FAQs
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Meadowbank FAQs

Moving home is a big step. Here’s a selection of the questions that our residents and their families ask most often.

Can my relative who is thinking about their care needs come and look around?

Yes, we can link their visit to Meadowbank Residential Care Home with an assessment discussion to see if we can meet all their needs. We find this to be an effective way for a prospective resident to see our home and make an informed choice about their future care and for them to feel involved in the process.

Do the residents have their own bedroom?

Yes. Our bedrooms are for single occupancy, Our bedrooms are individual in style and decoration and they all have their own en-suite toilet and wash hand basin.

Can a resident bring items of furniture from home?

Yes, if they would like to. We are happy for our residents to personalise their room with their own pictures and ornaments, and smaller items of furniture and belongings if they so wish.

All our bedrooms are individually and professionally decorated and fully furnished to a high standard.  We provide a wardrobe, chest of drawers, bedside cabinet (with lighting) and armchair. A breakfast table and occasional tables are also available if required.  Our beds are either divan or hospital beds (depending on individual needs) and we provide personal bedding and towels.  If requested by the District Nurses, we can usually access mobility equipment such as a rotunda free of charge, but this is not always guaranteed by the NHS.

How do I know if Meadowbank is the right care home for my relative?

The best way to find out is to visit and have a look around. By visiting us and talking to our staff and other residents you will probably be able to tell whether our environment is suitable for your relative.

If I like Meadowbank, how do I know if the home can meet my relative’s care needs?

We can meet your relative and discuss their care needs and requirements. We will carry out a detailed care assessment to ensure we can meet a prospective resident’s emotional and care needs.  This discussion can take place at home, at a hospital or here at Meadowbank.

What is included in the care fees that Meadowbank charges?

Our fees include all costs associated with accommodation, care, meals, laundry and our organised activities and entertainments.

What’s not included in the care fees?

Daily newspapers and magazines which we can arrange to have delivered. Hairdressing and chiropody are also available via appointments arranged by Meadowbank.  Items of laundry that require dry cleaning.  Any charges made by opticians, private doctors or supply of hearing equipment.

Do I have to pay fees in advance?

Yes, we ask all residents to pay their fees each month in advance.

Do I have to pay when I’m away – on holiday or in hospital, for example?

Yes, as long as you keep your room at Meadowbank, you must pay the full fees, even when you’re not there.

How much notice do I have to give if I decide to leave?

All we ask is that you give us one full month’s notice.

How much does a room at Meadowbank cost?

‘Our weekly fees start at £1,195.’

Are my fees likely to go up?

We review fees once a year in January. The prices we quote you are fixed until the next annual review.

Do you offer residents Day Care?

Day Care is often a good starting point, as we can gain a broader knowledge of the individual’s care needs, while they are in our environment.  Most day care residents make a regular visit each week, but we are happy to discuss your individual requirements. Day Care is from 9.00 am to 6.00 pm

Do you offer residents respite stays?

Yes, we can sometimes accommodate respite, convalescence and holiday stays. You can choose the duration of the stay with a minimum stay of two weeks.

Can a prospective resident come and try Meadowbank out before making a decision to live there permanently?

Yes, of course.  Most prospective residents stay for one month, before they make the commitment to make Meadowbank their permanent home. This “trial” stay gives the individual an opportunity to try us out, and give you and your family peace of mind and time, before making this important decision.

What are the visiting hours?

There are no visiting hours. Your friends and relations are welcome to visit any time. No need for appointments; they can turn up unannounced. We do, however, ask visitors if they can avoid mealtimes because that’s when we’re at our busiest.

Can visitors join me for a meal or stay overnight?

Yes, your visitors can stay for a meal or overnight – but they will have to pay.

Is there a laundry service?

Yes, we run an around-the-clock laundry service. There’s no charge; it’s all part of the service.

Can I continue to practise my religion?

Yes, of course, you can. We welcome all religions at Meadowbank. Depending on how active you are, we can arrange for services to come to Meadowbank or for you to attend services elsewhere.

How often do residents bathe at Meadowbank?

We make sure that each resident has at least two baths or showers a week. If you prefer to bathe more frequently, just let us know.

Do you cater for Special Diets?

Yes.  We are happy to accommodate dietary needs and requirements. Your special requirements such as food allergies and intolerances will be discussed prior to your arrival.

What’s the food like at Meadowbank?

We prepare fresh food every day. For lunch, you have a choice of two meals (1 hot, 1 cold in summer, 2 hot in winter). For tea, there is a selection of sandwiches, puddings, homemade soup, plus extra options.

What are the meal times?

The residents have breakfast in their room; lunch is at 12.30 pm, tea is at 5.00 pm, although there is some room for flexibility.

Can I eat in my own room?

If you prefer, we can serve your meals in your room.

Can I make my own hot drinks or snacks if I’m feeling thirsty or peckish?

Since we run a hotel service at Meadowbank, you won’t have to lift a finger. If you want something, ask, and we’ll make it for you. If you enjoy cooking, you’ll be pleased to hear that we often get involved in food and drink-related activities such as baking.

What does a resident need to bring with them?

They will need to bring personal clothing, their personal toiletries and all their medication.  Please remember to bring their glasses, hearing aid, walking stick or Zimmer frame and any equipment that they use on a daily basis.  All personal items required to be named.

Can a resident eat their meals in their bedroom?

Yes, if they would like to, we will serve all their meals in their bedroom.   However, our residents are encouraged to eat lunch in the dining room with the other residents, and enjoy this sociable and stimulating environment.

Can a resident have a newspaper delivered?

Yes.  We will contact the local newsagent and arrange delivery of a newspaper and magazines.  The newsagent will send the invoice to the resident or a relative at the end of each month.

Can a resident make and receive telephone calls?

Yes.  We have several cordless phones in the office which the resident can use either in the privacy of the office or in their own room.

What happens about laundry facilities?

All laundry is managed on site by our laundry assistant with the assistance of our care staff. We ask that the residents clothing is named before entering the home with name buttons or labels for the avoidance of items getting lost.  The laundry costs are included in our weekly care fees.

Dry cleaning is arranged outside the home, at an additional cost.  Arrangements can be made to take and collect dry cleaning on behalf of the resident.

What care needs do you cater for?

Our residents have a wide and varying range of care needs; most residents tend to fall into two categories.  Some of our residents have physical care needs due to their medical conditions and difficulties with mobility, and others need our emotional support and daily input to ensure they are safe and stimulated.

Many residents live at Meadowbank for many years, and as their individual care needs increase they become more dependent and we therefore increase our care and support accordingly.

Do you take residents with Dementia?

Yes, we support many residents who have mild to moderate dementia.  We are not equipped to care for those individuals whose behaviour has become difficult.  Some residents have been formally diagnosed with dementia and some have become forgetful, with poor short-term memory and require our care and support.

Do you take residents with Incontinence?

Yes, we are sensitive to our residents’ continence, providing support in a dignified and respectful manner.  Residents are supported with continence aids such as pads, catheters and stomas (these are supplied either by the District Nurses or the resident themselves).

Do you help residents with their Personal Care?

Yes, we support all our residents with all aspects of personal care, such as bathing, showering, washing, dressing, hair care, etc.  We create an individual care plan for each residents daily care needs.  The care plan is reviewed with the resident on a monthly basis to ensure we continue to meet their requirements and expectations.

Can you help residents with limited mobility?

Yes, many of our residents have difficulty with their mobility and use Zimmer frames, stick and other mobility aids such as a hoist.

Can you help residents with limited eye sight?

Yes, many of our residents have reduced vision, and most wear glasses.  We are experienced caring for residents who have partial sight.

Can you help residents with limited hearing?

Yes, many of our residents have hearing difficulties and wear hearing aids.  We are experienced caring for residents who are deaf and those who have reduced hearing.

What happens if a resident wants to continue to look after and administer their own prescribed medication?

Provided the resident is able to manage their own medication, we will provide them with a lockable drawer in their room for them to safely store their medicines.  We will assist them with reordering their medication supply on a regularly basis.  A risk assessment will be carried out and regularly reviewed ensuring that the resident still has the ability to carry out this task.

What happens when a resident needs a visit from a Doctor or the District Nurse?

Home visits are arranged for the doctors and the district nursing team, whenever they are needed.

Can a resident keep their own GP?

Yes, if the individual is moving into Meadowbank from the Maidenhead  area, their existing doctor will usually be agreeable to keep them as their patient. If they are moving to Meadowbank from another area, we will make arrangements for the resident to be registered with the local doctor’s practice.

What happens when a resident needs a visit from the Physiotherapist or Continence Nurse?

We will request the support from the NHS Physiotherapist and the Continence service whenever our residents require their support, for equipment or continence aids.

What happens when a resident needs a Chiropodist, Dentist or Optician?

Meadowbank make arrangements for these services on a regular basis.  Some of our residents prefer to continue using a local provider, with whom they have built up a rapport and we are happy to help with those arrangements.

What happens about Hairdressing appointments?

We have our own Hairdressing Salon at Meadowbank.  This means our residents benefit from a professional hairdressing environment and our local hairdresser visits frequently.  Some of our residents prefer to continue using a local provider with whom they have built up a rapport, and we are happy to help with those arrangements and will discuss frequency of visits with preferred hairdresser.

What’s it like near Meadowbank?

Located in Maidenhead, and close to the golf club.

why not pop in for a

cuppa?

We are happy to provide information over the telephone or if you prefer arrange a visit and come and meet us for yourself.

To discuss living or staying at Meadowbank, call us on 01628 781186 or email manager@meadowbankcare.com

Superb standards of care

Care at Meadowbank Residential Care Home is superb. In its most recent inspector’s report, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) gave us ticks in all categories assessed.

We operate what the CQC calls a ‘care home without nursing. That means we can look after any elderly resident who doesn’t suffer from dementia or need long-term nursing care. We are always fully-staffed and a district nurse visits every day.

CQC reports and word of mouth are the only reliable ways to judge the quality of care in a residential care home. We score well on both counts: 50% of our residents come to us through personal recommendations. To find out why people recommend us so enthusiastically, you have to see for yourself what we do.