Welcome to Abbeyfield UK's Amersham and Chesham Web Site

Index

On this page:

What is Abbeyfield?
The Residents
Volunteers
Donations
Contact


On separate pages:

History
Supported Sheltered Housing
Residential Care Home
Fees & Financial Assistance
Addresses


What is Abbeyfield?

The LeysAbbeyfield provides care and companionship for elderly people in family-sized houses each with a resident house manager. While the great majority of Abbeyfield houses are classified as Supported Sheltered Housing, it also has a small number of registered Residential Care Homes and also a few Nursing Homes.

The first Abbeyfield house was opened in 1956 and was the initiative of a group who met at a house in Abbeyfield Road, Bermondsey, in south-east London, from which the society subsequently took its name. Three years later the national Abbeyfield Society was founded. The Abbeyfield movement spread quickly and there are now several hundred local societies throughout the United Kingdom, which manage around 550 sheltered homes, 80 residential care homes, and a small number of homes offering full nursing care. Originally each local Abbeyfield society was run independently by its own volunteer management committee, but in recent years an increasing number of societies, including the Amersham & Chesham Society, have transferred their ownership and management responsibility to Abbeyfield UK (see the History page for more information).

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The Residents

ChatMost residents come from the local district, but some have moved from other parts of the country in order to be close to relatives. Generally residents in the Supported Sheltered Houses must be reasonably active. However anyone suffering, for example, from arthritis, deteriorating eye-sight or a mild heart condition will not necessarily be excluded.

Abbeyfield Societies believe that residents' interests are served best if their family and friends are able to continue to provide support and companionship alongside Abbeyfield's services. We encourage residents to nominate a "sponsor" or representative to whom they can look for advice, guidance and support and with whom they and the Society can work to ensure that each resident’s needs are met effectively.

Should you or one of your relatives or friends be interested in becoming a resident in one of our houses, now or in the near future, please contact the Allocations Manager, who will be pleased to provide you with more details, and can arrange to show you one of the houses.

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Volunteers

Although the management functions are now carried out by Abbeyfield UK staff, there is still a place for volunteers willing to offer friendship and companionship to our elderly residents. Should you be interested in helping with this rewarding activity please contact the Allocations Manager.

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Donations

As a charitable organisation, Abbeyfield welcomes financial support in the form of donations and legacies, from individuals and from corporations. Details of how to contribute, either on-line or by other means, can be found on the web site of the national Abbeyfield Society.

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Contact

If you are interested in:-

please contact the Allocations Manager, Simon Hulme, either by telephone on 020 8444 8629, or by e-mail. Alternatively you may call a House Manager directly on the house telephone number shown on the Addresses page.

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Links to other useful web sites:

Abbeyfield Society (National Web Site)

Age UK

Amersham Web Site

Leonard Pulham Nursing Home

National Association of Citizens Advice Bureax




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