9.8
carehome.co.uk 122 reviews
Palliative &
End of Life Care
Caring for your loved one with dignity and compassion.
Included in Our Palliative Care
Multidisciplinary Team
24-hour care from an award-winning team of nurses, carers, and support staff led by a clinical manager.
Meaningful Activities
Therapeutic bedside activities for relaxation and comfort, including pet therapy and Namaste Care.
Wellbeing Support
Visits from community partners and faith leaders to support mental and spiritual wellbeing.
Detailed Care Planning
Sensitive conversations to discuss wishes for care, so that these can be honoured.
Practical Support
Kind and discreet help with daily tasks, such as washing, dressing, grooming and mealtimes.
Home Comforts
Elegant en-suite bedrooms personalised for comfort and familiarity, so it feels like home.
Our Approach To Care
At Water Mill House, we support our residents to lead meaningful lives, full of dignity and respect, no matter their age or health needs. Our care encompasses physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and practical support to live well.
This holistic approach extends throughout our residents’ lives with us, from the moment they move in to the days after they have passed away. We ensure their wishes are met, and the care delivered at the end of their life is dignified, aligned to their values and as comfortable as possible.
Guided by the knowledge of our residents’ needs and wishes, we work seamlessly with GP’s, hospice partners and other healthcare professionals to avoid unnecessary hospital admissions. We provide thoughtful bedside activities such as art therapy, gentle massage, pampering and pet therapy, as well as spiritual support from faith and community leaders.
What Our Families Say
Dad’s passing was peaceful, pain-free and dignified. The staff were awesome, so caring, kind and gentle. He passed away in a comfortable bed in a safe and secure and loving environment. I cannot praise and thank the staff and management of Water Mill House enough, it’s a truly caring family atmosphere.
Nigel
My mother spent the last few weeks of her life on the dementia floor. We were very impressed by the kindness and respect with which all the residents were treated. The way Mother (and we) were cared for at the end of her life was excellent. We are very grateful to all the staff that we can look back on this difficult time with the comfort of knowing that Mum was in the right place and with the right people around her.
Sue C
Resident’s daughter
My dearest Gran was a resident at Water Mill House for the last 2 years of her life. She was so happy there. The care and attention she received was out of this world. Everybody is treated with dignity and respect, you wouldn’t find a better home.
Oliver
Resident’s grandson
Gold Standards Framework
The Gold Standards Framework has accredited our home with a prestigious Platinum award. This independent accreditation, held since 2019, endorses providers who deliver ‘gold standard’ end of life care.
This recognises that emotional support is the cornerstone of exceptional care. Whether that’s space to listen, a shoulder to cry on, or practical bereavement advice, our care continues throughout the end of life journey and beyond.
Our team ensures family members feel understood and supported as they navigate this significant change in their lives. Where possible, we offer families the opportunity to spend time with their loved ones in their final days, providing accommodation, meals and refreshments during this time.
Namaste Care
Namaste Care is an integral part of our palliative care that creates moments of calm and connection. The internationally recognised therapy programme is rarely seen in care homes. It was originally designed in the United States more than 20 years ago to enhance the lives of people living with advanced dementia. It provides an immersive experience stimulating all five senses and uses sound, massage, aromatherapy, and calming lighting, to create a spa-like atmosphere.
Delivered in the privacy of a resident’s bedroom our team members bring comfort through the healing power of touch. Awe-inspiring sky-scapes and personalised photos and videos are displayed using a projector for a truly bespoke experience.
The sessions offer numerous benefits including pain relief, reduced anxiety, and improved sleep.
Looking for advice?
How Does Palliative & End of Life Care Work?
Palliative care is the specialist care given to someone with a life-limiting illness or terminal diagnosis. It is focused on managing the symptoms associated with serious illness, whilst enhancing quality of life, and supporting emotional and spiritual wellbeing.
Depending on someone’s needs, this type of care can be delivered at home, in a hospital, hospice, or care home like Water Mill House, where our multidisciplinary team is available night and day. Palliative care is beneficial for residents during the final years of their life, not just their last weeks or days.
Palliative care can be given at any stage of a serious illness, and can span the final years, months or days of someone’s life. It is often recommended when someone’s condition isn’t responding to medical treatment, or when symptoms or discomfort begin to impact their daily life.
It can be introduced as soon as the need for symptom relief or emotional support arises. Care can be delivered alongside other medical or complementary therapies, such as Namaste Care. While palliative care does not aim to cure, in our experience it can greatly enhance quality of life and provides comfort and support at this time.
We are available to chat to you in more detail about our palliative care services, and the activities and support we provide at Water Mill House. Alternatively, you can speak to your GP or primary healthcare professional who should be able to tell you about palliative care services in your local area. This may include support from district nurses and access to specialists, therapists or equipment. If your loved one is in a hospital, hospice or a care home, speak to their care team about the palliative care services available.
Choosing the right care home is one of life’s most important decisions. Speak to your GP, friends and family for recommendations. When visiting potential homes, it’s useful to consider:
- What training the team receives
- Is the care home accredited for the quality of its service by the Gold Standards Framework
- Whether the home has a full-time activity coordinator
- Whether the residents have access to community health services
- Whether the team holds regular meetings with relatives
Palliative care can be funded by the NHS, charitable organisations or privately. You may have to self-fund your loved one’s care if they have sufficient savings or assets.
At Water Mill House we work with Eldercare Solutions who are regulated, independent care fees planning specialists. Their advisers are Later Life Accredited through the Society of Later Life Advisers (SOLLA) and are able to provide independent advice on what the options are for funding long-term care. More information is available here.
Our Care Experts
Led by our clinical home manager, Victoria, our team includes nurses, carers and support staff – many of whom have been with us since we opened in 2014. Everyone is carefully chosen for their unwavering commitment to exceptional care.
We prioritise comprehensive training and professional development. This ensures our residents’ needs are met with the utmost care and attention.
We are honoured to be part of our residents’ life journey. Our team is dedicated to providing compassionate care and comfort, every step of the way.
Making Dreams Come True
Our Wishing Well initiative runs throughout the year to create personalised experiences for our residents to treasure. We believe it’s never too late to fulfil long-held dreams, and encourage everyone to participate. Often, it’s the little things that mean the most, from growing a bumper crop of tomatoes for David, a former Spitalfields barrow boy, to arranging a champagne birthday tea for Queenie and her family. No matter how big or small, we love the challenge of creating these special moments for everyone in our care.
The Wishing Well Experiences to Treasure
Linda
Let’s Go Fly a Kite
Linda fondly remembered flying kites with her father as a little girl. Armed with supplies, we took to the skies at Dunstable Down. Linda said: “Although it was almost 70 years since I’d done it, the memories came flooding back and it was so much fun!”
Make a Care Enquiry
For any questions, or to book a visit, please complete the form and we’ll be in touch as soon as possible to see how we can help.
For recruitment enquiries, please contact Team Support.