Care of the elderly is a highly emotive subject and is affecting an increasing number of people every year. In addition, life expectancy is on the up, increasing the likelihood of developing age-related diseases and disabilities.
Caring for loved ones as they get older often involves making difficult decisions concerning how and where they live as we strive to ensure that quality of life is not compromised.
Currently, there are over 12 million elderly people living in the UK. The 85+ age group is the fastest growing and is set to double to 3.2 million by mid-2041 and treble by 2066. There are also 850,000+ people living with dementia in the UK, and predictions are that that this too will rise to a million by 2025.
Many elderly people today live alone, and are therefore more at risk of isolation, loneliness and depression.
Aura Care Living Villages in The Cotswolds and Surrey have been specifically designed to revolutionise later-life living and dispel the myths surrounding care homes, whilst setting new standards of excellence.
The villages have been designed and built specifically in response to the increase of the number of elderly people living in the UK, and deliver a unique solution for later-life living.
Aura Care Living in Stratton, Cirencester combines retirement apartments, assisted living apartments, a dedicated care home and an innovative specialist dementia wing, all in one luxury private village.
Retirement apartment residents enjoy a fully independent lifestyle, yet are part of a community where events and outings take place regularly and where they can meet new friends in a similar situation.
The assisted living apartments provide safety for those who are more vulnerable, susceptible to falls or have mobility issues for example. These apartments also boast the joy of keeping couples where one has dementia living together for longer, knowing that support is on hand 24/7.
All of the homes have been expertly designed to provide an environment that not only delivers excellence in medical and pastoral care, but also one that is luxurious, where staying feels like being on holiday.
Without exception, when families and friends of loved ones reach the stage where they need to move to a care home, and choose Stratton Village, they are, more than anything, relieved. The guilt that often accompanies such a decision vanishes when they see the stylish rooms and state of the art facilities.
Providing personalised care
Recently, Stratton Village unveiled its new award-winning dementia wing, which has been specifically designed to offer the best care for individuals living with dementia, with a special mural created called Memory Lane.
The mural includes a succession of pictures from the past including bright colourful images of old shops, and runs all the way through its main corridor and access area.
Resources such as these are perfectly designed to bring out the strengths of our dementia residents to ensure they are receiving the highest quality specialised care within comfortable, engaging and interactive surroundings.
Clinical director Dr. Bala Raju said, “We have worked with various experts in this field and are in the process of recruiting and training all staff, from nurses to chefs to laundry personnel in dementia and dementia care.
“We have also consulted with families of our current dementia residents to gauge their opinion and advice on how and what has worked when managing their relatives who have the disease.”
Jacqui Daily, a senior nurse who has worked in and around dementia for 20 years is a huge advocate for an innovative approach to dementia care. Jacqui said, “For us it is about bringing knowledge and a skill, to what we believe, is a holistic care.
“Understanding dementia is about understanding the individual, their life, their journey. It is about supporting the family as well as the person.”
To find out more about Stratton Village and Aura Care Living, visit the website or call 01285 842 042 for a visit where you will receive a complimentary drink and a personal guided tour.
