






Friars Lodge, in Dunstable, is part of a family-run care home businesses that specialises in residential care for older people with a physical frailty or a diagnosis of dementia.
All care provision is person-centred, concentrating on the needs of the individual, with carers keen to respect personal choice and freedoms.
Families can feel confident that their loved ones have their health and security safeguarded, while enjoying comfortable surroundings.
Care Provided by Friars Lodge
Primary Care Categories
- Older Person Care
- Dementia
- Physical Disability
- Visual / Hearing Impairment
Length of Stay
- Permanent Care
- Respite Care
Care Types Provided
- Residential Care
- Dementia Residential Care
- For a maximum of 20 Service Users
Dementia Care TypesMild Dementia
Someone living with our definition of "mild dementia" might experience some or all of the following:
- Memory problems such as misplacing items and not be able to recall recent events (however, in some forms of dementia a person's memory may be unchanged)
- Difficulties thinking through problems and planning, making decisions
- Language and communication issues such as finding it difficult to recall the appropriate word in a conversation or following a conversation
- Poor orientation, getting lost in areas previously familiar to them
- Difficulty judging distances (more falls than usual)
- Changes in their normal mood including anxiety and depression
- In certain types of dementia, personality and behaviour changes may be present alongside or instead of issues with memory or concentration.
Moderate Dementia
Someone living with our definition of "moderate dementia" might experience some or all of the following:
- Worsened memory problems. Not always recognising own family members and friends. Repeating the same questions over and over again
- Worsened language and communication issues, forgetting what they are saying mid-sentence. Not being able to understand what someone else is saying
- More frequent confusion, e.g. about the time of day or where they are, including their own home
- Apathy, depression and anxiety
- Believing things that aren't true (paranoia)
- Frequent hallucinations
- Lack of emotional control, quick to anger, fearfulness, sadness
- Loss of inhibition
- Difficulties sleeping or waking during the night and behaving as though it is daytime - loss of circadian rhythm.
Advanced Dementia
Someone living with our definition of "severe dementia" might experience some or all of the following:
- Severe memory problems. Not recognising family members and friends. Not being able to recall their own name
- Severe language and communication issues, not being able to understand what someone else is saying
- Severe confusion, e.g. about the time of day or where they are, including their own home
- Apathy, depression and anxiety
- Believing things that aren't true (paranoia)
- Frequent hallucinations
- Lack of emotional control, quick to anger, fearfulness, sadness
- Loss of inhibition
- Difficulties sleeping or waking during the night and behaving as though it is daytime - loss of circadian rhythm.
Verbally or physically aggressive behaviour
If your loved one displays this type of behaviour you may need a care home that has specially trained staff. Verbal/physical aggression is often defined:
- Consistent shouting and screaming
- Verbal abuse
- Physical abuse
How we define Dementia Care Types
Mild Dementia
Someone living with our definition of "mild dementia" might experience some or all of the following:
- Memory problems such as misplacing items and not be able to recall recent events (however, in some forms of dementia a person's memory may be unchanged)
- Difficulties thinking through problems and planning, making decisions
- Language and communication issues such as finding it difficult to recall the appropriate word in a conversation or following a conversation
- Poor orientation, getting lost in areas previously familiar to them
- Difficulty judging distances (more falls than usual)
- Changes in their normal mood including anxiety and depression
- In certain types of dementia, personality and behaviour changes may be present alongside or instead of issues with memory or concentration.
Moderate Dementia
Someone living with our definition of "moderate dementia" might experience some or all of the following:
- Worsened memory problems. Not always recognising own family members and friends. Repeating the same questions over and over again
- Worsened language and communication issues, forgetting what they are saying mid-sentence. Not being able to understand what someone else is saying
- More frequent confusion, e.g. about the time of day or where they are, including their own home
- Apathy, depression and anxiety
- Believing things that aren't true (paranoia)
- Frequent hallucinations
- Lack of emotional control, quick to anger, fearfulness, sadness
- Loss of inhibition
- Difficulties sleeping or waking during the night and behaving as though it is daytime - loss of circadian rhythm.
Advanced Dementia
Someone living with our definition of "severe dementia" might experience some or all of the following:
- Severe memory problems. Not recognising family members and friends. Not being able to recall their own name
- Severe language and communication issues, not being able to understand what someone else is saying
- Severe confusion, e.g. about the time of day or where they are, including their own home
- Apathy, depression and anxiety
- Believing things that aren't true (paranoia)
- Frequent hallucinations
- Lack of emotional control, quick to anger, fearfulness, sadness
- Loss of inhibition
- Difficulties sleeping or waking during the night and behaving as though it is daytime - loss of circadian rhythm.
Verbally or physically aggressive behaviour
If your loved one displays this type of behaviour you may need a care home that has specially trained staff. Verbal/physical aggression is often defined:
- Consistent shouting and screaming
- Verbal abuse
- Physical abuse
How we define Dementia Care Types
- Mild Dementia
- Moderate Dementia
- Advanced/Complex Dementia
Other Care Provided
- Parkinson's Disease
- Stroke
- COPD/Pulmonary Disease
- Convalescent Care
- Day Care
Facilities
- Own Furniture if required
- Pet Friendly (or by arrangement)
- Smoking not permitted
- Close to Local shops
- Near Public Transport
- Minibus or other transport
- Lift
- Wheelchair Access
- Gardens
- Phone Point in own room
- Television point in own room
- Residents Internet Access
Funding & Fees
Weekly Charges per Person
Day care can be offered to support family carers at a cost of £17.00 an hour which includes all support with any personal care, meals and help with enjoying activities.
The price(s) shown are provided by the care home. Contact Friars Lodge for full pricing details and T&Cs.
Contact Friars Lodge to confirm what's included and get a personalised quote:
Funding Types Accepted
- Self-Funding (Private)
- Local Authority with Top-up
- Local Authority
- NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC)
Good to Know
Group / Owner
- Janes Care Homes
- Private Owned
Person in charge
- Lucy Aristidou (Manager)
Local Authority / Social Services
Admission Information
- Ages 55+
Care Home Design/Build
- Purpose Built: No
- Last Refurbishment: 2018
- Number of floors: 4
Room Information
- Single Rooms (16)
- Couples/Companion Rooms (2)
- Single Rooms with ensuite Wet Room (3)
- Couples/Companion Rooms with ensuite Wet Room (1)
Visiting
- This home operates protected meal times, other than these times open visiting welcome.
Parking
- Car parking places are available at the front of the house or local street parking.
Friars Lodge Reviews (27)
Friars Lodge has a Review Score of 9.1 (9.116) out of 10, based on 9 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Friars Lodge has 27 reviews.
Overall a good care home, small and comfortable. Situated in a town area. Staff are friendly and helpful. Clean and tidy, lovely garden for residents and staff. Bright and airy. Good communication between staff and families.
Thank you for taking the time to offer us this review, we are glad you feel our staff are friendly and helpful and we will share your feedback with our team.
Dad has been at Friar's Lodge for over 8 years now. I cared for him at home for 7 years prior so it was a very difficult decision to have to make when vascular dementia took hold. Yet, I could not have been luckier than to find Lucy and her team. They know him well and his needs are not just met, but often anticipated. They are welcoming and friendly to visitors even when clearly busy.
Thank you so much for this wonderful review, it is very much appreciated. Your words will be shared with all of the team, these complimentary reviews certainly lift spirits and team morale.
Linda and Dave C
I am very happy that you are so pleased with the service provided by the whole team here. I will share your positive feedback with the staff who will be very pleased to know you appreciate their hard work .
Once again, thank you for taking the time to share these kind words.
Wonderful staff who care deeply for the residents. It feels like they are part of our family in a way. Rooms are cosy, warm and ours set out with family artifacts.. My mother-in-law lived there for 6 years and she was very happy there, making many friends with the carers and management. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for looking after mum.
Thank you so much for your kind words and for taking the time to complete this review. I will share this with my staff team.
The staff are always welcoming when I visit Dad, and the home itself is small enough that everyone feels like one big family. All the staff treat Dad with so much care, compassion, patience and dignity - nothing is too much trouble. There is an excellent staff to resident ratio, and always members of staff to assist if needed. The manager is amazing - so lovely, calm and approachable. She always keeps us informed and is very proactive at ensuring all of Dad's needs are catered for. Dad is very happy and settled at Friars Lodge, and we honestly believe he couldn't be at a better place.
Thank you so much for your kind and complimentary words. I will most certainly share this review with the staff team, they will be very pleased that all of their hard work and dedication to our clients is appreciated.
My mother has been in Friars Lodge since June 2022, and we are so pleased we chose this home. We chat with the managers and staff whenever we're there. The continuity of staff is excellent - reflective of a stable, happy team. Mum is really well cared for. I get regular updates on even little things. They do craft, keep fit, take trips to the glorious park 2 minutes away and even Elvis comes every now and again! Their own rooms are lovely. The main room is light and sunny. The staff do their admin in the same room, so the residents are continually looked after. They work really well with the local surgery and other care staff. My brother and I are really pleased mum is being so well looked after.
Thank you so much for taking the time to write such kind words. Your review has been shared with the staff team, a great boost for staff morale.
Our Mum has been a resident at Friars Lodge for over 8 years. Despite the challenges that old age and dementia bring, we are confident as a family that she is well supported by staff who care for her and have been with her for many years.
Thank you so much for submitting your review, Your kind words have been shared with our staff team and will undoubtedly be very much appreciated.
Mum became a resident from August 2019 until she passed away 6 weeks ago. Following a hospital stay in May, her health rapidly declined, and it was very evident she was sadly approaching end-of-life. At this point, my relationship with the care manager and her deputy had all but completely broken down. We couldn't ask anything about Mum's deteriorating health without being met with an aggressive response. Even when Mum passed away, it was a phone call informing me that she had stopped breathing! Very cold with no words of sympathy offered. When we arrived to clear Mum's room, her name sign was even removed from the door whilst we were inside. Couldn't this have waited until after we left? No sympathy card was sent and no follow-up about her funeral. Sadly, as far as the management is concerned, Mum was merely a source of income, and when this was coming to an end, the manager displayed a complete lack of professionalism. A very sad end considering Mum had been resident there for almost 5 years.
Firstly, I would like to apologise that you have been left feeling this way. Our team take their responsibility very seriously & often go above & beyond. Our manager supported you when your mother was poorly. Unable to get through to the hospital & on holiday our manager, who was off duty and not...
Friars Lodge staff were very kind and obliging towards my mum and us as a family. I would go as far as to say that went above and beyond in trying to care for and accommodate my mum during a very difficult time in her life. I would not hesitate in recommending any relative putting their loved one into Friars Lodge as they will be safe and well looked after.
Thank you so much for this positive feedback and your kind words, this will be shared with the team.
I feel they have Mum's best interest as a priority. The carers all know me and who I’m coming to visit.
She always has good things to say about the staff.
Caring staff, really attentive. Approachable with any concerns. They really care for the residents and look after them so well. Relaxed and very welcoming environment. A homely feel. They always make such an effort with the residents and get to know their families too.
Outstanding care is given. We have seen massive improvements in Grandad and would highly recommend.
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review and for your kind words we will share them with the team. We are delighted that your grandad joined us and is doing so well.
Mum was very well cared for by all the staff. We never have to worry when she goes to Friars Lodge for respite as she is well looked after and the staff are wonderful.
My 73-year-old Mum who suffers from Alzheimer's has been living at Friars Lodge since November 2019. As an only child, it was the hardest decision I have ever had to make to move my mum into permanent residential care. However, it was made so much easier by the way we were immediately made to feel so welcome by the manager and all her fabulous staff. As it is a relatively small home, it has a family feel to it and everyone is always so friendly and helpful. The last 15 months since the Covid pandemic have been hard for so many people and not being able to visit my mum every day has been incredibly difficult but it has been made easier with the knowledge that she is being so well cared for by the team. I would have no hesitation in recommending Friars Lodge as being a warm, caring, friendly and well run care home to anyone who might be looking for somewhere for their loved ones to be taken care of 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
My 94 year old mother has vascular dementia and had deteriorated due to the Covid Restrictions in place. It became obvious that she was unable to live in her present accommodation. I was impressed with the reception I received when I contacted Friars Lodge, the manager made me feel very comfortable regarding the type of care they offered during the restrictions. Mum was welcomed warmly and soon settled in under very difficult circumstances. I am always kept up to date by staff and they are wonderful with her. The home is always very clean and mum is always well presented. I am so glad I made the decision to place my mother there as she seems quite content.
Friars Lodge was the only home available. With trepidation I went to look at Friars Lodge - it was a very emotional time for me and I was unsure if we were doing the right thing putting my aunt into a home, but I had no choice.
I can honestly say that it is the best decision I made! Friars Lodge is just right for my aunt. It is a small home and very friendly. My aunt is looked after by kind, considerate and caring staff who have her best interests at the forefront of their thinking. My aunt is well nourished and usually has a menu choice. There is always a jug of drink on her table and she can ask for a hot drink at any time. I am always welcomed when I visit too!
From the managers to the care staff, domestic staff and the kitchen team a huge big thank you for all you do, you are all amazing!
My husband uses Friars Lodge for occasional respite care. The staff are always very welcoming and caring. The accommodation is very clean. Food is good. My husband always leaves there very relaxed. I chose this care home because it wasn't too big and felt more homely than some I have seen. It appears well managed and I would highly recommend this care home.
We found the staff friendly and caring. The furnishings adequate. Facilities, as far as we saw, were adequate and the general feeling of the place quite homely. We were welcomed as visitors. The security was good and the staff were kind to the elderly folk in their care.
The staff seem to genuinely care for the residents and treat them well. They give them dignity by always using names. They engage well and today there was a 'buzz' about the place and it was bright and sunny. The building has its limitations as it can seem dark and gloomy in winter.
The home is lively and active, residents' needs are met quickly and with care and a smile. All careworkers take care to use residents names. I do wonder if occasionally the residents find the music a bit loud. Overall, I am very happy with the kindness and care shown to my mother.
Regulatory Rating
Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rating
Date: 21 March 2020Good
- CaringGood
- EffectiveGood
- ResponsiveGood
- SafeGood
- Well-ledGood
Inspection ratings
We rate most services according to how safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led they are, using four levels:
- Outstanding - The service is performing exceptionally well.
- Good - The service is performing well and meeting our expectations.
- Requires Improvement - The service isn't performing as well as it should and we have told the service how it must improve.
- Inadequate - The service is performing badly and we've taken action against the person or organisation that runs it.
- Not rated - we have not yet rated this area of the service, this is normally because the assessments we have carried out have been focused on other key questions.
Bed Vacancies
Please contact us for latest vacancies.
News (0) & Events (0)
There are no news items for Friars Lodge.
There are no upcoming events for Friars Lodge.
Awards / Recognitions (1)
- 01 Feb 2014Recipient: Friars Lodge
Accreditations
There are no accreditations posted yet for Friars Lodge.
Meet the Team (0)
There are no Team Members posted yet.
Frequently Asked Questions about Friars Lodge
What types of Care is Friars Lodge registered for?
Older Person Care, Dementia, Physical Disability, Visual / Hearing Impairment are the registered (by the Care Quality Commission) categories of Care.
How many Rooms does Friars Lodge have?
There are 16 Single Rooms and 2 Couples/Companion Rooms.
What are the Facilities & Services at Friars Lodge?
Own Furniture if required, Pet Friendly (or by arrangement), Smoking not permitted, Close to Local shops, Near Public Transport, Minibus or other transport, Lift, Wheelchair Access, Gardens, Phone Point in own room, Television point in own room, Residents Internet Access are some of the Facilities & Services.
How far is Friars Lodge to the centre of Dunstable?
0.6 mile(s) as the crow flies, distance by road may be significantly further.
Information on this page is displayed without responsibility for its accuracy on the part of carehome.co.uk. Please contact Friars Lodge to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Friars Lodge has an Enhanced Service -more info.