Date:  October 2006

RICHMOND COVENTRY LAUNCHES CONVALESCENCE SUITES:

Heart Patient Delighted with Excellent Accommodation and Care

Richmond Villages, developers and operators of luxury retirement villages, has launched a range of serviced (hotel-style) convalescence apartments at its Richmond Coventry development, Bedworth in a bid to end the hospital–home–hospital or ‘revolving door’ problem associated with recovery following illness or surgery.

Kate Simcock, operations director for Richmond Villages says:  “We have wonderful facilities at Richmond Coventry and more and more people are saying that if they could have come somewhere like this to convalesce it would be preferable to going into a nursing home.  While many nursing homes and rehabilitation hospitals are good, they are not for everyone. 

“For those who live alone, or whose families cannot, for various reasons, care for relatives after a hospital stay, our serviced suites provide a good alternative, offering peace of mind to those who use them, secure in the knowledge that all their needs will be catered for within a comfortable environment. 

”We are also acutely aware of the ‘revolving door’ problem, where patients have to leave hospital sooner than they’d like to free up much needed beds; many find they simply cannot manage at home alone.  Quite often they become poorly again, perhaps because they have not been eating properly or through trying to do too much.  Unfortunately, they often have to be readmitted to hospital.”

With first class facilities and full domiciliary care already in place at Richmond Coventry, the provision of convalescent serviced apartments, which can also be used for respite care, was a logical progression.

The self-contained apartments have been tastefully appointed and comprise a bedroom, bathroom, galley kitchen and a sitting room equipped with a flat screen TV and DVD player.  Guests using the apartments have access to all the facilities in this attractively designed village, including aromatherapy treatments, a bowling green, café, restaurant and a hairdressing salon. 

Convalescing guests can be of any age, not just those who are retired, and can choose to have as much assistance as they require, from help with day-to-day living to assistance with their care needs.

Mrs Margaret Gee, who is in her mid-70s, had a heart operation earlier this year and booked herself into Richmond Coventry for two weeks convalescence.  Mrs Gee says:  “Hospitals have to discharge patients as soon as possible and this is particularly worrying when they are elderly.  I do some hospital and post-hospital visiting and it worries me to see people trying to cope on their own when they go home; it is often much harder than they realise.

“I wanted to convalesce where I knew I would be looked after and where I could concentrate on simply getting better.  I was absolutely delighted with Richmond Coventry.  My apartment was lovely and the care excellent.  I had my meals brought to me in the apartment for the first couple of days while I was recuperating, but after that I ate lunch in the restaurant every day. 

“Yes, you pay for your accommodation and whichever level of care you choose, but I believe it is well worth it; for me it was a great way to recover from a major operation.  More people should consider convalescing this way.  Perhaps families who can’t visit a relative every day might club together to fund a spell in a convalescent apartment; it might be more practical and they would feel reassured their loved one was in good hands.”

Convalescent serviced apartments at Richmond Coventry are priced at £600 per week.  This includes an initial assessment to determine the level of care required, the apartment with TV and DVD, all food, laundry and housekeeping services, transport to hospitals/doctors/clinics, social activities, 24 hour emergency response via call systems and support.   Domiciliary care packages are tailored to suit individual needs and start at £31.30 per week.

For further information on convalescent or respite care at Richmond Coventry or on any of Richmond Villages’ retirement villages around the UK, please call the information desk on telephone: 02476 380630 or visit www.richmond-villages.com

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Ref: RV29/2006

Happy patient. Mrs Margaret Gee, now fully recovered from a recent heart operation, and impressed with her two-week stay in a convalescence suite at Richmond Coventry.

Information: 01285 658844

Convalescence apartments and gardens at Richmond Coventry where first class facilities enable the best possible recuperation after periods of illness or after an operation. 

Information: 01285 658844

Inside a serviced (hotel-style) convalescence apartment at Richmond Coventry.  Each apartment has a tastefully decorated bedroom, living room, galley kitchen and bathroom as well as being fitted with an emergency call system.

Information: 01285 658844