01823 334 238 | mail@abbeyfieldtaunton.co.uk
We have taken extraordinary measures to ensure that life goes on as close to normal as possible for our residents and their families during the pandemic – without compromising safety.
We look forward to welcoming new residents in January.
We understand that choosing a residential care home for yourself or a loved one can be a real worry. Be reassured that at Abbeyfield we are dedicated to providing outstanding care by employing well-trained, permanent staff and by treating all our residents as individuals – in a homely, family environment.
As an independent charity, our sole purpose is your care and wellbeing. Abbeyfield Taunton is different from many other care homes … it really does feel like being part of a family, where everybody is cared for cheerfully, yet with respect.
We’ve been providing first class care for nearly thirty years with an experienced team who provide genuine 24/7 personal care to our 44 residents.
Day Care is available for those needing occasional help or perhaps just wanting to try us out, whilst our main Residential and specialist Dementia units cater for a wide range of requirements. In addition to single rooms, we have six Apartments which are ideal for individuals or couples.
Every potential resident has individual needs and concerns and we invite you to discuss them in confidence either by telephoning or visiting us.
The kettle is always on.
Paula HowlettWe are delighted to announce the arrival of our new manager, Paula Howlett, who has taken over from Jill Byford, our manager for the last 30+ years. Paula is a 20-year experienced pyschiatric nurse, who since 2013 has been a registered manager, first in residential and later in specialist dementia care. Her particular vision for the Abbeyfield team is to facilitate older people to continue to build relationships, and for life to go on, not stop. Paula’s husband Rob is minister of their church, they have four teenage children, and they’re keen musicians.
Since opening in 1987, our home has undergone two major extensions but the quality of our care and the family atmosphere has never changed.
Each resident has their own comfortable room with toilet and washing facilities. Furniture is usually provided but favourite items may be used to promote a homely and individual space.
Our fees are very competitive (we are “not-for-profit”) and fully inclusive of 24 hour care, laundry, cleaning, food and fuel bills. Residents will normally only need extra funds for additional costs such as clothing, hairdressing, chiropody, physiotherapy etc. We have our own transport so usually we can take residents out for dental or hospital appointments.
We are always pleased to welcome visitors to our home, and we are always available to discuss residents’ wellbeing with next of kin.
Residential care is offered in 21 comfortable en-suite rooms, all on the ground floor and overlooking pleasant communal gardens. We have two comfortable lounges and dining room, plus a room where we enjoy visits from entertainers and musicians as well as regular activities.
This is our residents’ home, to which we invite visits from the appropriate medical teams, hairdresser, chiropodist, aromatherapist etc. It is specially equipped; for example, our bathrooms have lifting baths, so that staff can care for residents safely and conveniently.
For our staff, care is about doing more than just what’s necessary. Whilst they are on hand at all times of day and night to help with everyday tasks, they are also happy to take time to sit and chat with residents, which helps to promote companionship and engender that family atmosphere we’re so proud of.
Visitors are welcome at all appropriate times and we have comfortable corners of the house and gardens, where you can have more privacy if you wish.
We have six “self-contained” ground floor apartments, each made up of a large lounge, kitchenette, twin bedroom and shower room. Designed for single or double occupancy, they enable couples to continue to live together in a supported and caring environment for longer than otherwise might be possible.
Experience has shown that care in our Apartments often provides a very useful solution where one partner needs significantly more care than the other and as requirements change, this can be properly reflected in this flexible unit. Special rates apply to double occupancy.
We do encourage residents to eat in the separate dining room in this wing to promote companionship, but you may eat in your own rooms if you prefer.
As with residents in the main Residential Care rooms, everyone in the Apartment Wing is included in all activities and outings. They are free to come and go as they please.
Our small dementia unit, upgraded in 2014, is the Quantock unit, a self-contained wing which provides a greater degree of help and security for those suffering from the effects of memory loss. Quality of care is really important and our well trained staff are both sensitive and patient. Our aim is to give those with dementia real quality of life.
Residents in this wing and its adjoining garden are protected from wandering by keypad security, so families can be reassured that their relatives are properly looked after at all times in a caring and intensively supported location.
Rooms are all provided with toilet and washing facilities and residents are encouraged to bring some of their own belongings to promote familiarity and a sense of comfort and security. There is ample lounge and dining room space so visits can take place with greater privacy.
Some activities in Quantock are tailored to their more specific and individual needs, but other organised activities and outings are designed to be appropriate for dementia care residents to be included if they wish.
Non-residential Day Care is available for a few people every day. This enables our home to provide support when it’s most needed to local families, as well as the opportunity to experience a “taster” for those considering a first move to assisted living.
Meals are provided at a low cost and our day care visitors are encouraged to join permanent residents in the activities of the day. If required, we can provide transport to and from our home in our own vehicle, driven by our own staff.
A number of our current residents came to know us through day care, which made their transition to assisted living less challenging. Why not try us out for the day?
Our aim is to provide “home cooking on a grand scale”. Particular emphasis is placed on the quality of meals so wherever possible we use fresh ingredients and local suppliers. This enables our experienced kitchen team to provide a choice of three healthy, well-balanced meals each day, not forgetting the home baking.
We always provide variety and our permanent staff soon learn the likes and dislikes of residents so they get the food and drink they like, whether it’s a glass of sherry before lunch or “I don’t like fish”.
Each wing has its own dining room with tables nicely laid, usually for four, so mealtimes are also an important part of the social activity of the day.
The importance we place on catering is reflected in our recent project to completely refurbish our kitchen helped by a substantial grant from local charity, the Wilton Trust.
A stimulating programme of mental and gentle physical activity is an essential element of providing quality of life. Activities are completely optional - some residents prefer to spend most of their time in their own room or in private activity and we respect that wish.
That said, most welcome the activities, entertainments and outings put on by our two Activities Co-ordinators. These include afternoons playing Whist or Scrabble, gentle exercise classes, craft work, musical entertainment etc. Occasionally we have special events like a cocktail hour or a barbeque and some residents join occasional trips out in our minibus, for example to Snowdrop Valley.
We have a monthly Communion Service and regular visits from our experienced Chaplain, and we keep anniversaries, for example a special service on Remembrance Sunday, because these memories are important.
Thank you very much for arranging and installing a patio door into Mum’s room, it will make such a difference to her life. Already she is talking about having friends around to sit in the garden!
One of your staff set up a laptop in Mum’s room to see two new great grandchildren in the USA on Skype. I’m not sure she really understood what was happening but she loved every minute of it!
Please pass my thanks to all your staff. I cannot praise their kindness, skills and attitude enough. Taunton should be proud of Frank Bond House and all it means to your residents.
