Rosemary Care Home - evidence of strong, visible management and good quality of care

Residents at Rosemary Care Home in Milnrow, Rochdale, with their hens

Healthwatch Rochdale, has published a report containing findings and recommendations from an Enter and View Visit that took place at Rosemary Care Home, 13 Newhey Road, Milnrow, Rochdale, OL16 3NP.

The visit was based on eight care quality indicators developed by Independent Age.

The home met the requirements of all the eight care quality indicators that the visit was based on and displayed evidence of strong, visible management and good quality of care, with the home having a calm, relaxed atmosphere and residents appearing content.

The home is part of the Social Hens Project which is an initiative to help tackle loneliness and depression in older people. The project involves care homes having a chicken enclosure, with residents taking part in the feeding and caring of the chickens, the aim being to help residents who are feeling isolated and lonely to gain a sense of purpose and improve their sense of wellbeing.

The home is also part of the local oral health initiative which is a programme where care home staff are trained to clean and check the mouths of older, vulnerable adults to help improve oral health care as well as helping to reduce the likelihood of contracting aspiration pneumonia and hospital acquired pneumonia.

Following the visit, one recommendation was made to the home which was “To continue to share the positive work and good practice with other care homes in the borough”.

Kate Jones, Healthwatch Rochdale Chief Executive Officer, said: “The Enter and View visit to Rosemary Care Home was a very positive experience and the team saw some good examples of care and how a residential home can be managed and organised to help create feelings of being at home for residents. It will be interesting to see what steps the home will now take over the next twelve months to continue to improve the patient experience.”