What is life like in a care home?

Some people may not have very much experience of a care home environment, perhaps not having visited one before, and can wonder what life in a care home is really like.

At Anchor, when people come to live with us we invest time in getting to know them properly; how they like to live their lives, the level of care they need and what is important to them.

A good care home will be able to offer fully qualified staff who provide 24-hour support if needed. Before you move to a care home, the staff should carry out a careful individual assessment, to make sure you receive the right support – ranging from the dispensing of medication and personal care to laundry and housekeeping services and support with day-to-day social activities.

Across Anchor’s care homes, you are also encouraged to bring your personal belongings with you, like photographs or a favourite chair – it’s often the little things that make a big difference to feeling at home in a new place.

Living with Anchor

Watch our video to find out a bit more about life specifically in an Anchor care home.

Social activities

Social activities play an important role in care homes. Before you chose a care home for yourself or a loved one, you should ask about the type of activities available – keeping up your favourite hobbies or pastimes can help you to stay active and socialise with fellow residents.

Each Anchor care home has an activities programme, staff work hard to find out what residents would like to do and then organise daily activities within the home and local community. These can range from fitness classes, quizzes and craft sessions to day trips, themed restaurant evenings and performances from entertainers. Find out more about how we offer residents a fulfilling life in our homes. 

Health and social care services

The level of on-site medical care varies from home to home, but all should have a GP available on request and have access to local dentists, district nurses, physiotherapists and optometrists, who often visit and provide treatment within the care home. Many of our Anchor homes also have their own hairdressing salon and a regular visiting chiropodist.

Visitors 

Usually, friends and family are very much encouraged to visit loved ones living in a care home, and residents are encouraged to maintain links with the wider community. Some of our homes also provide a guest room to enable your visitors to stay overnight should you wish.

Catering

Care homes tend to be fully catered and staff will be able to accommodate for any special dietary requirements or allergies. At Anchor, specially trained chefs prepare freshly cooked, appetising and nutritionally balanced meals with a different seasonal choice available every day.

Our care home catering teams consult with residents on a regular basis to ensure they understand both nutritional requirements and food preferences. We also hold monthly themed food days and provide opportunities for residents to be involved in the preparation of meals if they wish, ensuring mealtimes remain a sociable and enjoyable part of the day. Find out more about our approach to catering and mealtimes.