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.