Strathmore Lodge is committed to putting our residents first and at the center of everything that happens in our home. We want our future residents to feel at home when they come to live at Strathmore Lodge.
We have put together some frequently asked questions that may help you. Please feel free to contact us to ask for more information, general advice, enquiries or to talk about any particular concern or questions you might have.
We always recommend that there is no need to make an appointment to visit a care home. Come along at a time that best suits you. That way you will get a better feeling of the home and how they deal with your enquires and this should give you more confidence in your chosen home(s).
We recommend that your visit a few homes, since we are all very different. After you leave the home make a few bullet points about how you felt about the home. Once you have narrowed the selection down to a couple of homes then it may be advisable to make an appointment to speak with the manager of the home, if you have any further questions.
Residential care is a term used to describe the general care and support provided in a standard care home. This is generally what is required for most of our residents. Often, “residential care homes” are simply referred to as “care homes” whereas what used to be called “nursing homes” are now called “care homes with nursing”.
A care home is a residential setting where a number of older people live, usually in single rooms and have access to on-site care services. A home registered simply as a care home will provide personal care only – help with washing, dressing and giving medication. Some care homes are registered to meet a specific care need, for example dementia or terminal illness.
We are designated as residential care, but we also provide further caring facilities for those with dementia and also palliative care.
What sets Strathmore Lodge apart from other homes you may have seen or visited is quite simply the quality of both care and the surroundings and our friendly, welcoming and welcoming environment.
Always remember that if you can’t find what you’re looking for here, you can contact us directly and we’d be more than happy to help guide you.
Points to consider are: How do you feel in the home? Does it have a good atmosphere and is it homely? Do you feel comfortable? Is the atmosphere of the home friendly, welcoming and warm? Where is the home located? Where are local facilities in relation to the home? Do you feel welcome and do other residents like living there?
Download our Guide to Choosing a home for more helpful advice.
Not always but we operate a waiting list system. Let the care home manager know and they will contact you as soon as a room is available.
The services covered by the fees include:
If you are funding your own care you can make the decision to move into a care home yourself. As long as we can meet your care needs and you meet the self-funding criteria you are very welcome to move into a Strathmore Lodge Home.
If you aren’t able to fund your own care your local Adult Care Services / Social Services department may be involved in deciding whether you need a place in a care home on the basis of your care needs. If this is decided, your local authority may pay for all or some of the costs of care.
Palliative care is the active holistic care of residents with advanced progressive illness. Management of pain and other symptoms and provision of psychological, social and spiritual support is paramount. The goal of palliative care is achievement of the best quality of life for our residents and their families. Many aspects of palliative care are also applicable earlier in the course of the illness in conjunction with other treatments.
Palliative care aims to:
Strathmore Lodge offer palliative care for both new and existing residents. We strive to make life as pleasant as possible even in the most difficult of circumstances, ensuring our residents are comfortable and cared for so that they can enjoy their time with us and more importantly the precious company of their loved ones.
Physical symptoms are anticipated and reduced where possible, before they cause problems
That there is a feeling of choice and control and that choices around preferred place of care are discussed with the resident then recorded, maybe in an advanced care plan or associated document
The resident feels supported and informed and potential problems are anticipated and reduced. This involves staff trying to anticipate the needs of a resident to be able to give the right care, at the right time and in the right way
Family or carers feel enabled, informed and involved in the residents care and to be supported as much as possible
That our staff, the GP and Nursing team confidently work together as a team, communicate well and are enabled to provide the best in care.
If your doctor is willing to visit you, he or she will be most welcome. If this is not possible, the manager will help you to find a local doctor who is willing to take care of you.
No, our home provides care for a wide range of complex needs and disabilities but we don’t employ nurses. However, we do have access to the excellent District Nursing services as required.
Yes, we offer a wide choice of home cooked, fresh and nutritionally balanced food at each mealtime. We also cater for special dietary requirements.
Yes, we have a visiting hairdresser. A list of hairdressing costs is available within Strathmore Lodge.
These services are not provided in-house but our staff will ensure that you have access to all of these services and others in the community. For example the chiropodist attends every 6 weeks.
Yes. One of our primary goals is to support your and help you to continue living your life as you wish and to maintain your independence and control. We will also be able to help you re-order your medication and arrange for your prescription to be dispensed by a local chemist. If you wish, we can look after your medication for you.
Deciding on whether you or a loved one requires the benefits of a care home is often a very difficult and emotional decision. Some feel that it will take away their independence and, as a carer of a loved one, there can be a feeling of guilt when realising that you are no longer able to provide the level of care for those that you love. Maybe due to the increasing demands of a debilitating illness such as Alzheimer’s, but it is still very difficult to let go. We all like to remember someone as they were and it is hard to accept that they might have changed. But, choosing a care home simply means you are acting in the best interests for yourself or your loved ones.
Often there is also a general misconception that care homes are institutionalised and impersonal with no real warmth or ‘homely’ feel. Of course, there are many options to you before choosing a care home, be that sheltered housing, home care or downsizing and living with relatives and so forth. Whilst each of these options have their own merits, you have to ask, will your care needs be attended to by professional, trained carers every hour of every day, three hundred and sixty five days a year? Would these options also provide a safe, social environment for you to be part of (should you be so inclined) as well as, to name just a handful of examples – providing daily activities, tailored care plans, freshly cooked meals, cleaning and laundry? If the answer is yes, at what cost would you expect such a level of care?
At Strathmore Lodge we pride ourselves not only on the standard of care we provide, but also the warm, friendly, caring and compassionate environment and a superior standard of accommodation. We really do make a difference to our resident’s lives. To provide the same level of care at home the costs would simply be astronomical and that’s why we feel that Strathmore Lodge is the perfect balance of care and support, in a beautiful homely environment that one will always feel comfortable in.
So now that you’ve decided that one of our Hotels is right for you, what next? Read our guide to where to start with care and this will put you on the first steps to becoming a resident with us.
Always remember that if you can’t find what you’re looking for here, you can contact us directly and we’d be more than happy to help guide you.
We have staff on duty 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
We have a maximum of 19, which makes it feel like a big family and we all get to know and understand each other very well.
Yes, we welcome couples. You can share one bedroom and use the other as a sitting room or you can have single bedrooms or our larger bedrooms can easily accommodate a couple. The choice is yours.
We aim to provide residents with as much privacy as they need. All of our bedrooms are for single use, unless otherwise requested and keys are provided.
We have a couple of lounges or sitting areas, which will have television or radio provided, and others where you can sit undisturbed. You can entertain your friends or relatives in your bedroom if you wish. Carers will always knock before entering your room.
We want you to feel comfortable and at home in your surroundings so it is very important that you furnish your room as you wish subject to any safety requirements. Please ask the manager about this.
For safety, we recommend that valuables are looked after by your family, solicitor or bank. If you do bring them into the Strathmore Lodge we advise you to take out personal insurance as we are unable to take responsibility for valuable items. We encourage residents to keep money in a bank or building society account rather than in the home. We can help to arrange this if necessary.
All bedrooms have a lockable container or drawers which can be used to keep personal items secure.
You are welcome to receive visitors at any reasonable time. If you wish, arrangements can be made for your visitors to join you for a meal and we can provide close friends or family with a front door key.
Yes. Residents that are not at risk can come and go as they please. The issue of what constitutes a risk will be discussed with you, your family or advocate if necessary. In any case, we would like you to let a member of staff know if you decide to go out so we will not worry about where you are. If you wish to have a meal later than the normal time a member of staff will arrange this for you.
You are free to go away for the weekend or go on holiday at any time. But don’t forget to send us a postcard!
Laundry facilities are available in Strathmore Lodge and our staff will do your laundry for you. To ensure that your clothes are returned to you we ask you to label all your clothes clearly with embroidered name tapes. We also suggest that you do not bring articles that need dry cleaning as we do not have the facilities to deal with these.
Yes, but to comply with relevant legislation we ask that residents smoke only in the designated areas. Visitors are not able to smoke in the building. For your own safety we ask that you bring only natural fiber clothing as these are more fire retardant properties than man-made fiber.
Yes. We have the facility for you to have a telephone in your room for private use if you wish. There will always be a facility made available for private phone calls. We find now that most residents come in with their own Mobile Phone.
Yes, and if you wish, our staff will be happy to assist you.
Yes, this is your home. You can take part in the regular residents’ meetings or you can speak to a member of staff at any time. We always welcome suggestions, ideas, new ways of doing things and feedback about the service we provide. Staff will always consult you about any changes that may occur in the home.
The Manager is the best person to go to first. If you feel that your problem has not been resolved satisfactorily we can also assist you in accessing independent advice and advocacy. Our complaints procedure details the steps you should take if you are dissatisfied in any way. You can find a copy of our Complaints Procedure within Strathmore Lodge.
Yes. We very much welcome pets. We currently have one cat and one dog. We have been a member of the Cinnamon Trust since 2013. The Cinnamon Trust objective is to respect and preserve the treasure relationship between owners and their pets. It is widely acknowledged that pets can positively benefit the well-being of elderly owners. They are your constant companion – on hand 24 hours a day. Typical examples of pets that we welcome and small pets like dogs, cats, a bird or a fish. We have some wonderful carers who can help you to look after them. But we do need to be mindful of how many other pets we have and their interaction. Please discuss this with the manager.
Yes, we have regular services in our home. Please talk to the Manager about your religious requirements.
Where possible you will be accompanied by one of our carers. We will keep your room for you. In addition, will try our hardest to ensure that you have an escort if you need to attend hospital but we cannot always guarantee that a staff member will be available. We will always do our best to contact your next of kin so that they can meet you at the hospital. We always send full details with any resident who has to visit a hospital, and we telephone the hospital to ensure they have all the information they need.
Yes, you can come and stay with us for up to 6 weeks to enable you to choose whether or not you wish to stay on a permanent basis. During this time, if you decide that it’s not right for you you’ll just need to give 7 days’ notice. You can also just come along during the daytime to have a meal or take part in activities.
Yes, you may be able to manage by having support in your own home, by having day care or short breaks.
Yes, we have Activity Co-coordinator who organises and delivers a programme of social activities and events for our residents to take part in. They help our residents to pursue their favourite hobbies and interests, and introduce them to new ones.
Yes, however a four week written notice period is required after the initial assessment period.
There are several ways – you can contact us, or be referred through your local Health and Community Service department, your doctor, district nurse or health visitor or a hospital social worker. It is then recommended that you visit us and other care homes before making up your mind.