Interview with Crest House Care Home manager, Lily Ripley (Golden Times)

Whether it’s your mum, your dad or a lonely next-door neighbour - looking after your loved ones is one of the most important things a person can do. The trouble is, it’s not that easy, it’s very time consuming and, quite frankly, is beset with a lot of worry – are they OK, have they taken the correct medication, are they eating well, do they need a doctor? etc. This issue we speak to the registered manager of Crest House in St Leonards on Sea, a residential care home specialising in care for the over 65’s.

GOLDEN TIMES – “Crest House is rated number 1 for St Leonards on Sea on the best-known care website (carehome. co.uk), tell us what that means for you and your team”

LILY RIPLEY – Everyone is extremely proud. We are very pleased to know that all of our efforts are so well appreciated by everyone – and that’s not just the residents, but also friends, relatives and visiting professionals. It’s nice to know that we’re doing it right.

GOLDEN TIMES – “What do you enjoy about your job?”

LILY RIPLEY – That’s so easy to answer, it’s very rewarding to know that we’re making such a difference to peoples’ lives and well-being. There’s a very homely and familial feeling to Crest House and it really is a nice place to be. It’s a safe haven for my wonderful residents and also gives peace of mind to families and friends.

GOLDEN TIMES – “What separates Crest House from the other care homes?”

LILY RIPLEY – Many care homes have a rather corporate or a hospital-like atmosphere, we endeavour to keep it homely. By that I mean the décor, the home cooked meals and the generally friendly environment overall. We also do a lot to keep people active and stimulated. As well as regular music, seated yoga and nostalgia sessions we are also visited by 2 local nurseries. The children come in and interact with the residents, which is great for the kids development and very therapeutic for my residents.

GOLDEN TIMES – “Any tips on finding the right one?”

LILY RIPLEY – Going into care is a very big step and it’s very important that you find the right place. The home must be capable of meeting the specific requirements of the individual. I also strongly recommend finding a place that has a good reputation as well as a stimulating environment – just like ours!

GOLDEN TIMES – “I’ve heard that you also have activities for non-residents, can you tell us more about them, please?”

LILY RIPLEY – Absolutely, we have regular coffee mornings and entertainment for non-residents of our home. This is part of our drive to combat loneliness. Age UK say that something like 2 million people are lonely in the UK and that around 1 million people will go 4 to 6 weeks without even speaking to somebody! I find this upsetting and we try to make a difference by offering somewhere for people to go – for free – so that there’s no reason to be alone and stuck at home. It’s a great way to make friends, too.

GOLDEN TIMES – “That’s wonderful, what plans do you have for the future?”

LILY RIPLEY –There’s a few things in the pipeline but our next biggest initiative is Day Care. Crest House will very soon be open to people that wish to come in for care on a day by day basis and then return to their homes. We liked the idea of this because so much funding is being cut from public services (fewer places are having to meet a greater demand for care) and it’s ideal for the person who is perhaps in need of just a little help or perhaps at an interim stage of needing a longer-term solution. It’s also another fantastic way to meet and interact with like-minded people.

If you’re thinking about the right care home then Lily can be contacted directly on 01424 436 229 or via the Crest House website cresthousecare.co.uk Crest House Care Home, 6-8 St Matthews Rd, St Leonards on Sea, TN38 0TN

click here for more details or to contact Crest House Care Home