Frequently Asked Questions
Fees…
How much will it cost?
Our fees are determined by the level of care you receive. The more care interventions required, the higher the fee, so for example if you are able to wash and dress yourself your fee will be lower than someon who is bed bound.
We operate a home for life, so if you are unable to continue paying your fees, we will help you to apply for local authority funding so that you can continue to stay with us.
The home manager will be able to discuss the fees with you but typically we charge:
Residential Fee - £1000 per week (indicative only)
Nursing Fee - £1600 per week (indicative only)
Do you charge top ups?
If the local authority do not cover the full fee required then you or your family may have to pay the difference, often referred to as a ‘top up’.
The home manager will help you to negotiate with the local authority to demonstrate the cost of care required.
Do I have to complete a financial assessment?
We do not ask for a financial assessment prior to your admission. You wil not have to demonstrate that you are able to cover care fees for any set period of time.
Our finance manager will ask that you set up a monthly direct debit and will invoice the bill payer monthly. Interest may be charged on overdue accounts at 3% above the base rate. If you are concerned about how you will cover the cost of care please speak with the home manager or our central office.
Placements
How do I know if you have any vacancies?
The best way to find out if we have a place available for your loved one is to contact the home directly. Vacancies may change, so if even if we do not have a room available today, we may have one due in the next few days. We are happy to take your enquiry and get back in touch when a room becomes available.
What if I don’t get along with everyone?
We operate small care homes as we think that is the best way to offer the sort of bespoke attention our residents deserve. We will undetake an assessment before offering a place, to ensure the individual will thrive in our community. An assessment only takes a few hours and can be carried in hospital or in your own home. With your help we can usually move people in to the home within 2 or 3 days of the initial enquiry. Under certain circumstances we can offer emergency placements.
We recommend a 2 or 3 week settling in period, as it can take time to adjust to the change from own home to care home. We find that it takes a few days to settle, then as the individual becomes more familiar with their surroundings and the routine of the day they begin to relax. After a week or so initial fears diminish and they start to enjoy the security of being in supportive environment. Within a month new freindships have been made and the individual is able to start to regain some of their personality traits, hobbies and interests.
What if we want to leave?
Its important to us that you feel comfortable and safe. If for any reason that is not the case we ask that you speak to the home manager who will address your concerns promptly and with discretion. If you feel you are not getting the response you require please speak with our Central office and one of the senior management team will assist. If you are not happy with the outcome you can escalate your concerns to the Hertfordshire safeguaridng team or Care Quality Commission who will be able to help.
Not all relationships are built to last, so if you do decide that you do not want to stay with us, you can give one months notice at any time.
Anything else?
Whats included in the care fee?
Everything you would expect is in place from a skilled and fully trained team providing high quality care; personalised care planning and person centred care; nutritional home cooked meals prepared in our kitchens; comfortable, well appointed rooms, individually decorated to your tastes; regular care reviews and family feedback sessions; a range of activities and past times on offer; access to healthcare professionals from occupational therapists to mental well being practitioners;
But as well as the fundamentals, we think it’s the little things that set our group apart.
A familiar face, a comforting smile, someone who knows you and can read your cues, even if you aren’t able to communicate so well. . . the human touch.
Can I keep my GP?
Each of our homes is linked to their local GP surgery. They attend the home once a week and are able to refer individuals to additional clinics, offered through the NHS as well as the standard GP interventions. We recommend that you transfer to the homes GP on admission to ensure you are included as part of the weekly review cycle.
What additional support therapies are on offer?
Our staff have a wealth of experience in caring for older people and will advocate for your loved one throughout their stay. We stay abreast of the latest treatments and breakthroughs to ensure that our residents get the attention they deserve.
As well as care from NHS GP and hospitals we have links to
District nurses who offer in home medical intervention for things such as diabestes management, urinary tract infections and wound care
Specialist falls team who offer advice and occupational therapy for people who are becoming more frail
Speech and Language therapy (SALT) for assistance with communication and swallowing difficulties
Mental Health teams who are able to give advice about dementia care and fast track additional interventions if required
Continence service for the provision of continence products
Registered pharmacy who provide monthly medication deliveries and additional equipment as presrcibed by hosptial or GPs.
What is not included in the fee?
Additional treatments such as hairdressing and chiropody will be provided by external professionals. They will charge per visit and will produce a reciept for each individual. We ask that you provide pocket money for your loved one so that we can pay for these services as and when they are needed. We keep an record of these transactions which you can review at any time.
We charge an escort fee for pre arranged hospital appointments. In an emergency we may send a member of staff with a resident, depending on the circumstances.
Days out may incur an extra cost, for example the cost of the coach or entrance ticket on arrival. We will discuss this with you before making any arrangements.