Ilford Park Polish Home is a residential and nursing home in the area of Newton Abbot, which can accommodate 79 residents - it has a 'Good' rating from the CQC. Care can be provided for those with dementia. Ilford Park Polish Home also offers short stay services; respite care.
Ilford Park Polish Home (IPPH) offers Residential and Nursing care to people who meet the requirements of the Polish Resettlement Act 1947 and is run by MOD, Defence Business Services.
IPPH has a fascinating and exceptional history, the home first opened in 1948 as Stover Camp, the site of a hospital built for expected D-Day casualties amongst American troops. IPPH was one of 45 camps whose purpose was to resettle members of the Polish forces into a new life in Great Britain. The Polish troops who fought alongside the allies were unable to return to a communist dominated Poland due to political changes and many feared imprisonment if they did return.
The Polish Resettlement Act 1947, also affectionately known as the ‘Churchill Promise’ was in recognition of the immense war effort of the Poles who served so valiantly under British command.
Over the years, all the other camps have closed; IPPH remained and has evolved from a resettlement camp into a residential care and nursing home for older Polish people and their spouses. To be eligible for admission under the Polish Resettlement Act, applicants need to demonstrate that they fought with the Polish forces under British command, were displaced from Poland due to circumstances attributable to WW2, or the spouse of either of these categories.
Today, IPPH is a residential and nursing home with some sheltered accommodation and the average age of the people living there is 91, with more than 50% of the population living with Dementia. We have an excellent reputation locally and we are very proud of the experiences we offer to this older, vulnerable group.
The Polish culture and traditions are celebrated and a Polish priest lives on site and holds a daily mass. Christmas is a very special time with Christmas Eve (Wigilia in Polish) representing all that is traditional in Polish culture and religion. Without a doubt, it is at these times that IPPH feels like a huge, welcoming family.
At Ilford Park we believe that residents have the right to spend their retirement in an environment that takes account of their religion and culture. We maintain a minimum of 30% bilingual staff to ensure that the residents have access to their own language. Mental frailty often means that residents revert to their native Polish.
Ilford Park Polish Home offers many facilities including a Chapel built within the home. Mass is offered daily by a live-in Polish priest from the Polish Catholic Mission.
At Ilford Park we understand the need for all persons to be treated equally, wherever they may live within the community.
Our excellent on-site facilities include:
• a residential, nursing or sheltered environment
• accommodation that is fully furnished to a high standard
• kitchen areas for the preparation of snacks and hot drinks
• passenger lift
• landscaped gardens
• fully equipped hairdressing salon
• recreational activities to reflect residents’ interests
• Regular residents’ meetings to ensure full participation in decision making throughout the community
• Polish and English newspapers
• Polish satellite TV
• daily choice of menus including Polish and English cuisine that fully cater for special dietary requirements
• Two bedroomed, self catering bungalow for Friends and Families.