National Care Home Open Day success proves 'life in a care home is for living, and this open day gave us a great opportunity to do just that'

The National Care Home Open Day took place on 21 June with over 2,000 care homes throughout the country opening their doors to the public.

As well as the public, care homes invited local councillors, MPs and public figures to visit in a bid to eradicate many misconceptions linked with the nation’s care homes.

Care homes hosted a variety of activities and workshops to educate the community about their daily routines and good practices.

With care home groups taking part in the event such as Barchester Healthcare Ltd, , and Sanctuary Care Ltd, the event has been labelled a success with many homes calling for it to become an annual event.

The open day allowed care homes to have the freedom to decide what they did during the day to demonstrate the services they provide, with many opting to allow people to witness a typical day in the life of a care home.

Others presented workshops in areas such as technology and computer skills, or provided entertainment to showcase the variety of activities residents take part in.

For Parker Meadows the day became an opportunity to welcome students into the care home to show older people how to include technology into their everyday life, and was labelled by home manager Geraint Williams a success.

Mr Williams said: “It was a fantastic day for residents and visitors alike. Whether it was learning how to use a digital camera and then to upload photos on Facebook, texting on a mobile phone or using the Jamie Oliver cooking app on the iPad, everybody learnt something new.”

“The students from Meoncross School in Fareham who assisted with the various workshops were brilliant. They helped guide the residents through the different technology and then stayed on to chatting with residents and playing games on their iPads.

“For some of the students it was the first time they had been in a care home and many commented on how much they enjoyed the visit. Activities which allow the young and old to share their knowledge with each other are so beneficial for the whole community and I’m really glad that we could celebrate National Care Home Open Day 2013 together in this way.

“This is a place where people continue to enjoy their lives and create new memories – and then, if they want, share them through social media!”

welcomed local MP Tessa Munt into their home as well other members of the public, giving residents and staff a chance to chat and socialise with their visitors.

Ms Munt said: "I was impressed by the professionalism of the staff and the happy atmosphere in the home."

"Linking up with the community in this way really helps the whole area work better together."

"The caring profession is so often overlooked by the public but staff in places like Burnham Nursing and Residential Centre provide a phenomenal service day in day out, making residents lives fulfilled and happy."

Mike Padgham, chair of the Independent Care Group remarked on the importance of championing the good care that is provided in the majority of care homes throughout the country.

He said: “National Care Home Open Day is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the excellent and compassionate care that is delivered round the clock, all year round in care homes up and down the country.”

For Springhill Care Group the event created an opportunity to extend their usual open door policy enabling the public to find out the daily routine of the care home.

Managing director Donna Briggs described the positive impact the day had on staff members and residents as well as the community who visited.

Ms Briggs said: “The National Care Home Open Day was a good opportunity for people thinking about accessing care home services to experience a typical active day in the life of a Springhill care home.

“There is a lot of media coverage currently relating to bad care which isn’t representative of the sector and can contribute to people becoming fearful about requiring long term care. We want to dispel the myths as we believe there is lots of good care and feel that as providers we have a responsibility for communicating this within our local communities.

“When we heard that ECCA was looking to hold a national open day event we welcomed the idea and immediately got involved.

“We had a good response from people interested in having a look around the homes with the view to potentially becoming a resident. This helped them to gain some reassurance that there is high quality care available and gave them an idea of what a typical day is like in a Springhill care home.”

Ms Briggs also emphasised the impact the day had on residents and staff members, and said: “It was a very positive experience for our residents as well. One of our residents recognised a person who was visiting as someone they had gone to school with and they were able to reminisce about the past over a homemade scone and cup of tea. Without the open day they might never have met in that way.

“The staff were very proud to be able to welcome members of the public, and some even brought their family members. They were very keen to show off the home they worked in and showed immense pride in the work they do.

“People from other professions such as medical students, social workers and local GPs were also invited to attend the day and were made very welcome.

“A national annual event like the care home open day will go further to help re-address the balance and help raise awareness of good care.

Ms Briggs concluded: “I would welcome the National Care home Open Day to become an annual event.”

In Fareham, local MP Jeremy Hunt used the National Care home Open Day to open the newest care home addition to the community by planting a tree in the grounds of Bupa’s Waverley Grange Nursing and Residential Home.

With the home offering 52 residential places, the £5.5m investment will provide employment to 61 staff members.

At the National Care Home Open Day, Mr Hunt, said: ‘It was a pleasure to open Waverley Grange Care Home and meet the staff on National Care Homes Open Day. It was great to hear from Karen about her passion for delivering excellent residential care and I do hope that the future residents of Waverley Grange will be happy there.’

Manager Karen Smith commented on the event and said: “Mr Hunt spent time looking round the home and talking to staff, and finding out how we tailor our care, using our Map of Life, to meet individuals’ needs.’

“We’re now really looking forward to welcoming our first residents and ensuring that Waverley Grange becomes their home-from-home. We’d love more people to pop in and see the home for themselves.”

Concluding her reflections on the success of the day, Ms Briggs of Springhill Care Group said: “A national annual event like the care home open day will go further to help re address the balance and help raise awareness of good care.

“I would welcome the National Care Home Open Day to become an annual event.”