If you and your family have decided that your next best course of action is care home living, then it’s completely natural to feel apprehensive about your first few weeks. It will be a new environment, with different people and a big change for you and your loved ones. However, at Country Lodge, we put a lot of effort into ensuring it’s as stress-free as possible. In this article, we have outlined some of the ways we help you settle into our care home in Worthing.
Settling into your room
There are various options of accommodation depending on availability, so you may have the choice of a garden room in our new wing with stunning views overlooking the South Downs, or of a comfortable, beautifully decorated room within the main house some of which have French windows opening onto the garden. Most of our rooms have en-suite bathrooms.
All our bedrooms are personal spaces that you can make your own and we encourage our residents to bring in photos and ornaments from home. When you arrive at Country Lodge, you will be shown to your room by one of our friendly care staff who will help you arrange your belongings and bring you and anyone with you a nice cup of tea or coffee and usually some homemade cake. They will also introduce you to the staff on duty and show you how to use your personal call bell.
We don’t put any pressure on you when you arrive, so you can take it easy and relax in your new room or join the other residents in the communal areas if you wish.
Enjoying the communal spaces
Country Lodge has some lovely communal spaces which you can enjoy at your leisure. We have a dining area which is used for mealtimes or activities and a spacious lounge with lovely views where you can relax, play games, enjoy some music and chat with the other residents.
With around 28 residents at our care home, it won’t be long till you know everyone, and our wonderful carers will always be there as a helping hand if you need them. There is a qualified nurse on duty at all hours, day and night so you never have to worry if you need extra care.
Our communal areas are home to many of our daily activities too, which you can find out more about in this article.
“I have been so impressed with the staff – everyone is so kind and gives Mum a wonderful time and care. The food is excellent and the lounge and dining room are very comfortable and look out on a lovely garden and fields beyond.” – Mandy (Daughter of resident)
Fitting into a new routine
Living at a care home in Worthing is going to be a big life change, however, all our residents really enjoy living here, and we are sure you will too!
Fitting into a new routine can sometimes be tricky, but our nurses and manager, Debbie, will make this transition as easy for you as possible.
If you always have a cup of tea when you wake up in the morning, this can be arranged, alternatively, if you have a specific food item that you enjoy for breakfast, we’re sure our chefs can prepare this for you. It’s all about making it a home from home and ensuring you feel 100% comfortable in your new surroundings.
Exploring the care home grounds
We are lucky enough to have some beautiful gardens at our care home in Worthing all maintained by our brilliant gardener, Paula, who makes sure there is something to look at all year round. Even in winter it’s a pleasure to look out on the gardens and in warmer weather our residents like to go for a stroll around the grounds or enjoy lunch on the terrace on balmy summer days.
With views of the South Downs, the wildlife we see is ever-changing, and for many of our residents, sitting and listening to the birds or watching horses in the neighbouring fields is one of their favourite activities.
Getting involved in our activity programmes
Daily activities are very important for our residents and are enjoyed by many. We have a varied programme of activities which include musical entertainment from local musicians and groups, games and quizzes (which are run by our entertaining activities co-ordinator, Dolores ), theatre shows, and much more.
You can read more about the activities at Country Lodge in our blog here.
Taking joy in having your family and friends come to visit
When you move into Country Lodge, especially in the first few weeks, having visits from family members and friends is very important. We don’t have strict visitor hours, so they are welcome anytime just come to keep you company or they are welcome to join you for a meal – our chef and kitchen staff are very obliging.
You can read some of our visitor reviews here on our website, or via Carehome.co.uk where we have a 9.7 rating out of 10.
“Rosie has settled in well and loves the staff. They always seem to be there and take the time to chat with her. Rosie says the food is full of flavor and to me, it all looks fresh and served straight from the kitchen. Christmas Day was a treat for Rosie and she loved getting a present from the tree and appreciated the morning Sherry. Country Lodge feels so much like living in your own home.” – Sean (Son of resident)
Care and safety
One of our main priorities is the safety, care and health needs of our residents and we pay special attention to these at all times. Our care staff receive regular training in first aid, fire prevention and all aspects of care. We also have established procedures for fire safety with regular fire alarm and equipment tests, feedback from families and complaints.
Ready to get to know Country Lodge?
We understand this is a big change and we are here for you every step of the way. If you have any questions about living at our care home, or would like to come and visit us, please let us know.
Visiting us in person is a great opportunity to speak to the nurses and staff on duty, and also to chat to some of the residents who already live here. Email Debbie on manager@gracot2.cwmdev.co.uk or give us a call on 01903 830600 (Option 1) to start your care home journey.
