FAQ
How to become a resident and financial
Admission to GreenAcres is often a joint decision with social workers involved. All are trying to ensure that GreenAcres is the best place for that individual at that moment. Many people may have been involved including the resident’s GP, the memory clinic specialist, an assigned social worker and the Needs Assessment Panel.
Many of our residents will have experienced GreenAcres as a visitor or via day care (spending part of the day at GreenAcres) or during respite care.
The usual first step if you or your family are concerned about you possibly having memory problems, is to visit your GP to discuss the need for referral to the memory clinic for assessment. Some people chose to call the social work department first, others may be referred via A+E, specialists etc. The memory clinic will allocate a social worker to help you if appropriate.
To become a GreenAcres resident, you will usually need an Elderly Mental Infirmity (EMI) Certificate. This can only be issued by the Needs Assessment Panel, which is part of the Committee for Health & Social Care. The Needs Assessment Panel is responsible for deciding on the type of care that is best suited to your needs and your social worker will organise this assessment. You will need the certificate to claim for long-term care benefit.
The EMI Certificate confirms the level of care you need but doesn’t guarantee a bed in a private residential or nursing home. You will need to find your own place in a care home that meets your needs. Your social worker or healthcare professional should be able to help you with this, as they may have a list of current vacancies
- 24-hour care by trained Carers
- Single ensuite bedroom
- All utilities e.g. heating, water, electricity
- Laundry
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks
- Soft drinks
For a Guernsey resident, the States of Guernsey contributes a significant amount per month towards GreenAcres residential fees. The care benefit changes annually so for up to date details please visit: https://www.gov.gg/longtermcarebenefit
Most residents pay a top up fee, which varies according to their needs and the bedroom available.
- Hairdressing: the hairdresser visits the Home weekly.
- Chiropody: the chiropodist visits the Home monthly.
- Toiletries
- Non-prescription medicine
- Dry cleaning
- Doctors’ fees
- Dental fees
- Opticians’ fees
- Hearing Specialists’ fees
- Private phone installation and calls
- Personal equipment, aids such as incontinence aids
- St John Ambulance fees
GreenAcres maintains a stock of toiletries, which carers provide to residents when required. A small charge per item is invoiced on a quarterly basis to residents.
Meeting care needs
Following a request from the next of kin or a professional involved in the care of the prospective resident, the Home undertakes an assessment whereby the individual is invited to spend a full day at GreenAcres. This enables the prospective resident to become familiar with the facility and also for the staff to complete a full picture of the resident’s care needs and suitability for the Home.
The care manager and deputy care manager maintain an up to date waiting list and will inform the next of kin when a room becomes available. Rooms are allocated depending on the person’s care needs and their suitability for the available room as well as their length of time on the waiting list.
Relatives are encouraged to be as involved as they wish to be.
On admission a Care Plan will be developed with the assistance of the resident and their relatives. We encourage relatives to write a life history to enable us to understand the resident’s uniqueness and tailor their daily routine to their individual needs, wishes and preferences. The next of kin has the right to access information held on their relative.
At all times, a senior carer is on duty and will be noticeable by their distinctive red tee shirt. Additionally, the name and photograph of the senior carer on duty is prominently displayed near the entrance.
The Health and Social Care Inspector of homes requires specific Staff to Resident ratio and this is always adhered to. At GreenAcres we have a higher Staff to Resident ratio, as we believe that it is important to offer a comprehensive activity programme daily.
Day to day appointments will be decided following discussion with the next of kin. In an emergency situation the person in charge of the shift will ultimately make the decision and the family will be informed as soon as possible.
The family will be notified as soon as possible by telephone or as they have stated they want to be contacted within the care plan.
We have carers who are trained in supporting our residents and their families during end-of-life care. The Home’s aim is to keep our residents in their own room surrounded by their familiar things.
Yes, nurse call systems are located throughout the Home.
Residents are encouraged to personalise their rooms with their own furniture and possessions, such as small furnishings, pictures, photographs, ornaments etc. so that residents are familiar with their own surroundings.
All rooms are fully furnished with a bed, chair, wardrobe, chest of drawers, bedside cabinet and curtains.
As laundry is done for the residents onsite, all clothing needs to be labelled. Although it would be of help to the Home if a resident’s clothes were labelled prior to admission, we can arrange this for a small fee.
GreenAcres recognises that visiting hours must be flexible, however relatives and visitors are kindly asked to avoid visiting at mealtimes, other than when they wish to join a resident for lunch or dinner. This is to ensure that residents have adequate time to socialise and concentrate on enjoying their meals.
Whilst we acknowledge that many people have pets for company during their lifetime and that they may wish to bring an animal with them when they move, the management has a responsibility to all our residents with regard to health and safety. This is not to say we do not permit pets; the manager will treat each request on a case-by-case basis dependant on need and the number of pets already at the home.
Pets may be permitted to visit GreenAcres at the manager or deputy manager’s discretion.
Wi-Fi is available throughout the Home and the Network Login can be obtained from reception.
Food
All meals are prepared on site by our qualified chefs. Menus are varied and favourite dishes and special diets e.g. diabetic, gluten free can be catered for.
Residents are encouraged to eat in the dining room together, however there may be instances, for example during illness, when residents may eat in their own room.
Relatives and visitors are welcome to join residents at meal times for a small fee, which will be donated to the Residents Activity Fund.
Social life and activities
Residents are encouraged to be out in the open taking part in activities, reminiscing and enjoying the specially adapted planting areas and potting shed.
The Home’s policy on activities takes into account the resident’s interests, skills, experiences, personality and medical conditions. The Home offers a wide range of activities designed to encourage the person to keep mobile, and most importantly take an interest in life.
Staff encourage and help residents to pursue their hobbies and interests for example: scrabble, playing cards, bingo, ball games, memory boxes, manicures, armchair exercise, reading magazines/newspapers, music, sing-alongs, gardening, baking, crafts and many more.
We have volunteers that come into the Home regularly to offer activities such as music, group discussions and afternoon tea parties and at times throughout the year, religious and other festivals are celebrated such as Easter and Christmas and of course our residents’ birthdays.
All of our activities will cater for individual needs, capabilities, wishes, preferences, skills and lifelong hobbies where possible.
A plan is agreed with the next of kin regarding which family and friends can take the resident out with them after liaising with the senior member of staff on duty.
Outings with staff are many and varied but have included visits to the beach, garden centres, shops, places of interest, walks, a ride on the little train, sledging in the snow and to eat pub grub or fish and chips.