Cotswoldcare.org.uk
Commercial and residential care homes are crucial components of the health care system in the United Kingdom, helping to manage the health and welfare of older people and the infirmed. Presently, over 16% of the country’s 65 years and older demographic live in care homes all across the country. In recent years, the Cotswolds have become a popular destination for care homes. There are currently more than a thousand NHS registered facilities, both with and without nursing support, in the area.
Perhaps it has something to do with the rustic countryside, high level of service and comfort, accessibility from major cities and towns, or even the region’s famed honey-coloured limestones. Whatever the reasons may be, the Cotswolds currently has the highest density of care homes relative to population in UK.
Finding the best care home for you or your loved ones will require plenty of homework. To help you along in your decision making process, we have compiled in this website a selection of some of the best regarded care homes in the Cotswolds. What is a care home?
Care homes are small facilities designed to look after the needs and welfare of the elderly and younger adults with disabilities. Care homes are privately owned, but they are regulated by strict government guidelines to ensure the safety and comfort of people under their care.
The typical services offered by care homes include, but are not limited to:
- Personal Care (washing, toileting and dressing)
- Medication (dispensing medication, not including treatment)
- Catering (food and drinks)
- Mobility (assisting in movement around the facility)
- Ad Hoc Daily Activities
Care homes with nursing support offer enhanced medical support in the form of round the clock supervision by registered nurses, as well as superior care and living equipment. Nurses also carry out planned interventions based on instructions from doctors. However, more complex interventions and care, such as wound dressing, fall under the responsibility of visiting district nurses.
Care homes are required by law to be managed by Registered Managers certified by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). In addition, care homes must be staffed 24 hours a day with care assistants with National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ) certification (Level 2 or 3). These regulations are in place to ensure that patients live in a safe and supportive environment and are treated with dignity. Unannounced inspections are also conducted by the CQC at irregular intervals to minimise the risk of abuse and neglect. About The Cotswolds
The Cotswolds is the traditional designation for a 789 square mile region spanning across six counties (Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Somerset, Warwickshire, Wiltshire and Worcestershire). It is located approximately 100 miles west of London, and 75 miles east of Cardiff, and is highly accessible by road from anywhere in mainland UK. The term Cotswolds is believed to be a combination of the Celtic word Cuda, a mythical goddess, and Wolds, an Old English word used to describe a hilly region.
The Cotswolds is home to about 90,000 people, and the principal economic activity here is farming. However, tourism is the biggest sector here, generating over £1 billion in revenue and employing in excess of 200,000 people.
The Cotswolds is famed for its natural honey-coloured limestones, which are literally as old as dinosaurs – they are believed to be present well before the extinction of the majestic dinosaurs during the Jurassic period. The area is also well-known for its ancient castles, medieval homes and extensive range of flora.