The personalisation agenda is much talked about in social care. It is rather a mouthful. In doing the annual review of our year it became very evident that what we now provide has changed markedly and is a manifestation of the personalisation agenda. So how does it manifest itself in the services we provide? Six years ago Parkhaven Trust had 12 registered homes and all that we offered was the opportunity of residential care. Now an innovative array of services has been developed in response to the different individual needs.
For example our dementia day service continues to grow. 116 people used the service last year some coming daily, some twice weekly, it varies according to need. People enjoy a range of activities including gardening, yoga, baking and singing and dancing. Building on this the Trust developed its domiciliary service, Parkhaven@home which in its first full year provided over 1600 hours of care. The philosophy of this service is that staff from the centre will support people in their own homes; familiar faces in familiar places. A special gardening service was then developed for people with dementia and this has grown (pardon the pun)! A weekend away for people with dementia proved so popular we have done more and more. These services are personalisation in action!
If there are special personal services that you would like, then do let us know at care@parkhaven.org.uk. We will do all we can to respond to your needs and interests.
Hilary Rowland
09.06.10
