Care home companions now on call

It was launched last month in response to a growing need among nursing homes to provide flexible and highly-trained “companions” to nursing home residents.

The new service offers safe, reliable and highly trained carers to accompany residents on outings and appointments as needed, or to provide one-to-one caring within the home for extended periods.

Leigh O’Hara (pictured), manager at Ashridge Community Care, said: “For home managers, it isn’t always practical to have staff accompany residents on outings or appointments. Calling on relatives isn’t ideal either.

“But this new service ticks all the boxes, allowing nursing staff to stay on site while also fulfilling an individual resident’s request to go shopping, visit the dentist or whatever their request at the time.”

The facility to out-source a “companion service” on a flexible basis has been welcomed by the nursing home community generally.

Lesley Wicks, nursing home manager in neighbouring Eastbourne, who already uses the service, said: “The ability to free up our internal care team while also allowing residents, who need extra help, the opportunity to come and go as they please, is a great added value service.”

Ashridge Community Care also provides a comprehensive range of personal care services to elderly and confined in their own home throughout Bexhill, Cooden Beach, Hooe, Little Common, Sidley and surrounding villages.

Part of the Canford Healthcare Group, Ashridge Community Care has 15 years’ experience in community care and more than 50 compassionate, experienced and CRB-checked carers working in the local area. For more information, call 01424 863851 or visit the group’s website at www.pentlowcommunity.co.uk