We are one big happy family (we even have competitive games nights!)
You’d be surprised how many people come to Huntington House for a short burst of respite care and request to return full-time afterwards.
That’s because though many of our residents experience the inevitable ailments which come with age, the buzz and activity in our home mean these ailments are a tiny part of an otherwise full and rich life.
However, back in their own home, former residents can feel unstimulated, bored and palpably alone, and these ailments loom large throughout an otherwise empty day.
No wonder they’re so happy to come back.
An unparalleled care experience
Take a walk through our house or grounds on any given day, and you’d be forgiven for thinking you were in a typical family home. Listen as you explore, and you’ll hear the friendly (and sometimes cutthroat) competition of group games and the excited chatter of another outing being planned.
Feast your eyes on the beautiful resident-made artwork adorning our walls. Feast your taste buds on our delicious food, served family-style and as tasty to eat as it is nourishing.
This colourful mosaic of care is possible as Huntington House is family owned and run. The family feel of our house supports us as we do all we can to gently encourage each resident to live their life as an individual, with the independence, personal freedom and expression they enjoyed while living at home.
Residents build relationships with other residents and our staff, which does wonders for their mental health. We help residents to continue with hobbies they used to love and even to learn new ones, thanks to team members and other residents.
Our residents have a quality of life that just can’t be replicated in a home care or other care environment.
Yes, we have a beautiful house and splendid grounds, a large, well-trained and loving team and years of caring experience, but what really makes us stand out is our steadfast value of meaningful care – the key tenet of the Dragonfly Approach, which we faithfully follow.
The Power of Meaningful Care
In traditional care, the day is run along task lines, and care can be perfunctory. Boxes are ticked off throughout the day – “make the bed”, “give them breakfast”, and “hand out medicine”. There’s barely time to get to know residents and no time to think about them as people with hopes, dreams and desires.
However, at Huntington House, we understand that our relationships with people, places and things all influence who we are and how we feel.
Our life is made meaningful by relationships which meet our need for love, attachment, belonging and comfort. These relationships make us feel secure, free and able – helping us to feel at home in ourselves, our bodies and our lives. This is as true at age ten as it is at age 100+.
When there’s a lack of warm relationships, as can happen in other care environments and at home, it adversely affects mood, mental and physical health and quality of life.
As identified in a recent Age UK report on loneliness, physical and mental health difficulties are key drivers in loneliness and ‘can reduce older people’s ability to participate in community activities and inhibit their ability to maintain or establish meaningful relationships’.
Our residents know that at Huntington House, relationships are everything. We ensure that all residents are “free to be me” and able to create a rich, full, nourishing life.
Believing wholeheartedly in the Dragonfly Approach means we value emotional intelligence, domestic living and respect, and we support every resident, caring about and for the whole person so they can write the next chapter of their story.
Our wonderful team magics this ethos to life. All over our house and grounds, and when we’re out on trips and outings, we bring colour, love and care to each resident’s daily life. Huntington House is one truly big happy family – arguments about Monopoly and all!
“She refers to them as ‘friends’, and that includes the staff as well as the people living in the home. It is this blurring which makes Huntington special. She is incredibly fond of them. I love that they will sometimes pop in and suggest going for a walk outside, which she loves. It feels very normal and relaxed rather than doing something to or for her. That’s beyond valuable to her.” – Family member.
At the Huntington & Langham Estate, we provide luxury care across our two specialist care homes. Family-owned and run, we offer dignified, compassionate and personalised care to our residents, giving them the nurturing support they need to continue living full, independent and meaningful lives.
To arrange a visit to the Estate and tour our homes and grounds, please call 01428 604 600 or complete this form.