About Us
Oaken Holt is a complete environment for the retired and elderly. Situated in the grounds of the estate formerly owned by Lord Abingdon, it is flanked by Wytham Woods and commands magnificent views of the Oxfordshire countryside and yet is only three miles from the city centre. The twenty three acre landscaped grounds afford a perfect setting for this imaginative concept which provides support and assisted living to a community who wish to retain their privacy and autonomy. Oaken Holt is privately owned and the proprietors take active daily responsibility for the running of the Complex.
The beginnings of a complete environment for the retired and elderly first came about in 1984 when the original mansion was opened, initially as a Nursing Home.
The building of Parklands sheltered accommodation followed and consists of twenty nine one and two bedroomed flats and bungalows. Designed to a high specification and essentially for independent living all occupants have the comfort of knowing that each property is fitted with emergency call bells and that the services of Oaken Holt are close by.
The completion of Parklands was followed by the addition of a twenty two bedroomed Nursing extension to the original house. This afforded not only further accommodation but the opportunity to execute a massive refurbishment programme to re-instate luxury and elegance to the mansion and provide twenty two rooms, suites and apartments suitable for Residential Care.
Albeit that, seemingly, all accommodation and care choices were available it became increasingly obvious that there existed a ' grey area' between conventional sheltered and residential. It was at this time that the idea of ' The Coach House' first took root. Completed in January 1994 this luxurious addition to the complex provides Close Care.
With the exception of Parklands, all Oaken Holt is staffed twenty four hours per day and a qualified nurse is on duty at all times. The Doctors from the local practice visit regularly and are always on call. The staff are chosen very carefully for their thoughtful and caring qualities. Following acceptance for employment they undergo initial training not only in physical care but in the philosophies and policies of Oaken Holt and the importance of upholding them. This training is ongoing and updated regularly with performance monitored and assessed throughout their employment.
Aims & Objectives
The problems and fears of aging are varied and complex. To enter an environment that provides support and assisted living is, for many, an admittance that they can no longer cope for themselves on a day to day basis either through physical restriction or possibly due to short term memory loss or a degree of confusion. This does not have to mean that life is over, merely the beginning of a new phase. With sympathetic encouragement and support the positive benefits can be brought to the fore resulting in a happy full and contented life.
The main aim of the Management and staff at Oaken Holt is to respect each individual's rights to privacy, dignity and autonomy and to provide a high standard of care and accommodation. To ensure, as far as is practically possible,that needs and wishes are catered for and to provide an environment that each Resident will consider 'home' , never to institutionalise or make a person feel that they are 'in care'.
Staff actively work towards encouraging individuals to talk and reminisce, through this medium it is often possible to recreate a familiar and favourite pastime within new surroundings, i.e. gardening, painting, bridge parties, concerts etc; new relationships are built and friendships made between people who share similar interests and are from the same age group.
The main objective is for each Resident to feel that they have settled happily into a new home and have become an essential part of a new community and like all of us would dislike being away for too long; whether because the birds would not be fed, the garden would be neglected, the concert trip forfeited or simply because the security of home would be missed .
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