Oakleigh care home praised by Residents and Relatives in National Survey

A care home in Godstone has been praised by its residents and their relatives and friends in a national survey on care standards.

Staff at Anchor’s Oakleigh in Evelyn Gardens were rated highly in the independent Your Care Rating survey run by Ipsos MORI.

The home performed above the national average in feedback from residents and relatives in four areas: Staff and Care, Home Comforts, Choice and Having a Say, and Quality of Life. 

Oakleigh was given an overall rating of 944 out of 1,000 and 890 out of 1,000 by the residents and their families and friends respectively. Both scores were above the national averages of 893 for the residents’ survey and 852 for the family and friends’ survey.

The survey results come as Ipsos MORI publishes a poll which showed that Britons perceive care much more negatively than the residents living in care homes.

Only 26% of Britons thought care homes were a happy place to live while 97% of residents said they were happy living at Oakleigh.

There was also a mismatch between public perception of how staff treated residents compared with the older people’s actual experiences: only 45% of Britons thought care home residents were treated with dignity and respect when, in fact, all of the residents living at Oakleigh said carers treated them with kindness, dignity and respect.

Tabitha Harrison-Lyons, Manager of Oakleigh, which is rated Good by regulator The Care Quality Commission, said: “Our residents have really positive experiences in our care home, as this independent survey shows. We’re proud to have been praised for our care."

“While we’re really pleased with our scores, the survey helps us further improve our services by giving us direct feedback from residents and their loved ones."

“Families can see at a glance which care homes are committed to raising standards by taking part in this survey.”

Sybil Burnell, 96, who has lived at Oakleigh for five years, said she is not surprised by the good survey results.

She said: “I’m happy the staff did well because they deserve to be recognised for all the great work they do."

“I always feel safe and secure living at Oakleigh and there’s always someone to have a chat with. I’ve known some of the staff for five years and they are like family to me. They’re all so kind and caring."

“There are lots of activities organised and I enjoy making bird feeders with the staff and then love to watch the birds using them.”

For more information on Anchor’s Oakleigh phone 0800 731 2020.