FAQs
How much does it cost?
We are a charity, and therefore do not put profit before residents. We only charge what it actually costs to live with us.
From January 2024 average rental costs are £2393 per month. Food, accommodation, council tax, electricity, heating, water (hot and cold), housekeeping services (but not cleaning and laundry) and wifi are included.
You may be eligible for funding to help with the cost. Your local authority or council is the body responsible for assessing your needs, and holds the budgets for paying for help, assistance and care. When you think your needs are getting too much for your current situation, you can ask the local authority to assess what your needs are (a care-needs assessment) and a financial assessment to see what, if anything, you would have to pay for any services or care. The local authority must provide you with a free care needs assessment, and this will indicate what, if any, services or care you can choose. Even if you’re intending on funding your own care, you should still discuss your situation with the local authority as they can help you to identify areas where you might need help and arrange this for you. You can find your local authority here https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council
What is a sponsor?
It's always useful for our residents to have a trusted relative, friend or professional to act as their sponsor or “first-caller'. Someone we can contact in case of an emergency, who'll make sure your needs are being met and offer you the support you need. Just let us know if you need help finding someone - we have lots of dedicated volunteers who'll be glad to help.
What will my room look like?
We want you to feel at home as soon as possible, so all rooms are tastefully decorated, usually with carpet and curtains, but aren’t furnished. This means you can bring your own furniture and possessions when you move in, provided they are not too large for the size of the room, and get your room looking just the way you want it. There are photographs of the studio flat and one of the apartments in our photo gallery and you can find room plans through the link at the top of this page. We are happy for you to redecorate and modernise your flat in consultation with our Committee.
The cleaning and tidying of your room is your responsibility. Should you wish to employ the services of a cleaner this must be at your own expense.
All residents have their own bathroom with walk-in shower, toilet and sink.
What about TV, phone, wifi?
You can plug your phone into an existing socket providing you're happy to pay for it. There is a TV in the communal sitting room, but you're very welcome to have your own television in your room as well. Those residents over 75 are included in our free, concessionary TV licence. Those under 75 can be included in the concessionary licence at a cost of £7.50 per annum (as opposed to the normal licence fee of £149 p.a). Wifi is included.
What is the food like and when are meals served?
Our housekeeper provides two home-cooked meals a day, with the main meal at 12.30pm and a light supper at 5.30pm. All meals are cooked from scratch using fresh ingredients. We usually serve fish on Fridays and roast meals on Sundays, and there is a focus on traditional British food although vegetarian, vegan and 'free-from' meals can be provided. Let us know if you have any special dietary requirements. Meals are served in the communal dining room, and it is part of the Abbeyfield ethos for residents to share meals and enjoy each others' company. However if you are ill you may be able to have your meals in your room. Our photo gallery includes some typical Abbeyfield dishes.
What if I become ill?
If it's only minor your carers and family would normally be able to look after you in the house. If you have to spend time in hospital, you will still need to meet the rent for your accommodation, but it will be waiting for you when you're feeling better. If you are temporarily disabled, for example following an operation, you and your family would need to organise support such as extra carers or temporary ramp access. If you need to make plans for longer-term care and assistance, we can also help with your next move and can recommend homes that offer nursing care. Your needs are the most important thing to us.
How to Apply
Step 1
If after reading our website you feel Abbeyfield Dulwich could be the right home for you. you should advise the Society of your possible interest in taking accommodation at the Society's House by contacting Jane Ross-Macdonald on janerossmacdonald@gmail.com.
Step 2
Jane will, on hearing from you, make arrangements either to visit you at your home or for you to be met at the Society's House.
Step 3
Should you confirm at this initial meeting that you wish to take accommodation at the Society's House, you will be asked to complete an application form and a further form addressed to your own doctor to request him or her to supply relevant medical information. Both completed forms should be returned, in confidence, to Jane Ross-Macdonald at Abbeyfield Dulwich. Application Forms are also downloadable from this website.
Step 4
If following receipt of the medical information, the Society deems it necessary for you to be seen by its own medical adviser, mutually agreeable arrangements will be made with you. Subject to the Society's being satisfied that your state of health is compatible with living in the Society's House, your name will be placed on the waiting list.
Step 5
When a vacancy occurs, you will be invited to meet our Chairman and view the available accommodation.
Step 6
If you like the accommodation and your state of health continues to be reasonable, you will be invited to meet the residents of the Society's House and committee members to resolve any further queries you may have on the suitability of the accommodation. Subject to your approval of the vacancy and a satisfactory outcome to the residents' meeting you will be offered the accommodation.
STAFF
Who are the regular staff at Abbeyfield Dulwich?
We pay our directly employed staff the London Living Wage or above and regularly check our salaries against other charities to make sure our pay is competitive.
We have a permanent staff of two housekeepers (one on duty every day) backed up by around five relief housekeepers to cover sickness and holidays. The housekeepers are excellent home cooks with food hygiene qualifications.
As we tailor our services to meet the needs of individual residents the day-to-day work can vary enormously. The most important thing is that staff are warm, friendly, flexible and share our commitment to helping older people lead more fulfilling lives.
We use a cleaning agency and we employ a regular gardener so we are not looking for staff in these areas.
Pay and Pension
We pay our directly employed housekeeping staff the London Living Wage or above and regularly check our salaries against other charities to make sure our pay is competitive.
Staff receive 28 days holiday each year. This is calculated pro rata for part-time staff.
Abbeyfield Dulwich operates a Pension Scheme which all permanent staff are entitled to join to help save for their retirement.
Training and Career Development
We invest in the careers of our staff. We encourage them to aim high and reach their full potential through training and development programmes and regular evaluations.
TEMPORARY COOK
If you are a confident cook, enjoy the company of older people and are not daunted by cooking for a large group we need you! This is not regular work - it's the odd day or two covering holidays and sickness - but it's a friendly home with a well-equipped kitchen and the pay is competitive. Our aim is to keep a roster of 5 or 6 relief cooks - currently we are pleased to have the following as part of a trusted bank of reliable cooks we can call upon. They all have different backgrounds, ages and perspectives. Inevitably they are not always free, and summer holidays are a time when we find we particularly need extra assistance.
Hours are 9am-2pm and 4pm-7pm