Nestled on the outskirts of Coleshill, near Birmingham, and overlooking the Warwickshire countryside, St Joseph’s Care Home is abuzz with activity as staff and residents prepare to celebrate the home’s 20th anniversary this summer. Already this year, there has been a celebratory atmosphere as the home gradually returned to normal after the pandemic.
During lockdown, the home transformed one of its four wings into a Covid-safe area under the care of a small team of staff. This meant that people moving to the home, being discharged from hospital, or those staying for temporary respite, had somewhere covid-safe to stay. In April, after a complete refurbishment, the wing ‘re-opened’, welcoming back a small number of residents.
Speaking at the re-opening, Coleshill Mayor said: “What’s touched me most is talking to residents and families about what it means to them to be part of this family, because that’s what it is. It’s not just a care home. It’s not just a place where people come when reaching difficult parts of their lives. It’s this sincere love that you really feel when you come here.”
In August, the home will celebrate 20 years since it first opened its doors. Over the years, the home has seen many developments including the creation of memory rooms for those living with dementia, a new conservatory to host visitors and entertainment, a covid-safe visiting pod, installation of wi-fi and streaming services, and much more. No matter what changes have occurred, however, the high standards of care have remained constant.
The experienced and welcoming staff aim to make everyone that enters St Joseph’s feel like they are at home. They work with families to understand the person they are being entrusted to care for – their likes and dislikes, the story of their life, the person they have been and the person they are now. No matter how long someone is staying for, whether a few days or more permanently, every effort is made to meet their interests as well as daily living needs.
One resident, James, said: “I went for respite care to St Joseph’s and had a very pleasant stay with good food, excellent attention by all staff. Nothing was too much for them to attend to and talk to as well.”
The 59-bed home is part of Father Hudson’s Care, a social care charity that works with over four thousand people each year through 18 projects and services, including fostering, family support, disability support services, support for homeless people, and services for refugees.
To find out more about St Joseph’s Care Home, visit www.stjosephscarehome.co.uk, and be sure to look at the virtual tour. Alternatively, you can call 01675 434559 or email [email protected].
