Meals
Your meal will be carefully prepared by our qualified catering staff who will ensure that your meals are as interesting and varied as possible. Residents are offered choices each day and special diets including diabetic and vegetarian will be catered for. Choices are available at all meal times. The day usually begins with an early cup of tea or coffee, followed by breakfast, mid-morning tea/coffee and biscuits, 2 course lunch, mid-afternoon tea/coffee, 2 or 3 course high tea and night-time drinks and supper snacks. All meals, snacks, supplements and drinks are provided within the fees for service. Special diets are catered for and advice of the dietician is sought where necessary. Limited quantities of alcohol are offered at special occasions. Due to the size of our business, one set meal will be prepared at lunch time. Residents will be consulted about their preferences and a separate meal will be prepared for any resident who does not like the meal of the day. At high-tea there will be at least 3 choices of savoury foods and a wide selection of cakes. Whilst every effort is made to provide for individual resident's preferences, Coombe cannot provide an "a la carte menu".
Social activities and Leisure interests
Coombe is able to provide a variety of ways that residents can engage in the enjoyment of activities and/or hobbies. A resident's individual wishes regarding involvement in activities will be respected. Experience tells us a balance must be struck between gentle encouragement and respecting wishes not to participate.
The range of activities available are:
Maintaining contact with relatives, friends and representatives
Coombe actively encourages residents to maintain all forms of social contact that they enjoyed before moving into our Home. We will assist residents to maintain contact if requested. This is a resident's Home and hence, subject to the resident's wishes, visitors are, within reason, generally welcome at any time. All visitors are requested to enter their details in the Visitors Book and to sign out on departure. Visitors should be made aware that this is to comply with Health & Safety legislation and fire regulations. Residents can usually receive visitors in their own room or in one of the sitting rooms, and outside of meal times in one of the dining rooms. Visitors wishing to take residents off the premises should speak to the senior member of staff on duty first, to ensure that any medication can be provided and that the trip out is within the capacity of the resident. This needs noting in the Visitors Book on departure and return. Relatives and friends are encouraged to attend social events such as resident's birthday party.
Medical Care
Staff are always on duty to plan and supervise resident's care, ensuring the highest standards while respecting and preserving a resident's dignity at all times. A Liskeard-based GP will visit if required, although residents may of course retain their own Doctor if this is practical. Community nurses and primary care team staff will visit residential care residents as appropriate. Consultant physicians will also visit on request if this is necessary.
Fire precautions & Emergency procedures
Coombe's fire precautions have been designed with the advice from the Fire Officer, and to date all recommendations are implemented following the annual Fire Officer's visit. However, whilst every attempt has been taken to minimise risk of fire, there can be no absolute guarantee of safety. The Home undertakes regular fire drills and reviews of procedures. The Home operates separate fire procedure records which includes records of fire drills, alarm tests and records of staff training. All staff are provided with information about the fire procedure at induction. All staff are required to attend annual up-date teaching on fire procedures and use of fire equipment. In addition to our extant policies we use emergency policies, procedures and other such arrangements as may be required in situations which may arise.
Dentistry: A professional visits regularly although you are free to make appointments outside this arrangement if that is preferred. An Optician can visit if requested.
Physiotherapy can be arranged as necessary by the CARTS team. This has to be ordered by a GP.
Chiropody: A private professional visits every six weeks and is charged for separately.
Hairdressing is provided, at an additional charge, although residents are free to visit a hairdresser if desired.
Personal Telephones
Our Home has a number of telephone lines. The telephone number is 01579 346819 (please see the Contact page for further details of how to get in touch). Residents having personal mobile phones are acceptable within the Coombe grounds. Any resident wishing to have access to a direct-dial landline phone in their rooms can have a connection at an additional charge. The telephone can be set up and billed for by BT as if it were in a private home.
Pet ownership
Residents may bring small pets with them, subject to discussion with the proprietor and consultation with a local vet if this should be appropriate.
Administration Support can be provided by our staff and residents (who may require a letter to be written for them).
Complaints
Coombe welcomes any comments or concerns about the services delivered. Complaints or concerns about the service provided within any Home will be treated seriously. If a resident or relative requires help to make a complaint then they should be afforded advice about potential advocates. A copy of our complaints procedure is available upon request.
Attending Religious Services
Our Home takes all reasonable steps to ensure that each resident's wishes are known and understood in relation to the practice of their chosen religion. Where requested, we will observe and ensure confidentiality in respect of religious belief. Alternatively we will take such steps as necessary to enable residents to attend religious services, or access religious leaders, ministers or priests in private.
Benefits Advice can be provided via the Proprietor. Information can be obtained about Pension and Social Security benefits from the County Hall in Truro, or from the Cornish County Council website.
Shopping
It is difficult for many of the residents we care for to go shopping on their own, with relatives or a staff member. Staff can assist residents by purchasing goods on their behalf within the necessary safeguards of our Personal Finance Procedures.
Laundry
This is undertaken within the Home within the normal fees for service. The laundry equipment achieves care standards and the 1998 Water Regulations. The Home expects all personal clothing to be labelled and cannot be held responsible for any loss of items not so marked. There are no facilities for residents to do their own laundry.
Resident's property
The Home will not accept any liability whatsoever for loss of, or damage to, any money or other valuable property kept (or said to be kept) by the resident in or about Coombe, unless such money or property shall have been:
Arrangements for insurance will be explained fully when residents arrive in the home.
Gifts and Signing legal documents
Coombe's employees or staff are not permitted to directly accept any gifts, and/or presents from residents; or to sign as a witness any legal document which pertains to one of the residents in the Home. We welcome co-operation with these stipulations.
Dry Cleaning can be provided at cost plus a service charge.
Kitchen Facilities
Kitchen facilities are built to the standards laid down by the Environmental Health Department; we have achieved a food hygiene award from this department in recognition of high standards in food handling practices and conditions on the premises. These facilities are not accessible to residents owing to Health & Safety and Food Hygiene regulations. Residents can have drinks and snacks at most times by requesting these from care staff. Residents' relatives will always be offered hot or cold drinks when visiting. After a risk assessment, which is reviewed regularly, residents can be provided a kettle and tea/coffee making facilities in their own rooms.
Reviewing Plans of Care
Coombe operates a full planning and review system. On admission each resident is assessed and a plan of care formulated. This plan will cover all areas of a resident's activities, and will not focus purely on problems and physical matters, but aim to enhance the resident's quality of life. A pen picture of their life history, including interests and activities is produced for each resident. We will often need the help of their families to do this.