Frequently Asked Questions

Yes of course, it is your room, so please bring ornaments, pictures, plants, family photographs, and a radio and TV. You can also have your own private phone line installed so you can talk to family and friends whenever you like. Please note that you will have to pay for the installation, line rental and the calls yourself....
If you bring any valuable items such as a picture or jewellery, you may wish to insure them separately.

If you own a small pet you may be able to bring it with you but you would be responsible for any vets fees etc. Please discuss this with the Registered Manager at the home.

Yes, most homes have local shops nearby. Staff will help you if you can’t manage on your own or you can go with a friend or relative.
In most homes, volunteers organise a shopping trolley where you can buy sweets and drinks, writing paper and small personal items. If you want a regular newspaper or magazine, staff will order this for you and you pay the bill each week. Organised shopping trips for small groups of residents are regularly arranged to local shopping centres such as Meadowhall and Crystal Peaks.

All SheffCare homes have a designated residents smoking room and smoking is allowed outside in the garden area.

Yes of course, this is your home. You can take visitors to your own room or can entertain them in one of the lounges. You are welcome to have visitors at any time. For safety purposes, visitors are required to sign in and out of the building.

Yes, the staff will be happy to organise this for you as it will need to be pre ordered. There will be a small charge made for the meal.

Each home is organised into several small self-contained units. This means that much of the time you would be living in a small group of about 10 - 15 residents. Each unit has its own lounge and dining-room, plus a kitchenette. This is in addition to the bigger communal areas and facilities that serve the whole home. You may also use your own room as a private sitting area if you wish.

SheffCare is proud of it’s well known reputation for commitment to high quality staff training. All staff undertake a basic company induction course prior to commencing work in the home. There is an expectation that all care staff will register for a relevant NVQ award within their first few months of work. A variety of regular in-house and external training courses are offered to meet all staff needs.

Yes, providing it is kept under control at all times and is not a risk to others.

Every staff member understands the importance of enabling each individual to continue practising their religion if they wish to.
Ministers of various faiths hold regular services in each home. You are of course welcome to continue to attend your usual place of worship. A staff member or volunteer may be available to accompany you.

Yes, at first there will seem to be a lot of people, but everyone is friendly and you should soon start to get to know different individuals.
You will be introduced to one staff member who will be your key worker. They will help to assess your particular needs and make sure that they are met, as well as giving extra support when they are on duty to help you settle in.

Friends and relatives are very welcome to take you out for a few hours or for the whole day. Naturally, the staff like to know when to expect you back so that they don’t worry unnecessarily. Longer visits to family or friends and holidays are not a problem but please notify the staff in advance.

Every room is fully furnished but you are very welcome to bring small pieces of furniture such as a favourite armchair or coffee table. If you wish to bring something larger, such as your own bed or a wardrobe, please discuss this with the Registered Manager at the home. They will do their best to accommodate your own things however we have to comply with Health and Safety, and Fire legislation.

If you already look after your own medicines, you will be encouraged to continue to do so. If this is not possible, specially trained staff will give them to you as your doctor prescribes.
Staff will make sure that your prescriptions are made up and delivered to the home by the local pharmacist.

There are no specific visiting times in any of our homes as we try to encourage relatives to continue with their usual visiting arrangements where ever possible. Children are always welcome when accompanied by a responsible adult but please remember this is a home for many frail, older people and we all need to respect their privacy.

Meal times are flexible and may vary between homes. You can have your meals in your room on request. We are very proud of our catering team who provide high quality meals in all our homes from an agreed company menu. The meals provide a varied and well balanced diet and there is always a choice of dishes. Every individual dietary requirement is catered for. Residents are actively involved in planning menus with catering staff who are always open to suggestions.
The day starts with breakfast which can be full or light, as you prefer. Lunch is the main meal of the day with a choice of hot and cold dishes. A lighter tea time menu of hot and cold choices is available. Supper is a lighter meal in the early evening with snacks and hot drinks offered routinely. In between times, hot and cold drinks are served, and a hot drink is always available before going to bed. You and your visitors are welcome to make yourself a drink and enjoy a biscuit at any time and a member of staff will assist you if you need any help.

Always tell a member of staff immediately. They will know what to do. There are staff on duty all the time, day and night.
All the bedrooms, lounges, toilets and bathrooms, are connected to a staff call system. In addition, someone from the local district nursing team visits each home regularly to give advice and support as well as any medical care that has been agreed to individuals.

If you are unhappy about any aspect of life in the home, please say so. It is your home and all the staff want it to feel like that. It doesn’t matter what the issue is, even if it’s something quite small.
To begin with, you could talk to your key worker or any other member of staff. If things aren’t sorted out quickly, please talk to the Registered Manager who will listen to your concerns and take appropriate action to resolve them.
If that doesn’t work, please contact the Chief Executive of SheffCare who will arrange for your concerns to be investigated quickly.

Please telephone (0114) 2213 222 or write to :
Chief Executive
SheffCare Limited
125 John St
SHEFFIELD
S2 4 QX

Each home organises a lively programme of activities. These can include games, arts and crafts, exercise, quizzes and bingo. Variety shows and theme evenings are arranged throughout the year and there are visits to local places of interest and summer outings to the coast.
Residents are involved in planning their own activities, so the programme varies according to their wishes. Each lounge has a television, video and stereo plus a good supply of library books, including many in large print. The books are changed regularly. We have an activities team that visits all the homes on a regular basis. They organise inter-home activities such as quizzes, domino championship matches, indoor skittles competitions and many more. When visiting the home please ask to see the activity notice board to see planned events.

Yes, providing we can still meet your care needs, your room will be kept locked for you until you return. If you stay in hospital for six weeks or more, your needs will be reviewed to see if the staff of the home can still give you the care you require on your return. The staff or your social worker will keep in contact with you and with the hospital staff so that they know how you are progressing and when you are likely to return to the home.

We can give no specific answer to this question as everyone has their own personal views and expectations on how they wish to live their life. However we know from experience that residents have regularly commented that they are never lonely and their relatives know they are safe and well cared for which helps them relax in their new home and they are able to enjoy life to their full potential.
Each home has its own brochure and statement of purpose. These will tell you more about life in that particular home.
You can be sure that the staff of each home run by SheffCare will provide, within the resources available, physical, emotional and social support and care of the highest quality. They will respect your individuality and your privacy at all times and they will make every effort to meet all your needs so that you can live a full and satisfying life with as much independence as possible.

Yes to both of these questions. Please speak to staff who will be able to discuss personal arrangements with you

Yes, arrangements have been made to ensure a qualified chiropodist visits people routinely, usually at 10-12 week intervals, as you would receive at home. If you wish to continue with other private arrangements, please discuss this with staff who will be happy to arrange this for you. However you will have to pay for the service.
All homes have a visiting dentist and optician however staff can arrange for you to visit your own dentist or optician if you prefer.

Yes, all the bedrooms are single rooms.

Yes, all your clothes will be machine-washed in the home’s own laundry facilities. This is included in the charges. If you prefer, a relative can wash your clothes for you. Whichever you choose, please make sure all your clothes are marked with your name to enable their quick return.
Dry-cleaning can be arranged, but is charged for separately.

If your own doctor is close enough, she or he will continue to look after you. If this is not possible, staff will help you choose a doctor nearer the home

Yes, on admission staff ask for contact details and specific information on when and who to contact in case of an emergency. All staff will follow this information and you will need to let them know of any changes you or your relative may wish to make.