Kingsley Care Homes in Diss

After spending some time at the home, our ethos of real ‘person centred care’ quickly becomes apparent to visitors. Every resident is treated as an individual and is given all the love and attention they require and we actively encourage everyone to interact with daily living activities to maintain a feeling of domestic normality. You can see this clearly illustrated in the walled garden, which is now home to The Depperhaugh’s own extensive home-grown vegetable patch, tended by our green-fingered residents. We believe passionately that it’s these little things that truly enrich and make a difference to an individual’s quality of life.

No two days are ever the same at The Depperhaugh and while there is always a varied range of activities, we fully respect everyone’s right to some quiet time. That is where the many quiet spaces available to relax or enjoy quality time with family and friends really set us apart.

Just as there is no typical Kingsley home, there is no typical day in a Kingsley home; however, here is a general outline:

Residents can rise whenever they like and can choose from a variety of food and drink for breakfast. They can even have breakfast in bed if they wish, but most enjoy eating in the communal, friendly dining room with their friends. Staff members eat with the residents and because they don’t wear uniforms or badges, this adds to the relaxed, homely feel of mealtimes.

Breakfast is followed by an optional programme of activities, individually tailored to each resident, based on their likes and dislikes. These may include regular visits from the hairdresser; chiropodist, therapists, entertainment and the local church; activities such as movement and music, exercise and dance, tending to the vegetable patch, flower arranging, skittles, card making, jigsaw puzzles and board games, and many others. There are organised and impromptu trips throughout the year including evenings out, and we have singalongs, fetes, summer BBQs, themed events, and we celebrate all the usual annual dates such as birthdays, Christmas and Easter.

Alternatively, residents can spend time with family, relax in one of the spacious communal areas or in their room, watch TV, read a newspaper in the garden, play games, have one-to-one time with staff or chat with other residents – the choice is always theirs. Families and friends are welcomed at all times of day and residents are encouraged to maintain social contacts they had prior to life at The Depperhaugh. The enthusiastic, caring staff are always on hand to be with residents if needed, at any time throughout the day or night, and are compassionate about helping individuals to do what they enjoy.

Hot drinks, tea, coffee and snacks are served throughout the day.

For lunch there is a choice of mains and desserts, and we invite the residents to help set the tables if they would like to help. All food is prepared and cooked on the premises and is made with health and taste firmly in mind – menus are available on request. Mealtimes are always a sociable part of each day and staff are skilled at getting even the quietest residents to become involved in conversations around the dining tables.

Some residents enjoy helping out around the home with dusting and other chores, and have an input about choices made within the home, such as colours to be used when decorating. The staff are encouraged to be fully attentive, to swap stories, to laugh and cry with the residents, while individuals are encouraged to follow their own interests and make their own decisions. A resident might prefer to listen to some favourite music, have some ‘me time’ or share his or her life experiences with others. We want our residents to relax and feel at home, without having to conform to daily routines.

Suppertime is a choice of hot or cold food, with at least two choices of main and dessert.

After supper, some people opt to go to bed early or retire to their room, and others choose to relax in one of the communal areas. There are hot and cold drinks, alcohol available for those that want it, and there is definitely NO set bedtime.

Kingsley Healthcare’s truly person centred approach to care creates a positive outlook and focuses on quality of life and relationships. We place much importance on the lives our residents have previously led, and spend time with them and their family members to find out about their tastes, history, hobbies and interests. The information gained helps us to create a care plan for each individual; these are vital in ensuring the provision of the best care possible and help us get to know people well. Residents are supported to help them achieve their personal goals and dreams by taking part in meetings, surveys and one-to-ones.

The unique person centred approach is much appreciated by the residents that live with us, all of whom require residential, nursing or specialist dementia care. Its success is due to our staff’s continuing commitment to specialist training, which supports individuals in expressing their needs and maintaining high levels of independence, self-worth and well-being.

The experience of individuals living here is that of love, achievement, well-being, encouragement and fulfilment. The staff are of a kind and caring nature, they understand the meaning of real person centre care and are skilled in engaging residents in meaningful activities.

Each Kingsley care home is unique, but all have a set of highly respected and award-winning features embedded within the culture, and the way we care for our residents makes a big difference in their lives. Our daily emphasis is on the care that our residents need, whether that is physical, emotional, or spiritual.

We are committed to providing the best possible outcomes for people living with a dementia, and we achieve this through our ‘Wings’ (Welcome, Individuality, Nurturing, Guidance, Sensitivity) philosophy of care. This award-winning approach is nationally recognized and our bespoke learning programme is designed to ensure that the person with a dementia is at the heart of everything we do. All areas of the home are designed to be dementia sufferer friendly, and the always accessible parts of the garden are supervised.

Family and friends are significant partners with the home (as with all Kingsley homes) and are welcome to come and go as they please throughout the day. We listen carefully to the people who live with us, and their families, about the services we provide.

“Thank you for your kindness and loving care given to our mum. Life has been hard for her but during her stay with you, no longer is she lonely.” Kingsley resident’s relative.

We encourage all our residents to live as healthily as possible, to aid them in having long and pleasant lives. Exercise is encouraged and we realise the great importance of keeping minds active. Nutritious food helps in all aspects of health and our carefully balanced meals are made from scratch in our kitchen using only the best, locally sourced ingredients. We understand that people’s tastes and eating habits vary, and the rotating menu includes a great selection of residents’ favourites and special delights.

Other Services

• Weekly hairdresser
• Domestic services
• Laundry services
• Religious needs linked to local church
• Chiropody
• Therapists
• Regular meetings and care reviews