New nursing home commemorates its first resident

Company news

Apr 05, 2011

A lounge now bears the name of the 92-year-old, who is the first occupant of the home in Cranleigh Avenue. The Brenda Osborne room is a quiet area where residents can choose to go and read or look out at the garden in peace.

Daughter Deborah Manghan said: "Alzheimer’s disease is the cruellest of diseases, but since Mum moved into Harry Sotnick House, I feel a great deal happier and relaxed, because I know she is in a safe and beautiful environment and is being looked after by people who really care."

Brenda Osborne was left to bring up her three children on her own – Deborah, Mark and Karen – when her husband died aged 34. As well as caring for her family, she worked as a senior manager at Cosham BT exchange.

When she moved into the new state-of-the-art home in Portsmouth, her family were amazed at the quality of care and comfort they found.
Deborah said: "The staff here are so caring. They treat her like an individual and give her all the time she wants to chat and join in activities and day-to-day life in the home.

"They are also good with us – they always keep us up to date with Mum’s health without using jargon and we still feel a real part of her care team. When we came to look at the home, my 11-year-old daughter Emily had prepared questions she wanted to ask, and Gary the manager listened to her and answered them all."

The new home is a joint project between Portsmouth City Council and leading provider Care UK, which has a 25-year contract to provide services there. The home features the latest innovations in elderly and dementia care. Its 90 residents will enjoy facilities such as a café, hair salon, shop, treatment room and multi-faith room.

Home Manager Gary Briggs said: "Care UK has developed the concept of Activity Based Care (ABC) which operates throughout its homes. ABC is focused on keeping residents active, in meaningful ways, to maintain their physical health and mental well-being. That, along with great staff and excellent staff training, enables us to offer the high levels of service and care we do."

The accommodation is arranged into six small groups of 15 or 16 bedrooms and, to create a more homely and intimate atmosphere, each group has its own dining and lounge area. In addition, there are smaller lounges which can be used by residents on their own or to entertain visitors and small kitchens where people can make drinks for themselves and their visitors.

Care UK’s clinical lead Lynda Kirkland said: "It is crucial to help older people keep their life skills. Our teams ensure residents have all the support they need to stay active – that includes dressing, showering and getting around the home. It not only makes it feel as if they are in their own home, but it keeps them as independent as possible which is good for their spirits."