At Country Lodge Nursing Home, we work hard to create a warm, welcoming and family-friendly environment from the moment you arrive so that residents can enjoy life to the fullest and feel that the Home is their Home. At the end of another great year, it’s natural to look back and reflect with gratitude on the many happy moments we have shared as a home.
It’s really been an exciting year at Country Lodge Nursing Home: we have enjoyed some enriching outings, seen our new hair salon and new garden wheelchair paths open, and welcomed more wonderful animals than ever to Country Lodge! Our staff too have thrived, winning two prestigious awards for their care and adding many new staff to their full-time team. Well done to the Care Team!
Please join us as we take a closer look at the best moments of 2023 at Country Lodge Nursing Home.
Out and About: Creating Lasting Memories
Every month, the Residents congregate for a monthly meeting with the Registered Manager to discuss their ideas on how the Home is run. It is their Home, and this is one of the most important meetings in the month. The Residents’ reflections and thoughts on activities are a key part of the meeting. At their request, two outings which we made this year were to Haskins Garden Centre where Residents and Carers enjoyed Christmas shopping together followed by Tea and Cake at their fabulous Café. Sainsburys was another Resident request, earlier in the year, for more shopping and Café time!
Home Expansions: Welcoming More Residents
The opening of our new Lodge Garden wing was greeted with great excitement because, not only did it provide upgraded accommodation options for residents, but also the much needed Hair and Therapy Salon. The new bedrooms themselves overlook and are wheelchair accessible to the relandscaped garden surrounded by wheelchair paths and all have en suite state of the art shower rooms with plenty of storage for personal items. Individually decorated in an English Country style with embroidery curtains, bespoke soft furnishings and pale oak furniture the effect we hope is one of ‘home from home’.
Alongside adding fresh herbs to our new garden we have completely refurbished our entire kitchen, adding new state of the art equipment, ovens and refrigeration as well as expanding the staff team. It’s been an exciting year for the Kitchen Team led by our incredible Head Chef and it has been amazing to see the wonderful birthday cakes and celebratory meals the Team have produced since the refurbishment. A huge thank you to them!
The Team: Growing Together
At Country Lodge, our dedicated team of carers is the heart of our home. In 2023, we were thrilled to welcome 8 new staff members to our team. These new additions brought not only their expertise but also their warmth and compassion, further enhancing the exceptional care provided to our residents. With their passion and dedication, our team continues to strive for excellence in every interaction with residents and their awards received this year are a very real indication of their excellence and commitment to care.
Entertainment and Activities: Enriching Lives
Ensuring that our Residents remain engaged and socially active is a top priority at Country Lodge. In response to their requests, we introduced two new clubs in 2023: the Art Club and the Book Club. These activities have quickly become integral to the monthly routine, providing them with opportunities for creativity and connection. In addition to these clubs, we invited musicians and dancers into our home, including the exceptionally popular Jay Swings. The introduction of Elvis to our activities schedule has been a resounding success, with residents enjoying his performances immensely as well as staff! To cater for individual needs, we have expanded our one-to-one activities, ensuring that every resident can enjoy mental stimulation, creativity, and meaningful connections.
Award Winning Care: Recognising Excellence
We are incredibly proud to have received two awards in 2023 for our excellent care team and the overall quality of care provided at Country Lodge. These awards serve as a testament to the dedication and commitment of our staff to go above and beyond for our residents. We are grateful for their unwavering compassion and the impact they make in the lives of those we care for.
If you would like to find out more about these wonderful awards click here.
Training: Continuous Growth and Development
To ensure that our care team remains at the forefront of best practices, our staff have participated in numerous training sessions every month of the year following a rigorous training schedule laid out annually by the Registered Manager. By investing in their professional development, we empower our team to provide the highest standard of care to our Residents. This commitment to ongoing training enables us to continuously improve and deliver exceptional care tailored to individuals’ needs.
Animals: Furry Friends and Beautiful Sightings
Research confirms, contact with animals bring measurable joy, as well as other mental health benefits (particularly in reducing anxiety), which is why we have been delighted to fulfil our Residents’ requests for furry visitors. An adorable mixture of dogs have visited our home, spreading warmth, wagging tails, and delighting residents. Our extraordinary location looking over the South Downs National Park and the immediate fields which contain beautiful horses (who like to look over our fence and into our garden at regular intervals) enables Residents enjoy equine views all year round, but it was exciting to welcome two different ponies actually into our lounge for Residents to admire and pet this year. Yes, it is possible to bring ponies into your home! You really do have to see the photographs to believe it.
Charity: Spreading Kindness and Positivity
At Country Lodge, we believe in giving back to our community. In 2023, we had the pleasure of organising various charity events involving our staff, Residents, and families. We ran a successful summer raffle, raising funds for a homeless charity, and fulfilling the heartfelt request of our Residents. Furthermore, we held a Macmillan coffee morning, bringing everyone together over a cup of coffee and delicious home-cooked treats. As part of our commitment to support those in need, we also created care packages for a local women’s refuge, providing comfort and essential items during difficult times, as part of the ‘Help out’ Coronation campaign.
Residents have their say: Fostering Autonomy and Family
Our monthly Residents’ meetings have continued to be an integral part of our community in 2023. At Country Lodge, we believe that our residents should have a voice in the way our home operates and the events and activities we offer. We are honoured to promote their autonomy, ensuring that they feel like active participants in our family. These meetings not only foster a sense of belonging but also allow us to tailor our services to meet the specific needs and desires of our residents.
As we look forward to 2024 with excitement and anticipation. We cannot wait to see what the new year holds for our Country Lodge family. With our commitment to providing a nurturing environment, delicious home-cooked meals, and a wide range of vibrant activities, we are confident that the coming year will be filled with joy, growth, and cherished memories. Whether you are a current family member or a potential one, we invite you to join us on this journey of creating a home where life is truly lived to the fullest.
At Country Lodge, we are proud to be more than just a nursing home—we are a community that cares.