FAQs
Moving to a care home is a big decision. We have answered the most frequently asked questions below to help you make a more informed decision.
The questions and answers below relate to our care home facilites, food and dining, resident bedrooms, and home activities.
We highly recommend that potential residents and their families visit the care home to see the facilities in person. That way any further specific questions can be answered by our care home team.
GENERAL CARE HOME QUERIES
Nursing homes can be either run by the local council or are privately owned. Whether privately or state-owned, both are governed by the Care Quality Commission.
There should be no difference, the care being delivered should be of the highest quality as possible.
Most homes will take residents who are either privately funded or socially funded. There is a mixture of both at Mansfield Care and Fairview Care.
To look after the frail and elderly and making their lives as fulfilling as possible.
In Scotland, all services which offer 24-hour care are registered as Care Homes, where there is nursing care, this will be added to the category i.e. Care Home with nursing.
When your relative needs help to look after themselves, this is the time to go into care.
At Mansfield Care Group our fees include everything as standard – accommodation, food, and care.
For anything additional that is ‘out of the norm’, a fee may be charged.
Each care home has an wellbeing coordinator who discusses personal preferences with each resident. Residents are regularly consulted on what kind of activities and entertainment they’d like to see at their home. From group sessions to individual activities, we cater for a wide range of abilities.
Home exercises are the one constant to keep everyone moving and healthy.
Read more about home activities here.
Most of our homes have outdoor areas and gardens for getting out daily when the weather allows, some of residents like to get hands on by helping with the gardening and planting.
Residents are encouraged to take part in outings organised by each home, such as trips to garden centres, theatres, shopping and the seaside. We encourage residents to do what they wish, we are there to support the wants and desires of each individual.
TV and the internet are available to all residents in every one of our care homes. There are many other activities available within each care home too as an alternative.
All our homes offer choices, and every resident is able to create a routine that suits them and will be fully supported by the home care team.
Good food is vital to health and wellbeing and is important to us and our residents. Our food is homely, nutritious, seasonal and varied, cooked fresh in-house by our resident chefs.
Menus are discussed and chosen with residents and are on a four-week rotation.
Read more about our food and dining here.
Generally, you are welcome to visit at any time out-with mealtimes. If you wish to eat with your relative you may do so in your relatives’ room.
Our staffing levels are dependent on the support needs of the residents living in each individual home.
We do not have any ‘death fees’ or charges.
We have a 28-day notice period.
We strive to create a traditional, homely, warm, friendly, fun and safe environment for all our residents.
Visit our individual home pages for more details about them and their facilities.
The Care Inspectorate inspect us regularly, our grades are good, but they don’t tell the whole story.
We strongly suggest that before you commit to a care home, you visit the home in person. This will allow you to see first hand what the home is like and ask any questions you have to put your mind at ease.
No. Mansfield Care Group only care for residents within our care homes.
You may request an information pack either by email, website enquiry, telephone our Head Office, or by contacting the individual care home directly.
At the end of week 6, your social worker will attend a meeting in the home with you and your family to discuss if the placement is successful.
You are encouraged to come for a visit before you move in, meet the care home staff, join us for lunch - get to know us. We appreciate that this is a big decision for you, our care home manager can discuss your needs and wishes which will allay any anxieties before you move in.
All of our homes have full disabled access.
The layout and access is different in each home. You should discuss your requirements when contacting the home. If you decide to visit you will be able to assess for yourself if the home is suitable for your particular needs.
All of our homes have staff with the skills and experience to care for you, including palliative care.
Each home offers communal areas for eating and activities, as you would expect, they also have outside spaces with some homes having beautiful large gardens to sit out in.
Each care home is unique, but they are the residents’ home; we offer a homely experience, not a hotel experience. Every resident is able to create a routine that suits them.
Each of our homes have beautiful gardens and patios that are well maintained and a joy to be in when the weather suits. The homes hold garden parties in the summer ,and some of our more green-fingered residents like to help with the planting.
Our homes have some of the best views in Scotland!
From the rolling Eildon Hills in Melrose, overlooking a links Open Championship golf course in Troon, the famous River Tweed in Peebles, to historic buildings including Edinburgh Castle, and much more besides - why not come and visit one of our homes for yourself.
FOOD & DINING
Yes, residents can choose where they eat in the home. We encourage residents to get together in our dining rooms at least once a day for a shared lunch to socialise and catch up on all the news. Other meals and snacks can be enjoyed in the lounges or in the comfort of their own room.
There’s always a choice of main meals, as well as salads and other options if you’d prefer something else.
Our chefs and staff are fully aware of all special diets and these are fully accommodated in all of our homes.
The chef will discuss your food likes and dislikes on admission. Menus are discussed and chosen with residents and are on a four-week rotation.
Support during meals is provided as are adaptations to crockery and cutlery to help maintain independence.
Snacks are available throughout the day and evening for residents to access, these include morning coffee, afternoon tea, supper snacks and home baking.
Times vary and depend on the home and the routines of the residents who live there.
RESIDENT BEDROOMS
Not all of our bedrooms have an en-suite, but most do.
There can be phones installed in resident rooms. However, most of our residents now use mobile phones and choose to use them instead of a land line.
We encourage residents to bring in pieces of furniture to make their room homely and comfortable. Only the room size dictates how much furniture the resident can bring.
This of course depends on each home and the size of the each residents room. Not all our homes are purpose-built, but some of the traditional Scottish stone villas they have extremely large rooms.
We recommend viewing the care home in-person to see the available layouts and storage options.
HOME ACTIVITIES & ENTERTAINMENT
We believe that our residents should continue with any hobbies and interests that they desire. Our staff are there to help and encourage the resident with their individual pursuits.
All our homes have dedicated wellbeing coordinators.
All of our staff are encouraged to engage with the wide range of activities and entertainment each home offers. From the domestic staff helping with armchair aerobics, to the chef holding baking classes, or the home manager taking a resident for a stroll along the river, the whole care team are on hand to make each home an enjoyable experience.
Our homes love a celebration. We take every opportunity to celebrate occasions including birthdays, anniversaries and religious holidays such as Easter and Christmas. Sporting events such as Wimbledon are a great excuse for a glass of fizz and some strawberries and cream and royal weddings give us cause to bring out the flags and bunting and have a party.
Our homes receive regular visits from a variety of entertainers and interest groups. Singers, musicians, nursery children, school choirs, pet therapy, reminiscence groups and even Santa at Christmas!
Given the importance of exercise, we have daily exercise activities lead by our wellbeing coordinator and home team including armchair aerobics to music. In addition, we have visits from local trainers from the community to lead exercises such as Pilates.
We hold weekly meetings where the residents choose what they want to do for the next week and what outings they would like to go on.
Residents are supported to go on outings. Popular excursions include shopping, theatre, exhibitions, barge cruises, Edinburgh festival shows, trips to the seaside for ice cream or a bag of chips, local pub visits, and much more.
Others are supported to keep up with personal interests such as the local library, or going to rugby matches, we find out how we can support your wishes to ensure you enjoy life in your new home.
