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/
We are so proud of the dementia-friendly living experience we have created thanks to the strong philosophy behind our care, how we’ve carefully designed every element of our extraordinary home and the wonderful, caring and warm staff we attract, hire and continually train.
An accredited Butterfly care home, Langham Court has always had a family-home feel, with our residents and team friends who care about each other, as much as you would in a traditional family.
There are no rotas, schedules or tick-box care plans at Langham Court. All our residents are “free to be me” – given the time, space and freedom to live exactly as they would like every day.
Living in households, with communal dining and open spaces indoors and out, banish all thoughts of old-fashioned traditional care homes – we couldn’t be more different.
With residents living communally, we prioritise nurturing authentic relationships and communication, which is so important for people living with dementia.
However, when it comes to personal space, we focus on creating an environment as close to home as possible. Each resident has their own room, which they can furnish with their own furniture, belongings and knick-knacks, living in familiar surroundings which encourages memories and a sense of home.
All residents can have their front doors painted in their favourite colour – just like in a real street – and each door has a knocker.
Returning to their rooms, residents can orient themselves by way of “memory boxes” mounted on the wall outside their front door.
These memory boxes are full of photos and trinkets of people and times important to the resident. Walk along any corridor, and you’ll see fantastic keepsakes from interesting lives lived well and pictures of much-loved family and friends.
On our last walk-round, we noted photos of old pets, memorabilia of fundraising campaigns led and jobs done with pride.
Within memory boxes, there’s always something to learn about each resident, always something to comment on, and always something to stimulate conversation and encourage reminiscence.
When residents step outside their door and go to one of our lounges or outside, they’ll walk past reminiscence areas full of – for example, pictures and items to do with travelling, sewing and gardening.
There’s a nurse’s office, the outside of which is decorated as a milliner. There’s a fascia of an old sweet shop, a travel corner with items residents past and present have brought in from the travels around the globe.
All these fascias, images and items are carefully chosen to mirror hobbies, experiences or moments our residents may have enjoyed in the past.
This becomes fertile ground for remembering, conversation, and a moment of connection and learning, which helps residents feel more understood and comfortable.
Residents can visit garden areas within our internal courtyard whenever they like. These areas are looked after partly by residents who take much pride in their gardening prowess and often have some little visitors to lend a hand.
There are also enclosed outdoor terraces where residents can walk, sit and look at our animals, either alone, with another resident or with a team member.
One resident whose job involved horses loves to spend summer days in his favourite sun trap, looking out across the grounds towards the lake and at the horses who live on our Estate.
“Langham feels like a family home. Photographs of the residents and staff are everywhere, as is the stuff of life – books, toys, instruments, puzzles, hats, musical instruments, and artwork. The team feel like family. There is lots of laughter and fun evidently going on. Very caring housekeeping staff stop and chat with residents and visitors alike. The philosophy seems to be kindness and interaction first, then doing whatever task is at hand next. Langham Court is of the best standard a care home could be, and I recommend it 100%.” – Ela S, family member
Langham Court is full of love, conversation, colour and joy. It’s an extraordinary place. If you’d like to learn more about our Estate and meet our fantastic team, please call us to arrange a tour of the grounds and homes.
For more information on what it means to be a Butterfly Care Home, please read this.
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.
Anyone who has visited Langham Court will have seen an array of themed areas along the corridors. These include travel corner with old fashioned suitcase and keepsakes from Africa, the crafting area along with a Singer sewing machine, as well as our old fashioned sweet shop complete with jars of treats.
Each has been added to prompt conversation and reminiscence, which is especially important for those people living with Dementia at the Estate.
As part of our ongoing commitment to continually enhance our care at Langham Court we have added a new wall mural, featuring a village shopping scene and are now planning a new focus on adding memorabilia from the 50’s or 60’s.
We are asking for donations of any items from this era, particularly which are linked to the topics of pets, sport and music as we’ve identified them as common interests among many of our current residents.
Please let us know if you have any household items that can be displayed on walls and shelves, like old vinyl records, vintage album cover posters, football team shirts, we would love them! We’ll use them to decorate areas around Langham Court to stimulate conversation and reminiscence.
Please call 01428 606 143 or drop us an email at langham@hlestate.co.uk
Here at The Huntingdon and Langham Estate, the emotional wellbeing of our residents is paramount. This ethos runs through our entire Estate and everyone who works within it, but is perhaps best exemplified in our activity organisers, who we call our Homemakers.
Our Homemakers are pivotal in making our residents feel like part of our family. They plan activities, outings and events, including creative pastimes, quizzes, games, seated exercises, musical performances and trips out in our minibus.
Our activities are not scheduled or set in stone. Instead, our Homemakers are on hand each day to use their experience, knowledge of each resident and their intuition to provide 1:1 or group activities tailored to the personalities and desires of the residents who are doing it.
All residents can enjoy whichever activity, conversation or session is being created at any particular time, come and go as they wish, suggest alternatives and request (and get) the activities they prefer to get involved in whenever they wish.
This is obviously unlike traditional settings where activities are at set times, may be inappropriate for some people, and can make other who aren’t involved feel left out and unstimulated.
Homemaker Claire explains, “When you’ve seen somebody who’s been briefly isolated and, you know, feeling separate and suddenly something different is going on and they’re part of a group, with somebody connecting with them, this is so essential for personal well-being.”
There is no such thing as a day in the life of our Homemakers – what there is, however, is a lot of heart, love and joy and a desire to know our residents, understand what makes them tick and what makes them happy, read the room and see what’s needed.
The role of a homemaker on the estate is about so much more than just providing activities, keeping residents occupied or paying lip service to fun. It’s about creating an environment that nurtures emotional well-being, spreads joy, and helps residents feel safe, comfortable, and connected.
And what happens when the activity chosen just isn’t going down well? That’s when each Homemaker can use their own go-tos to engage, calm or activate the room as needed.
For Homemaker Claire, that’s music. “My go-to is music because even if somebody is agitated, you sing a song you know they like, they cannot help but join in. And it’s one of those things that can be calming, but it can also be uplifting. It’s quite adaptable.”
Every Homemaker has the ability and encouragement to play to their strengths or passions – whatever they may be. We want all our Homemakers to bring their whole selves to work.
We know that everybody has something to offer. It’s about bringing your whole self and your heart, doing what comes naturally and not being afraid to do that and create joy, fun and happiness in a spontaneous way.
Over to Claire again, “There are a lot of people (in the Estate) who like the outdoors, like nature, and we’re really lucky to have these grounds. So sometimes connecting with nature and the green and the being outside and sometimes we’ll go and sit in the sunshine, and that brings a real sense of joy to people. And it’s those little moments, those connections, those conversations, those little bits of joy that make up the fabric of someone’s life.”
To watch the full interview with our MD Charlie and homemaker Claire, please click here.
Our ethos of creating meaningful moments every day, doesn’t end with those living on the Estate, we also understand the impact our care can have on the emotional wellbeing of friends and family of a loved one living at Langham Court, giving comfort through providing the best standard of personalised care we can.
“The staff feel like family, no uniforms or name badges, they are very kind and patient. There is lots of laughter and fun evidently going on. Everywhere is kept beautifully clean by very caring housekeeping staff, who stop and chat with residents and visitors alike, the philosophy seems to be kindness and interaction first, then doing whatever task is at hand next. The gardens are beautiful, with views towards trees and fields of sheep and horses. The gardens have secure fences so the residents can walk in them safely. There are lots of engaging activities for residents, plus a day centre twice a week that residents can join in with. The food is great, prepared freshly and daily on the premises. Langham is of the best standard a care home could be and recommend it 100%.” – Ela S, resident’s relative.
As a team we are like an extended family and are always open to welcoming new people into our circle, so if you’d like to learn more about being a Homemaker and creating joy for our residents, please visit our website or complete our register your interest .
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.
Researching care homes can be difficult, as they can appear to be all much of a muchness. However, all you need to know about life at Langham Court is this: we love our residents, they love us, and we’re all one big family here.
Visit us, and the affection is palpable. It’s obvious in how we all chat together and how those living here talk with us. It’s intrinsic to the day-to-day life of our Estate. And it’s in the very fabric of our being – from why we were founded and have grown, to how we have embedded a strong framework with love and personalised care at our core.
Let’s take it back to the beginning.
Our story begins in 1978 when Marylin Hoare founded one of the country’s first nursing care homes. At the time, she was a Surrey-based nurse – so passionate about offering high-quality nursing care that she decided to open a luxury but affordable 24-hour nursing care home.
But Marylin didn’t want the replicate the perfunctory care she saw in other places – she wanted love and relationships to be at the core of her home, just as they were in family homes around the country.
Today, the Hoare family continue to run our Estate, which now has two care homes. Marilyn and her husband Geoff still live on the Estate, while their son Charlie is now the MD and ensures Marylin’s high standards of care are still lovingly provided.
Importantly, our way of working is now codified and enshrined in the Butterfly Approach.
Developed by Meaningful Care Matters, the Butterfly approach is built around a person-centred care culture where people are ‘free to be me’.
There are very few specialist care homes where the approach is focused on meaningful care – a surprise if you consider that everyone’s experience of living with dementia is different.
With such a variety of experiences and specialist care needs, there shouldn’t be a one size fits all approach to dementia care. And that’s why we value emotional intelligence and domestic household living, honouring the core belief that every person living with dementia has a unique story which has meaning and that matters.
All of our team demonstrate these core values, and we invest in them to make sure they always provide the very best possible loving care. Because of this, we live and breathe the Butterfly care culture through our family-run home and family-style care.
We care for individuals, their personal needs and emotions, enabling our team to access the interior world of all our residents. But what does that look like in practice?
Team members offer every resident the time and space to be themselves. We connect with everyone individually– getting to know them, their families and what gives them joy.
We understand what matters most to everyone on any one day, so all care is personalised in the moment.
Every hour of every day, we empower our residents to live as they did independently. We bring their world into their daily life at Langham Court, stimulating them and building on their mental agility, encouraging them to continue pastimes or even take up new hobbies.
To do this well, our team are warm, caring and nurturing. They are also respectful, flexible and kind, enabling our residents to have a feeling of belonging and the ability to be spontaneous in the knowledge that their well-being and individuality are important to us.
What is unique about Langham Court is our family-style dining which encourages conversation and a community feel. At the same time, individual doors to bedrooms mean privacy is there when residents need it.
We’re so happy with our recent extension, designed with specialist dementia living in mind, with three new day rooms with different views over the Estate and access to the enclosed outdoor patio area or sun terrace.
“Langham Court is set up as separate households that all share dining areas, offering small-scale living within self-contained communities. Residents within these households tend to gravitate towards the shared areas in the day in much the same way as you would at home, to dine together and spend time with one another, but in a way that avoids the mass dining experience of many other care homes.” – Charlie, our MD.
Wherever you are in Langham Court, you’ll see and feel the love. If you’d like to learn more about our Estate and meet our fantastic team, please call us to arrange a tour of the grounds and homes.
For more information on what it means to be a Specialist Dementia Care Home and how to select one for your needs, please read this article.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Two Healthcare Assistants from The Huntington & Langham Estate are the first to be enrolled in their new Nursing Associate Apprenticeship with Winchester University.
Justyna Green and Jean-Paul Rappe both currently work as Team Leaders in Huntington House and Langham Court respectively, having already obtained their NVQ Level 3 qualifications.
They will continue working in their existing roles during their two-year training while also undertaking part-time placements in other settings, from hospitals to prisons, to gain a wide variety of clinical skills.
The Huntington & Langham Estate, which celebrates its 45th anniversary this year, has a long history of supporting their staff in career progression. Charlie Hoare, Managing Director, says
‘I grew up in Huntington House and remember one of the Healthcare Assistants, who would also babysit my sister and I, leaving to train as a nurse at the Royal Surrey County Hospital and going on to become a Theatre Nurse assisting in surgeries. She was always so grateful to my mum for giving her that opportunity, and I have been in awe of the steady stream of people undertaking similar career progression ever since. I am incredibly proud of everyone on the Estate who finds the time and energy to undertake qualifications alongside the incredible work they already do’.
Two further members of the Estate’s team have recently started degree equivalent NVQ Level 5 qualifications, and many more are enrolled in Levels 2 and 3.
The Estate’s management team are always looking into different ways to support people to progress their careers.
Charlie Hoare adds
‘The beauty of apprenticeships is that you get paid to attend training rather than having to take time out to go back to college’.
If you are interested in a career within social care, the team at The Huntington & Langham Estate would be only too happy to discuss the options with you.
The weather has been magnificent this month for outdoor activities including gardening with grandchildren visiting the Estate, trips to the shops, Bird World and the wonderful Petersfield lake.
For more news on life across the Estate read our monthly Newsletter
Huntington House
Langham Court
