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Overview of the work of the Queen Alexandra Hospital Home
The Queen Alexandra Hospital Home is a National Charity which cares for disabled ex-Service Men and Women, providing both permanent and respite residential care. The Home has a long-established reputation for providing multi-skilled nursing care in a friendly and caring environment. The Home also has a specialised capability for the rehabilitation of those with an Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) and is well placed to care for those with complex medical conditions and degenerative neurological conditions.
What age are the residents ?
While many of our residents are at retirement age and served within the British Armed Forces, we also have a number of younger residents who have a military background. Our younger residents are here through accidents or illness and require long-term nursing or rehabilitation. Pur residents vary in age from 23-97.
How many residents are at QAHH? And what is the ratio of carers to residents?
QAHH has places for sixty residents at one time. The ratio of staff to carers is 1 resident to 1.5+ care staff. This does increase depending on the need of the current residents as some of our residents receive one to one care on a full time basis.
Costs
As a charity we subsidise our nursing care fees in order to make our high quality services accessible to as many ex-Service personnel as possible. Care fees start at £695 per week (low-dependency nursing) to stay at QAHH. The rest of the cost is met through voluntary income generated by legacies, donations and fundraising activities.
The financial situation of each resident varies and our fee system works on a case-by-case basis. For more information it is advisable to speak to Katie Holmes (Resident Admissions Secretary).
Why is the cost of this care not met by Social Services, NHS or other Government body?
These services may contribute to the cost of providing our residents with both long term and respite care. However, the true cost of providing the full range of support that our residents need is more than we can claim.
What is Acquired Brain Injury?
An acquired brain injury (ABI) is an injury to the brain that has happened after birth, following a period of normal development. It could be the result of an accident, illness such as an infection, Cerebral episode, tumor or poisoning. ABI can affect a person physically, but can also change the personality and behaviour of an individual.
The Queen Alexandra Hospital Home Charity (QAHH) has a long heritage associated with the in-house provision of high – quality care and support for disabled ex-Service men and their dependents. We are not a statutory provider and we are able to lead the field associated with physical and other forms of care for disabled people because we are free from many of the constraints that beset the public sector today. Working in the gaps between health and social services, this charity offers a range of appropriate solutions for the most needy of our disabled people, many of whom have served this country at the most difficult time and with little thought for personal loss or gain.
Without the support and generosity of individuals, companies and trusts, we simply would not be able to continue providing high quality nursing care and rehabilitation for disabled ex-Service men and women. We need to raise more than £1 million a year to provide those who have served Britain with the quality of care, comfort and independence that they deserve.
This type of provision is not normally available within the public sector and yet it is a fundamental part of our approach to care for disabled people and their carers. However long a person is with us an individual needs assessment is undertaken and regularly reviewed, always ensuring that appropriate levels and types of care and support are applied.
The services we provide include the following components of a comprehensive and tailored rehabilitation programme:
Physiotherapy
Our experienced and in – house physiotherapists help the residents improve their flexibility and lead more active lives. It would be true to say that many of our people suffer from multiple disabilities affecting mobility. Physiotherapy is an important part of the rehabilitation package since it supports quality of life and the day to day enjoyment of activities so necessary to well-being.
Occupational therapy
Residents can learn new skills (or re-learn basic, everyday skills) and take up hobbies, for example learning to use the Internet and email, which can help them stay in touch with their families. We take care to include as many practical activities as possible because they help residents to enjoy some of the tasks and hobbies they associate with everyday life. Our residents are able to cook safely using a fully adapted training kitchen with our one to one support, make small cakes and other items to be enjoyed at planned meals or for more special events like birthdays or visits from family members. Painting, crafts, model making are also popular and these activities help to build and to maintain hand–eye co-ordination.
Social and recreational activities
Residents participate in a wide range of leisure activities and social events such as the annual barbecue for residents and their families – the guest of honour this year was Dame Vera Lynn DBE CB. They also enjoy lots of outings, from rugby at Twickenham to tea parties at Buckingham Palace. Those less able to travel may participate in regular internal events and we are working to develop this element of our work once funding has been identified.
Future Plans
The central tenet of our purpose (to provide nursing care for disabled ex-Service Men) remains the same as when QAHH was founded. However, in other respects much has altered as we respond to the changing needs and expectations of ex-Service personnel. For example, we are preparing to meet the needs of younger people, who may have served in recent or current conflicts, and we have recently opened our doors to ex-Service Women, changes made possible by the opening in autumn 2005 of a new annexe. This building will provide 22 en-suite rooms, state-of-the-art physiotherapy and occupational therapy facilities and, we believe, will appeal to younger residents and women.
If you can't find what you are looking for please don't hesitate to call Katie Holmes - Admissions Secretary on 01903 213458 - extension no. 44. Alternatively you can email katie-holmes@qahh.org.uk |
