Local MP to visit Great Missenden care home on National Care Home Open Day 2015

Friday 19 June

The Rt Hon Cheryl Gillan, MP for Chesham and Amersham, will tour the award-winning facilities of Woodlands Park Care Centre in Great Missenden on Friday 19 June as part of Care Home Open Day 2015.

In keeping with the spirit of Care Home Open Day - a UK-wide initiative aimed at showing local people what excellent care homes in their community are really like and challenging misconceptions about residential care - Mrs Gillan will have the opportunity to chat with residents and members of staff, hear their stories and find out what Woodlands Park is all about. Her visit will start at 10.00am.

The sounds of music will fill Woodlands Park during the afternoon led by a special performance by a group of sixth form music students from the local Misbourne school at 1.30pm, followed by a session from popular local singer Lee Rivers, all rounded off by cream cakes!

“Here at Woodlands, we dispel many of the myths around care homes – we’re about as far away from an ‘institutional’ care setting as you could imagine, with residents enjoying the same freedom to move around an exceptionally beautiful building as they have enjoyed in their own homes before they were affected by dementia,” comments centre manager, Marie Shouler.

“Many family members have their own concerns and worries about putting their loved ones into a care setting, and it is a difficult decision to make, but so often they come to look around here and are overwhelmed by the warmth and friendly nature of the home – and how it feels more like a luxury retreat than a care centre. New residents settle quickly and families feel reassured that they are in the best possible hands to enjoy the highest quality of life whilst living with dementia.”

Indeed, Marie believe that this is why National Care Home Open Day is so important - it focusses attention on the fact that care homes can be happy, homely, welcoming places, filled with friendly, interesting, caring people. Marie has been working hard with local businesses to improve the understanding of how to help those living with dementia, and is also keen to encourage members of the public to befriend a resident or think about volunteering.

Woodlands Park provides residential expert care for older people with a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, or other forms of dementia and moderate to high confusion, and was recently awarded the Dignity and Wellbeing in Care award from Buckinghamshire County Council.  Visitors are welcome to look round any time, no appointment necessary.

Woodlands Park is located on Aylesbury Road, just outside the village of Great Missenden in Buckinghamshire. It is part of the Forest Healthcare group of homes, which includes 13 individual homes throughout the South East of England. For more information on Woodlands Park, please visit www.foresthc.com or call 01494 862535.

ENDS

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Sam Orange or Jay Commins

Pyper York Limited

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