Do I need a care home or live-in care? Birchwood House is a residential care home based in Tunbridge Wells. This means our residents come and live in our home and we look after them, enabling them to enjoy as fulfilling lives as possible. This is very different to 24 hour live-in care which isContinue reading “Do I need a care home or live-in care?”
Category Archives: Blog
Purpose-Built Vs. Home From Home
Purpose-Built Vs. Home From Home One of the big questions people need to consider when looking for a care home for their loved one or themselves is do they want to go to a purpose-built care home or one (like our care home here at Birchwood House) that isn’t purpose-built? Much of it comes downContinue reading “Purpose-Built Vs. Home From Home”
Elderly book lovers live longer
Elderly book lovers live longer Yes, it’s true! A study by Yale University has revealed that “book readers experienced a 20 percent reduction in risk of mortality over the 12 years of follow-up compared to non-book readers.” August 9th marks National Book Lovers Day – a special day for bibliophiles to celebrate their love of literatureContinue reading “Elderly book lovers live longer”
Summer arrives at Birchwood House!
Summer arrives at Birchwood House Summer is well and truly upon us and we’ve had a fabulous time thinking of some fun activities for our residents. We understand the importance of staying active in later years – and that includes being socially active. While exercise is important for a high quality of life, the connectionsContinue reading “Summer arrives at Birchwood House!”
Self care and wellbeing at Birchwood House
Self care and wellbeing at Birchwood House ‘Self care’ is a buzzword that is frequently used today, especially amongst many millennials. But what does it mean, how does it apply to elderly people – and how do we approach it here at Birchwood House? According to World Health Organisation (WHO), self care is “what people do forContinue reading “Self care and wellbeing at Birchwood House”
‘Home from Home’
‘Home from Home’ Bringing personal items with you when you move into a care home, such as Birchwood House, is a simple and effective way to make it feel more like home. Photographs, paintings, books, souvenirs and small pieces of furniture all hold sentimental value it’s important to create that ‘home from home’ feeling whenContinue reading “‘Home from Home’”
Caring for residents with dementia
Caring for residents with dementia Dementia is the leading cause of disability and dependency among the elderly. Globally, the number of people living with dementia will increase from 50 million, in 2018, to 152 million in 2050. That’s an increase of 204%. Dementia is a collective name for progressive brain syndromes – there are over 100, including vascularContinue reading “Caring for residents with dementia”
Healthy eating and nutrition at Birchwood House
Healthy eating and nutrition at Birchwood House At Birchwood House, we understand that healthy eating plays a vital, protective role in a number of age-related conditions including cardiovascular disease and cognitive decline and can help to protect oral and dental health, and bone and joint health in later life. We also know that it’s notContinue reading “Healthy eating and nutrition at Birchwood House”
Behind the facade
Behind the façade In 2010 American photographer, Tom Hussey, created an award-winning project ‘Reflections of the Past’ for a pharmaceutical company, to advertise their prescription medicine for the treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer’s dementia. Inspired by a WW2 veteran who said ‘I can’t believe I’m going to be 80, I feel like I just cameContinue reading “Behind the facade”
When is it time to think about a care home for loved ones?
When is it time to think about a care home for loved ones? Watching loved ones struggle with the effects of old age can be devastating. While we can help by offering informal care in the home – cooking meals, grocery shopping, and general housekeeping – the reality is that caring for an ageing parentContinue reading “When is it time to think about a care home for loved ones?”