What residents and families think of Belong...

"Internet access is one of the many benefits living in a modern village."
Mr. Stanway

The Belong Village is here to help people with dementia to remain part of the community in which they feel a sense of belonging.

This is achieved through providing a person-centred, bespoke and flexible portfolio of services that can respond to the needs of the person with dementia in a way that will maintain and enhance their lifestyle and well being.

Our Belong team members share a clear and positive vision for the care and support they provide, based on the Belong brand values and on understanding the needs of the person with dementia.

Key Features

We recognise that many factors influence the course of and experience of dementia, not least the influence of our staff on the well being and individual autonomy on the Person with dementia.

Our approach places emphasis on seeing and knowing the person first - because it is only by truly seeing and knowing the individual that we can recognise and respond to their needs.

Our trained support teams understand that the abilities of the person with dementia can fluctuate from day to day so they observe for subtle changes and work flexibly to ajust the level of support needed at any one time. By only stepping in when required, they can help individuals to hold onto their remaining abilities for longer.

All forms of behaviour are viewed as meaningful communication responses from the person with dementia and our support teams seek to understand what individuals are feeling and experiencing, and use this knowledge to inform and direct the support they provide.

Crucially important is the relationships we develop with relatives and others and the mutual support and benefits this provides in helping to maintain the individuals sense of self, and of being valued as a person. By listening, accepting and understanding the past and present experience of the person with dementia, we can help to divert their attention to more comforting thoughts or activity to alleviate any distress and enhance well-being.

Wherever you live within the Belong community and however much support the person with dementia needs, our dedicated and trained support teams will ensure that they and their families right to privacy is protected and that the support provided is reliable and respects the individuals wishes for their care.

'Home' is regarded as a safe haven, a place to retreat to from the outside world and a place of comfort and security. With this in mind, Belong have designed the village schemes to ensure that those who choose to live within one of the apartment or specialist households are afforded the same privacy and security. We therefore understand when a person wishes to remain 'at home' or wants to spend time in the privacy of their apartment or room within a household.

Our support teams will endeavour to support the wishes of the person with dementia so long as doing so is considered in their best interest and maintains their health and well-being, and that of the family members who are our partners in supporting them. Belong can apply sensitive and unobtrusive technology that maximises privacy, minimises uncecessary intrusion, but quickly alerts us when our support and assistance is required.

The personalisation of household bedrooms is encouraged so that the person with dementia is surrounded by familiar things that resonate with memories, bring pleasure and give rise to a sense of security that comes from feeling this is where you belong. We respect the person's room as their 'home' and this is where care is centred, with the communal living area of the household and the cnetral village facilities as their world, where the person with dementia is enticed because they are worthwhile places to be.