Rochdale’s care homes open their doors for national event

A selection of Rochdale’s care homes will be throwing their doors open to the public this Friday (20 June) as part of National Care Homes Open Day.

The day aims to challenge some of the negative perceptions of care homes by asking members of the public to come and see for themselves what they are all about.

Homes taking part in Rochdale borough include Briarmede Care Home in Middleton, Half Acre House in Rochdale and Oaklands House in Milnrow.

At the Oakland Care Centre, on Bury Road, Rochdale an all day garden party will take place with food and tombola stalls, planting rose bushes, face painting, a bouncy castle and pampering sessions. Oaklands House in Milnrow will also be hosting a garden party throughout the day.

A selection of activities will be taking place at Briarmede Care Home on Rochdale Road, Middleton from 2pm, including a tombola.

Half Acre House on Roch Valley Way, Rochdale marks 25 years as a care home this year and will celebrate by staging a tea party on the day between 2 and 4pm where the Bury Veterans’ Choir will perform.

Visitors can look forward to cheese and wine tasting, a tombola and singer from 1 to 4pm at Beech House on Manchester Road, Heywood.

At Lakeside Home on Smithy Bridge Road, activities will take place in the afternoon, followed by a singer and buffet dinner.

In Rochdale, all care homes are inspected annually with specially trained staff looking at a range of different things including the care and welfare of residents in the home, the quality of the food provided, medication management and the type of activities on offer. More frequent inspections will take place if concerns have been raised about a particular home. Care homes are also inspected by the Industry Regulator, the Care Quality Commission.

Councillor Iftikhar Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Adult care, said: “Care Homes Open Day is a great way of showing people across the country that, while some homes have attracted negative headlines, the majority of them are great places to live. I’d encourage as many people as possible to come along and find out for themselves what care homes are really like, meet people, take a look round and ask as many questions as you want. It’s what this event is all about.”

Anyone who is looking at a care home for a loved one is advised to take advice from their social worker, seek recommendations from family and friends and check the home’s rating on the Care Quality Commission website at www.cqc.org.uk

Anyone who has a complaint or comment to make about any care home in Rochdale borough is advised to speak to the care home manager or contact the council on 01706 926718. The Care Quality Commission can be contacted on 03000 61 61 61.