Olivemede offers accommodation to 33 older people, including older people with low/medium stages of dementia. The accommodation is provided on two floors. All bedrooms have ensuite following a major improvement project, and are regularly maintained to a high standard.

Residents have access to the communal lounges and dining room. There are lounges on each floor including dining facilities. All rooms have a telephone line and nurse call system. Large garden areas surround the home, with an open-plan patio area. The gardens are well kept, with a gardener in attendance once a week.  A hairdresser visits the home twice a week and has her own specially adapted hairdressing room within the home. A professional chiropodist also visits on a regular basis to provide foot care for residents.

Olivemede has an attached Daycare centre, which is used weekdays by the local community. All residents are welcome to use this facility that provides daily activities, socialising and entertainment.

An Activity Co-ordinator provides further personal activity, stimulation and group sessions for those that have hobbies that they would like to pursue. We can also offer one-to-one time, which could be a walk or reading or personal development. An activity programme is implemented to vary the choice and rotated to include everyone’s personal choice. Residents and their families/friends are encouraged to join in, but their wishes are respected if they decline.

Prospective service users are encouraged to visit as much as possible before a decision is made on whether Olivemede will become their new home. We can offer short stays, or a temporary stay of 1 week so you can get to know staff and the home and see how we deliver the services we advertise. This is often helpful in making such an important step. All new placements enter on a 28-day trial period in order for them to adjust to their new surroundings. Day care and respite care is offered and encouraged.

Comprehensive Care Plans are created for each resident, (including our resident budgie, Rainbow) with input from both the resident and their families to meet their individual requirements. This covers a range of needs such as dietary, environmental, spiritual, physical, emotional, religion etc. The care hours provided are above the care hours required for the residents to ensure that they are not rushed in any way and the care staff have adequate time to spend with them. Staff are always on hand to help and to have a "Chat" as many of our residents enjoy this.

Residents have a phone line in their room so they are able to keep in contact with their friends and family. Staff are available to assist with writing letters if they find it difficult, we will post them too.

Olivemede has a team of domestic staff to ensure the home remains clean, comfortable and free from infection. All care staff are dedicated to providing a clean environment that is free from unpleasant odours and infection control procedures are adhered to. The Health and Safety Key Practitioner completes quarterly Health and Safety checks at the premises.

Olivemede has a dedicated cook who provides wholesome nutritional meals, which cater for many dietary needs and choices and have been issued a four-star rating from the food standards agency. We can offer a selection of meals, and if there is something that residents would like to see on the menu our cook will try her best to provide this. Currently we provide diets specifically for service users with diabetes and also allergies. Previously we have provided a diet to meet the ethnic needs of a service user and also a diet to meet the needs of a service user with a nut allergy. We will always try to accommodate visitors having a meal with their visiter(s) where possible.

Yaxley Health Centre, our local GP surgery, have allocated a named GP to the home, and weekly visits are held to review all service users prescribed medication and medical conditions. The Doctors and District nurses are very supportive of the needs of our residents. If we have any significant concerns regarding residents' health then we are able to call the practice and a Doctor will arrive within the same day. Residents comment on the quick medical assistance they receive when requested or required. We are able to talk to the Doctors on the phone for advice if a Doctors visit is not necessary.

We send annual questionnaires to the residents and their families, perform an annual quality assurance and have frequent regulation 26 visits throughout the year where service users are interviewed by senior management. All residents have yearly review meetings. where their views and opinions are encouraged.

Feedback from residents and their families has been extremely positive, and we are regularly told how happy they are to be at Olivemede, and pleased that they made the move to the care home. Relatives have commented that; “They are lovely staff and have a very positive attitude”, “they always ring me if they have concerns”, “all residents are very clean and well cared for – the manager and staff work very hard and deserve praise”.

We receive many thank you cards from relatives, reflecting the support and assistance from all staff during their relatives stay at Olivemede, such as;
 “We would like to thank you for the sympathetic care, help and support you gave to Mum”
“Appreciation of the work of the cooks and the food, and of course the activities she got round to – especially making the jam tarts”
“It was a difficult change from her home of 70 years, with its many family memories and her own. Your welcome and support were very appreciated by her, although never as good as her own home she really knew she was in the best place”
“Mum made many friends, and regarded you all as her friends, so many thanks for giving such a comfortable, caring ‘home-from-home’”

Visiting professionals often comment on the "homely atmosphere" Olivemede has, how cheerful and obliging the staff are, and our regulation 26 inspections reflect the good service we provide, as do our CQC reports.