A group of Japanese social work students visited a London residential care scheme for Asian elders last week to learn more about the specialist services available.
Part of a European fact-finding tour, four post-graduate students and a professor from the Japanese College for Social Work in Tokyo made the trip to Aashna House in Streatham to meet staff and residents, .
Aashna House, run by ASRA Greater London Housing Association, is the UK’s first purpose-built care home for Asian elders.
The students, who are studying welfare management, wanted to learn more about current care practices in the UK, and to see how Aashna House is run, as they are considering implementing similar services and facilities in to Japanese care homes.
The scheme accommodates 37 residents, representing almost all sections of the Asian community. Skilled staff are able to talk to residents in their mother tongue with Urdu, Punjabi, Gujarati and Bengali among the languages spoken. Islam, Sikhism, Buddhism and Hinduism are all practiced and actively celebrated.
Aashna House has the amenities to provide for these different cultures and individual choice also comes to the fore at mealtimes, when seven different dietary preferences are catered for.
Mathini Navukkarasu, ASRA’s Care Home Manager said: “It was a really constructive day. The students were very enthusiastic and keen to know what ASRA does and how everything is organised at Aashna House. They asked lots of questions and took away examples of our individualised care plans for residents to use as models back in Japan.”
Aashna House has 34 self-contained single and double apartments and each resident has their own front door, en suite bathroom and kitchenette to encourage independent living.
There is also communal space and a wide range of optional social activities, events, day trips and exercise sessions.
Manna Santokhee, ASRA’s Head of Care added: “We are committed to delivering first class services to all our residents and making sure they feel at home.
“We encourage residents to have a healthy, full lifestyle and help them maintain their independence as much as possible by providing ample opportunities for activities, socialising and exercise.
“Families of residents are always encouraged to influence the care of their relatives and our open visiting hours maintain and strengthen family relationships, whilst reassuring relatives their loved ones are well-cared for.”
ASRA is part of the LHA-ASRA housing and regeneration group.