residents remain as independent as possible. Our range of social activities also encourages this and includes art, games, music, singing, gardening, keeping fit, animal therapy and much more.
Our Nursing Homes
Our nursing homes are all bright, airy and regularly updated to ensure they remain fresh and homely. Each of our nursing homes has a social lounge area where residents meet to catch up over a cup of tea, read quietly, do a puzzle or be involved with our planned social activities. Our homes have a dining area where our residents love to meet, eat and socialise and each of our nursing homes has a kitchenette where residents can make their visitors and themselves tea and coffee whenever they want to. We love to celebrate a birthday with a happy birthday song, cake and fun and games if they want it.
Our state of the art rooms has high ceilings with windows making them feel light and airy with TVs, telephones and personal bathrooms for private or restful time or when catching up with family members or friends.
Each of our nursing homes varies in regards to facilities and all are designed where possible to support physical disability, neurological and sensory needs, including:
- Specialist showers and baths
- Wide corridors
- State of the art wheelchairs
- Hoists
- Sensory gardens
If you are looking for exceptional care for yourself or a loved one, either full time, daycare or respite care then contact our team today and we can discuss your requirements and advise which of our outstanding nursing homes would be most suited to your needs. You can find our contact details here to find out more.
Prior to any care starting with us, we go through a thorough and extensive health assessment that involves any specialist health teams to ensure that all needs are catered for and a full care plan is in place from day one.
Our extensive teams are experienced in supporting individuals with high nursing needs including:
- Physical Disability Needs
- Diabetes
- Oxygen Therapy
- Dysphagia
- Alzheimer’s
- Cancer Care
- Colitis & Crohn’s Disease
- Hearing Impairment
- Motor Neurone Disease
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Orthopaedic
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Speech Impairment
- Stroke
- Visual Impairment
- Bariatric Care/Obesity
- Challenging Behaviour
- Head/Brain Injury
- Muscular Dystrophy
- Huntington’s Disease
Our onsite chefs cater for any medical dietary requirements and provide varied, nutritious and healthy meal options for each individual. We provide breakfast, lunch and dinner along with snacks during the day if residents want them. We use mealtimes at Bristol Care Homes to enjoy and encourage social interaction as research has proven that positive social interactions have a wide range of both physical and mental benefits. These include increased cognitive ability, good mental health, communication skills, independence, and improved physical health for people of all ages, especially the elderly.
Social Interaction & Activities
Read our article on ‘The Importance of Meaningful Social Activities in Care & Nursing Homes’ here.
The importance of people’s social health and well being is being focused on even more than ever now and if you are looking for a care home for your loved one then it is something to take into consideration when you are choosing. At Bristol Care Homes we offer a diverse and fulfilling range of activities for everyone in each of our nursing homes in Bristol and we understand the importance of meaningful social activities for people in our care. We have sourced information in this article from NICE Guidelines. NICE guidelines are evidence-based recommendations for health and care in England.
They set out the care and services suitable for most people with a specific condition or need, and people in particular circumstances or settings.
What and who is NICE?
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) provides national guidance and advice to improve health and social care. Their role is to improve outcomes for people using the NHS and other public health and social care services and do this by producing evidence-based guidance and advice for health, public health and social care practitioners.
The NICE Quality Statement
Older people in care homes are offered opportunities during their day to participate in meaningful activity that promotes their health and mental wellbeing.
NICE states that it is important that older people in care homes have the opportunity to take part in an activity, including activities of daily living, that helps to maintain or improve their health and mental wellbeing. They should be encouraged to take an active role in choosing and defining activities that are meaningful to them. Whenever possible, and if the person wishes, family, friends and carers should be involved in these activities. This will help to ensure that activity is meaningful and that relationships are developed and maintained.
What does Meaningful activity mean?
The NICE Guidance for meaningful activity includes; physical, social and leisure activities that are tailored to the person’s needs and preferences. The activity can range from activities of daily living such as dressing, eating and washing, to leisure activities such as reading, gardening, arts and crafts, conversation, and singing. It can be structured or spontaneous, for groups or for individuals, and may involve family, friends and carers, or the wider community. Activity may provide emotional, creative, intellectual and spiritual stimulation. It should take place in an environment that is appropriate to the person’s needs and preferences, which may include using outdoor spaces or making adaptations to the person’s environment.
Why are meaningful Social Activities so important in Nursing Homes?
Social activities can be planned or spontaneous, they can be group or individual activities and there should be a diverse range so there is always something for everyone. Whether you enjoy a friendly and competitive game of bingo, you love arts and crafts or you love an afternoon tea with friends or family, there should be an activity to suit everyone in a nursing home.
It is just as critical for older people to have an interactive social life as it is for younger people, and this is why social spaces and lounges in nursing homes should be set up to encourage residents to chat and form strong bonds and friendships with other residents and carers while enabling them to participate in spontaneous activities. Bristol Care homes have different social areas in each of their homes, and as well as our residents our team also spend lots of time in them chatting and socialising with everyone as we understand that this is an important factor in everyone’s care.
What type of Social Activities are arranged in Care Homes?
What type of Social Activities are arranged in Care Homes?Social activities are classed by NICE as organised and spontaneous activities and they can be planned on the day, or for the days, weeks and months ahead. The activities should be varied to ensure there is something for everyone, they should be voluntary, not forced and residents should be actively encouraged to get involved. Bristol Care Homes have their own Social Manager who coordinates the social activities across all 4 of our nursing homes and who asks for input from our residents about the things they would like to do.
Engagement and activities beyond routine care are important factors in everyone’s lives to ensure they remain happy, healthy and fulfilled. Residents of care homes need a variety of activities to develop a sense of independence, confidence, and a positive self-image. In order for residents to feel a sense of purpose, activities can provide them with a sense of creation where they can use skills from their work or personal life, or when they make a contribution to someone, something or the care home itself.
Not all residents want to be involved in a game of cards or bingo but you may be someone that loves reading and wants to be involved in a regular book club and this is why our activities are varied to suit everyone. It is possible that you have always loved gardening and want to get involved in the care homes gardening, or that you have enjoyed flower arrangements so you can help with the care homes flower arrangements, or cooking and baking, and all of these activities give residents an opportunity to continue to do what they enjoy and love.
Bristol Care Homes Social Activities. Some examples include:
- Card Games (arranged or spontaneous)
- Bingo
- Book Club
- Gardening
- Flower Arranging
- Cooking
- Painting, Drawing, Art Classes
- Board games
- Games Nights
- Singing Groups
- Entertainment Events
- Family Days
- Dog Days
- Exercise Classes
- Afternoon Teas
- Birthday Celebrations
- Quiz Nights
- Outings to local attractions, gardens
- Many more ad-hoc and planned activities
A calendar of social activities in care and nursing homes is extremely important as research shows that staying active in both body and mind has a huge impact on an individual’s physical and emotional well-being. The benefits of regular exercise (however strenuous) include better flexibility, more mobility, and a positive impact on mental health and well-being whether you have a physical disability or not.
Our nursing homes offer exercise classes where our residents can do the exercises seated, standing up or using a mat on the floor, all according to their own fitness level. Taking part in the different classes is fun, interactive, and rewarding, and helps our residents to remain active, confident and independent as well as being fulfilled in life.
Age UK state:
- Regular activity can lower your risk of heart disease, stroke, some cancers, depression and dementia
- Moving more helps your thinking skills – like problem-solving, decision-making and remembering facts and words
- Being active can lessen aches and pains and boost your mood and this is extremely relevant if you have a physical disability
- Family days and family activities are a great way for families to stay close to their loved ones whilst getting to know their friends and the carers that look after them.
If you are looking for Specialist Physical Disability Nursing Care in Bristol for either yourself or your loved one contact us today to find out everything you need to know about our independent nursing homes and to arrange a visit.
