insideKENT Magazine Issue 52 - July 2016 | Page 150

BUSINESS MEET THE MANAGER Annelli Chatfield of Chaucer Care Home I am a Registered General Nurse, and have been for 28 years. I have spent my entire career caring for older people; I love listening to stories and find the people I meet fascinating. I have specialised in caring for people who are living with dementia and their families. I am passionate about the care we deliver, I think every person deserves to be cared for in a place that is luxurious and indulgent where the care they receive is of the highest standard. With media speculation about care homes rife it can be really difficult for good homes to counter negative press – what is it that sets your care apart from other establishments? Chaucer Home is a beautiful new care home in the centre of the historic city of Canterbury; there is a real feel of calm and balance in the home. We strive to provide the very best in personalised care to ensure every person living with us is enabled to live the life they choose in the way they want to. We have an amazing staff team, each and every one works to ensure individuals are cared for in a way that celebrates uniqueness with respect and dignity. Chaucer seems to have the philosophy that life can be enriched by time in a care home – can you tell us a little more about your facilities? Chaucer House is a gorgeous new home with luxurious facilities to help anyone feel truly valued. We have 60 individual en-suite bedrooms decorated to an elegant hotel standard with views over the city of Canterbury. We have a number of areas to enable socialisation including two beautiful restaurants, both with outside dining space, library, sun room, garden room, beauty salon, grandchildren’s room, shop and cinema, lavish colour gardens and at the top of the home is a stunning bar with roof terrace. working team who work with the person and their families to ensure individual choice is at the forefront of everything we do. What care categories do you cover in the home? We provide nursing, continuing healthcare and residential care for up to 60 residents in the home. We have residents from all around the county of Kent with a variety of needs and abilities. Do you have any exciting plans or events coming up for this year? We are a socially active home where there is always something fun going on. We have plans for our first anniversary in August to celebrate everything we have achieved so far. We are involved in a number of countrywide projects looking at quality of care and well-being. And like the entire country we are looking forward to celebrating with the Queen on her 90th birthday. How do you help new residents settle in to life at Chaucer Care Home? From the moment we meet people for the first time we encourage them to visit the home, stay for lunch or an activity. We promote choice and preferences such as which bedroom the person would like. We actively encourage individually by ensuring bedrooms are personalised as much as possible to ensure people feel at home. Each person is visited by the manager before they come to live with us and by every department on the first day so we get to know the person. Everyone has a co- How would you sum up the ethos and atmosphere? As a team we know we are lucky to work in this beautiful home. Within the actual building though you will find love, fun and celebration of life from a group of energetic dedicated people who truly aim to do their best. Chaucer House Care Home St Martin’s Hill Littlebourne Road Canterbury CT1 1PS 01227 671985 [email protected] www.mmcgcarehomes.co.uk/our-care-homes/chaucer-house/ 150