Creating an environment where everyone has the opportunity to indulge in their hobbies, passions or simply head out to their favourite day trip spot, is at the heart of our approach to care and we always extend this to include friends and family to create shared experiences and special interactions.
That's certainly been this case throughout October here on the Estate
For more news on life across the Estate read our monthly Newsletter
Here at the Huntington and Langham Estate we are always on the lookout for ways to bring joy, comfort, and moments of connection to those we support and one extraordinary avenue that has proven to be a beacon of light is animal therapy, often known as pet therapy.
We find it is a profound way to bring smiles and meaningful moments of peace to individuals living with dementia, all of contributes to our unique approach to providing specialist dementia care..
The magic of animal therapy lies in the beautiful connections it fosters and witnessing the transformative power animals can have in the lives of those struggling with dementia. The gentle presence of animals wandering freely around the lounges of Langham Court has provided comfort, evoked memories, and stimulated emotional responses, that might otherwise not be experienced by some.
Dogs are often the stars in the world of animal therapy due to their innate ability to offer companionship and love unconditionally. Their playful energy and affection can brighten the darkest of days. Cats, with their soothing purrs and calming presence, also weave their magic in the lives of those battling dementia and are regular visitors to the Estate.
But let’s talk about a less conventional yet equally impactful therapy animal – the donkey. Yes, you read that right! Donkeys, with their serene demeanour and endearing nature, are gradually making their mark in the realm of animal-assisted therapy. Their calm and friendly disposition can work wonders in soothing individuals with dementia.
So imagine the joy that the arrival of Mr Kipling to the Estate had!
As he wandered along the corridor into the lounge, those in the room beamed with smiles of surprise at their new visitor. With his soft, velvety nose, gently nudging peoples hands, it was evident that the experience triggered memories and emotions for some, evoking smiles and sparking conversations for others.
The tactile experience of petting a donkey’s soft fur can be immensely therapeutic in creating meaningful moments for those living with dementia. By encouraging sensory stimulation and often prompting a flash of reminiscences of childhood days spent in the countryside, Christmas nativity plays or pet ponies, bringing forth tales of farm life or simply the delight of being close to such a gentle creature.
Animal therapy with donkeys, or any other animal for that matter, isn’t just about the immediate joy it brings. Scientifically, it’s been proven that interacting with animals can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. It also stimulates social interaction and improves overall emotional well-being, crucial for those navigating the challenges of dementia.
So, if you’re caring for someone living with dementia, don’t underestimate the power of animal therapy. Whether it’s a wagging tail, a gentle purr, or the heartwarming presence of a donkey, these incredible creatures have the ability to touch the hearts and souls of those in need of a little extra love and comfort.
Our focus during September has been very much around continuing to invest in our team's ability to deliver personalised care, with training sessions hosted by the Rare Dementia Support Society, during which we learned more about the rarer forms of Dementia, backed up by the team at Meaningful Care Matters delivering session 2 of our Butterfly course.
For more news on life across the Estate read our monthly Newsletter
Music is such an important part of creating meaningful moments for those living with dementia and the 60’s is a favourite era for many of our residents in Langham Court.
So always game for dressing up, the team dug out their headbands and floral tops for a day filled with 60’s tunes and fun, bringing back lots of memories of days gone by.
We also used the day to introduce our new music walls, utilising some of the vinyl’s which were kindly donated following last month’s newsletter – Thank you!
A clever idea was to add a coloured buzzers to the walls by the records, which when pressed play a favourite track. They are already attracting a lot of plays, as people pass by and the occasional singalong!
More information about our approach to Dementia care and the Butterfly Approach
What a day we had!
The team from Berkshire Birds of Pray joined us here at the Huntington & Langham Estate, to provide a flying display from a selection of owls, falcons and hawks.
We all joined them outside on the courtyard and were delighted to be able to handle some of these wonderful birds and see them up close. They were very friendly and interactive and used to being with strangers, taking an aerial view of the Estate as they flew between us.
Charlie Hoare MD “It was heartwarming to see so many families enjoying time together at The Huntington & Langham Estate for the bird of prey display. The time when so many care homes were closed to visitors altogether due to COVID-19 still lurking in the back of people’s minds, not to mention the recent talk of a new variant, there was a defiant buzz at this event that seemed more akin to a village fete than an activity in a care home.
The birds of prey were indeed impressive; agile hawks, tiny baby owls and plenty in between. However, the most memorable moments of the day came from the interactions between family and friends; a daughter taking a selfie with their mother and an owl and laughing over it together, a shy grandchild being encouraged to hold a hawk almost as big as them, and a member of staff stroking the soft wings of a bird being held by a resident.
How well attended it was highlighted just how inclusive care homes can be. Perhaps care homes should be judged not by what they offer to their residents alone, but what they provide for whole families.”
Now it is no secret that we have sweet tooth’s here on the estate, so were delighted to have the opportunity to host a Macmilan coffee morning.
The cakes were delicious and Alex was a superb hostess for the day, making it such a great event for a great charity.
Sarah also popped along with young Jac as a treat who thought the cakes all looked amazing.
Here at the Huntington & Langham Estate, we offer the very highest level of thoughtful and personalised care for people living with all types of Dementia
Our sterling reputation has been established over many years, and we’re now privileged to welcome people to our family who have been referred from the NHS and from other homes who can no longer support their specialist needs.
Amongst our residents, we care for people who have rare forms of dementia, as well as those whose symptoms have progressed and who are not able to stay in their existing residential homes without heavy medication.
The word ‘dementia’ describes a group of symptoms caused by different diseases that damage the nerve cells in the brain. The symptoms worsen over time and can affect memory, problem-solving, language and behaviour.
As dementia is caused by different diseases, there are different types of dementia. The most common is Alzheimer’s disease, followed by Vascular Dementia, Dementia with Lewy bodies and Frontotemporal dementia, sometimes called Pick’s disease.
Less well known are the seven rarer types of dementia, including PDA, PPA and FAD, all of which can occur at a younger age, can be wrongly diagnosed and can lead to issues accessing support from the usual existing health, social and voluntary services.
Between 5% and 15% of people living with dementia have been diagnosed with a rare, inherited or young- onset dementia.
Recently, all our staff have undergone training by the Rare Dementia Support Society.
We learned about all the rarer forms of dementia and how they affect people. This is vital as sometimes, when there’s a decline in cognition, we don’t know the type of dementia a person may have, especially if they can no longer have an MRI.
Now, with our staff’s insight, we can work backwards from behaviour and symptoms to diagnosis, meaning residents get the specialist care, understanding and flexibility they need.
Visit us, and you’ll quickly see that our informed and adaptable approach means we can be a home for anyone with any form of dementia. For example, we’ve welcomed people of a young age living with YOAD dementia who have school-age families, so their needs are very different to those in their 70s+.
At our Estate, the care your loved one will receive is often beyond that found elsewhere.
The care we provide is very personalised, thoughtful and caring. We see how people behave and react and adapt our approach or environment to them rather than expecting them to conform to our rules.
We know that people living with rare dementia can present in different ways, and this means we can offer personalised care. For example, one resident came to us with dementia and wanted to stay in his room over mealtimes. His dementia was not far progressed, and he was very independent, but he struggled with breakfast and lunchtime in this space.
Having learned about the symptoms associated with PCP dementia – a rare form of dementia where there’s a sensitivity to light – we gave him a pair of sunglasses, and he was happy to eat and socialise in the dining room. He might have been labelled as “not sociable” in another home and left to eat in his room.
At the Langham Estate, we’re part of a community. There’s no delineation between people living with us and working with us. There’s no Us and Them. We encourage residents to contribute to the life of the home however they can. Some like laying the table for a meal. Others like caring for our carers by, for example, brushing and styling their hair.
We know all our residents have value and want to feel in control. In our flexible and timetable-free environment, that means people can feel freer, and, in turn, this means that challenging behaviour is kept to a bare minimum.
A resident with dementia who had previously escaped from two other care homes told us he wanted to find weak spots in our security at Langham Court and explore the surroundings. Instead of scolding him, we allowed him to act out his plans, safe in the knowledge that he couldn’t come to any harm on our large Estate.
Everyone finds their sense of purpose in different ways, and his was to find a way out – and we did not want to deprive him of this. It is a matter of balancing wellbeing and illbeing; a risk assessment of sorts, evaluating the likelihood and severity of potential outcomes of either allowing or disallowing a certain activity.
Over many weeks, he tried various escape plans, occasionally being allowed to succeed. We always found him and brought him back. Surprisingly, he was always happy to return in the knowledge that he had achieved with what he had set out to do.
How did we manage this? Well, to preserve his pride and independence, we discreetly hid a GPS tracker into his jacket and shoes. This allowed us to keep an eye on him without damaging his sense of self. By finding this balance between safety and his desire for adventure, we ensured his wellbeing while respecting his autonomy.
Caring for a loved one with dementia can be rewarding and draining. You might want them to move to a residential home but feel guilty about how this will impact them and you.
In these cases, we often recommend bringing your loved one for a respite stay – a short break for them and you. You can relax knowing they are lovingly supported by genuinely caring people. This can also make it easier for you and your loved one if there’s a move to full-time residential care in the future.
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.
We are Butterfly and Dragonfly accredited. To arrange a visit to the Estate and tour our homes and grounds, please call 01428 604 600 or complete this form.
Music is a great way to engage with those living with Dementia and with the 60's a favourite era for many living in Langham Court, we had a fun day of dressing up and reminiscing over tracks from the Summer of 69!
For more news on life across the Estate read our monthly Newsletter
Whilst its been a bit of a wet July, we've still managed to get out and about and always enjoy an afternoon of music at Huntington House
For more news on life across the Estate read our monthly Newsletter
We are excited to be partnering with a new local childcare provider called Willow & Rose Nursery based in Grayshott.
Dedicated to caring for children up to 4 years old, Amanda and the team believe in supporting children to develop curiosity through the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework.
At the centre of their approach is creating opportunities to explore, question and discover nature as part of exploration educational learning. Our collaboration gives Willow and Rose access to our beautiful estate, as their very own vibrant learning space filled with the best nature has to offer, whilst in a safe environment to explore and create wonder.
The partnership will include joint activities and events both in our homes and around the grounds, including an enchanted forest adventure, birdwatching, den building, storytelling session, nature craft sessions using treasures found around the forest floor and early learning about flora and fauna.
Find out more details here
Prior to the pandemic we shared how being part of our wider community we collaborated with a number of schools to bridge the generation gap.
Intergenerational interaction between the residents and children is a delight to see and most importantly the experience is beneficial for old and young, proving age is just a number!
Our collaboration with Willow and Rose, will in time offer residents on the estate a special opportunity to interact with the children during shared events and organically as they share our wonderful Estate enriching lives across the generations.
“The collaboration with Willow and Rose is a truly special partnership, as we share common values when it comes to caring for others. Our shared aim is to enabling individuals whatever their age to express themselves, be “free to be me” and find endless possibilities to experience meaningful moments each day.” Charlie Hoare MD.
For more information about Willow and Rose please visit their website: https://www.willowandrosenursery.co.uk/
Huntington House
Langham Court
