Down Lodge Residential Care Home

11 Sturges Road, Wokingham RG40 2HG
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9.5 20 Reviews
  • Down Lodge Residential Care Home, Wokingham
Down Lodge is a sixteen capacity care home only 200 yards from Wokingham Town centre, ideally situated for residents with care needs to have easy access to local amenities, while being able to contact skilled carers at all hours of the day and night.

This comfortable residence has been organised with a satisfying retirement in mind, while the service strives to be as versatile as possible to healthcare needs, having close contacts with GPs, District Nurses and visiting chiropodists and opticians.

All service users can choose from a menu of traditional meals and enjoy relaxing in a south-facing conservatory garden during the warmer weather.
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Care Provided by Down Lodge Residential Care Home

Primary Care Categories

  • Older Person Care

Length of Stay

  • Permanent Care
  • Respite Care

Care Types Provided

  • Residential Care
  • For a maximum of 16 Service Users

Other Care Provided

  • Parkinson's Disease
  • Stroke
  • Palliative / End of Life Care
  • Convalescent Care
  • Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)

Facilities

  • Own Furniture if required
  • Pet Friendly (or by arrangement)
  • Smoking not permitted
  • Close to Local shops
  • Near Public Transport
  • Minibus or other transport
  • Stairlift
  • Wheelchair Access
  • Gardens
  • Phone Point in own room
  • Television point in own room
  • Residents Internet Access

Funding & Fees

Weekly Charges per Person

  • Self-Funded Residential Care: £1065 – £1300
  • RESPITE Self-Funded Residential Care: £1065 – £1300

lodging and care with staff available 24/7; excludes hairdressing and chiropodist fees available to at Down Lodge; hairdressers - weekly, chiropodist - 6-weekly.

These prices are only a guideline, please contact Down Lodge Residential Care Home to find out the exact price for your requirements.

Funding Types Accepted

  • Self Funding (Private)
  • Local Authority with Top Up
  • Local Authority
  • NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC)

Good to Know

Owner

  • Down Lodge Residential Care Ltd

Person in charge

  • Jody Chivers (Registered Manager)

Local Authority / Social Services

Admission Criteria

  • Predominantly privately paying residents. Accepting NHS and Social Service referrals
  • Ages 65+

Care Home Design/Build

  • Purpose Built: No
  • Last Refurbishment: 2017
  • Number of floors: 2

Room Information

  • Single Rooms (14)
  • Couples/Companion Rooms (1)

Visiting

  • Visiting is 24/7; however, families to visit before 20:00.

Parking

  • On site parking for 8 cars

Down Lodge Residential Care Home Reviews (20)

9.5

Down Lodge Residential Care Home has a Review Score of 9.5 (9.459) out of 10, based on 6 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Down Lodge Residential Care Home has 20 reviews.

Overall Experience
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Total of 20, showing 1-20
Review from P W (Son of Resident) published on 2 October 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Staff are always very welcoming. They know mum and her likes, they also connect us by name with her. Meals are home cooked "home style" which is nice. The facilities are also "homely" rather than the anonymous "5* hotel" style as some larger places appear to promote; we'd rather the smaller personal
touch which suits mum better as she is more likely to recognise the staff.
Reply from Jody Chivers, Registered manager at Down Lodge Residential Care Home

Thank you for taking time to rate our service. That's an amazing feedback! We appreciate it very much.

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Review from C C (Daughter of Resident) published on 22 April 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Down Lodges strength is its staff and their absolute commitment to providing the best possible care for residents. The team go above and beyond to support the needs of those that they care for. The team expertly balance the need to ensure the safety of residents whilst supporting residents to retain
as much independence as is possible, the team always work hard to to ensure that the dignity of the individual is maintained.
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Review from Fuk L (Daughter of Resident) published on 22 August 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
The staff members are supportive, helpful and patient, being efficient in catering to the needs of my mother. Even though my mother has a language barrier, they try their best to communicate with her and her children. They make an effort to understand her and care for her warmly. We are impressed by
their unconditional acceptance and understanding of my mother's needs and feelings. My mother enjoys a safe and accessible environment with the provision of rehabilitation equipment and personal care.
When my mother needs medical care, they can arrange a general practitioner, district nurse, etc., to help her. This gives us peace of mind. To foster sound communication between the home and family members, they held a care plan meeting recently. They go the extra mile by helping us, e.g. me living overseas, to connect with my mother every day by helping her answer my video calls with the Lodge's mobile device. We are truly grateful for all these services and care showered on my mother!
Reply from Vaida Elliott, Director at Down Lodge Residential Care Home

Thank you for sharing your experience with us. We are so grateful for your kind words and 5-star rating!

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Review from M W (Resident) assisted by family/friend published on 5 August 2024 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My experience is that I love being at Down Lodge. I am treated very well. I would like some exercise activities and really enjoy the dogs visits and painting activities. I have become much happier and I am enjoying life again.
Reply from Vaida Elliott, Director at Down Lodge Residential Care Home

Thank you for taking the time to share your positive experience with us. We're thrilled you enjoy life at Down Lodge. Your feedback made our day!

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Review from Bruce V (Husband of Resident) published on 6 November 2023 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We needed a short-term stay at only a couple of days' notice and Down Lodge came up trumps. The whole experience for my wife was top-class and all the carers and ancillary staff have been wonderful. We can't recommend it highly enough.
Reply from Vaida Elliott, Director at Down Lodge Residential Care Home

Thank you for an amazing review! Wishing you and your family all the best!

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Review from L P (Friend of Resident) published on 20 October 2023 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Down Lodge is very homely and comfortable. The staff are all very friendly and welcoming. They are also all very knowledgeable about caring for the residents. Care plans are reviewed regularly and the manager has an excellent overview of every resident. Record keeping is also very good. The staff have
very effective working relationships with social services and the health service to get the very best outside help when required. The home is spotless, the residents are treated as individuals and there is plenty for them to do.
Reply from Vaida Elliott, Director at Down Lodge Residential Care Home

Thank you for taking time to give us a wonderful review!

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Review from Penny E (Relative of Resident) published on 23 August 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
The staff went above and beyond to make our first visit to see our family member, who is a new resident of Down Lodge, very enjoyable. Our visit was Covid safe and we spent time together in the comfortable surroundings of the conservatory which leads on to the garden. Bringing us additional side tables
to make eating our lunch easier was most thoughtful. We were told of the plans for activities for our family member which we are sure she will greatly benefit from. We hope that she will be able to find a local church to join as it was important to her where she lived before. We can't comment on the facilities, rooms etc as due to the Covid rules we only saw a small area of Down Lodge. However, the location of Down Lodge is excellent.
Reply from Vaida Elliott, care manager at Down Lodge Residential Care Home

Thank you very much for your kind words! We look forward to seeing you soon.

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Review from L R (Daughter of Resident) published on 7 September 2020 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
My mum is well cared for. I have struggled through lockdown to be able to help with Mum's care and needs. I can see deterioration over the past few months.
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Review from Graham C (Nephew of Resident) published on 1 July 2020 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My Aunt spent 7 happy years at Down Lodge after making the decision to move into care at the age of 86, she sadly passed away in March this year and always spoke with affection about Down Lodge "Being her home" and how well the staff looked after her with compassion and kindness, taking a genuine interest
in her. Nothing was too much trouble for the staff and she particularly liked the freedom of choice she had to carry on living her life as independently as possible going up to Wokingham Town centre each day on her own for her exercise and shopping etc. I would like to thank Down Lodge for looking after my Aunt so well and making the twilight years so happy.
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Review from Susan M (Niece of Resident) published on 1 July 2020 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Thank you to Down Lodge team who have looked after my aunt so caring and respectfully. Staff always have time for everyone, never too much to ask. In such difficult times, I am so grateful to everyone for what you have done and continue to do.
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Review from V T (Resident) published on 10 March 2020 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Very happy and grateful for the service offered. Staff very helpful and polite. The following answers reflect this.
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Review from Monica L (Daughter of Resident) published on 14 November 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My mother was hesitant about going into a home but knew she was getting to the point of being unable to live at home by herself. She now says her only regret is that she didn’t go in sooner. She really enjoys all her meals, has made lots of friends, joins in with the exercises and sing songs and is
extremely well looked after. All the staff give 100% and then more. I really could not recommend Down Lodge highly enough and would definitely consider going there myself when the time comes. It’s hard to tell from one visit what care home is the most suitable for your parents. Here, the residents and staff are all one big happy family and I couldn’t have asked for more than that for my mum.
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Review from G D (Daughter of Resident) published on 1 May 2018 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We chose Down Lodge for my mother who is suffering from dementia because it is small., friendly and homely. It is well run, the food is of a good standard and the staff are kind and supportive. I visit very frequently and am always made very welcome. I know that my mother is safe, secure and looked
after very well.
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Review from C B (Daughter of Resident) published on 30 April 2018 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My Mother, now 98, has resided at Down Lodge for six and a half years. When my Brother and I went for interview prior to her moving down from Derbyshire, we immediately felt that this was the right place for her. It is homely and personal and not too big. Management is excellent and communication levels
between management and clients and family members high. The staff are caring and hard working. The degree of professionalism and confidentiality is high. There are sufficient activities for my 98 year old Mother though, unfortunately, because of her failing health, she cannot enjoy them fully.
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Review from J S (Son of Resident) published on 25 April 2018 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Everybody at Down Lodge provides a great quality of care for my mum. They show great levels of respect and care. We feel she is very happy and safe at Down Lodge.
Down Lodge staff provide peace of mind to all our mum's family.
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Review from Sue (Daughter of Resident) published on 11 April 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
My mother has settled into the care home well. She has a warm comfortable room and she is well looked after by the very friendly staff. She suffered an illness during December and the staff called a doctor immediately and took the greatest care of her through to her full recovery.We are particularly
grateful to them for the excellent care and compassion they showed her during this time.
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Review from Karen (Friend of Resident) published on 5 April 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My friend has been at Down Lodge for a number of years and the level of care and attention she receives is excellent. Staff and Management are friendly and helpful, nothing is too much trouble. I would not hesitate to recommend Down Lodge to anyone.
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Review from K T (Son of Resident) published on 16 September 2016 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Very impressive care home. Owner fully involved with staff and residents. It is like a large family (16 residents)
Activities not used very often but when involved enjoys them.
I have complete confidence in the care home and staff.
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Review from Tracy K (Daughter of Resident) published on 2 September 2016 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My mother recently spent 3 months in 'Down Lodge Residential Care Home' receiving respite care in between the hospital and returning home. I cannot praise the team enough for their compassion, caring and empathy before and during her stay. The manager runs a thoroughly professional business and no
request is too large or small. 'Down Lodge Residential Care Home' is very homely and welcoming for residents and visitors alike and I would happily recommend it to anyone who is considering care for a loved one.
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Review from Susan H (Aunt of Resident) published on 27 June 2016 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My aunt has been at Down Lodge for 3 years. I live abroad and visit yearly but speak to my aunt every other week. It is a relief that we have found a nice safe home for my aunt. The home is friendly with well trained staff and my aunt always says how happy and content she is living at Down Lodge. When
I visit the home is always bright and clean and the staff and manager most helpful.
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Current Review Score: 9.5 (9.459)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.5 (9.459) out of 10 for Down Lodge Residential Care Home is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  1. The Average Rating is 4.9 out of 5 from 6 Reviews in the last 24 months.
  2. The score for the number of positive Reviews is 4.6 out of 5 from 6 positive Reviews in the last 24 months.

Detailed Breakdown of Review Score

The maximum Review Score for a Care Home is 10, which is made up from the Average Rating of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) and the Number of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) in the last 24 months:

  1. 5 Points are available for the Average Rating from all Reviews in the last 24 months. The Average Rating of 4.859 for Down Lodge Residential Care Home is calculated as follows: ( (61 Excellents x 5) + (10 Goods x 4) ) ÷ 71 Ratings = 4.859
  2. 5 Points are available for the number of Positive Reviews in the last 24 months. A Positive Review is defined as any Review with an 'Overall Experience' of '4' or '5' (out of a max rating '5'). The 4.6 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Down Lodge Residential Care Home is based on 6 positive Reviews in the last 24 months and is calculated as per below:

    The 5 points available are broken down as follows:

    1. 4 points are available for the first 10 Positive Reviews in the last 24 months; 3 points for the first Positive Review, and then 0.125 Points for each of the next four Positive Reviews and then 0.1 Points for the next five Positive Reviews. (1st = 3.000, 2nd = 0.125, 3rd = 0.125, 4th = 0.125, 5th = 0.125, 6th = 0.100, 7th = 0.100, 8th = 0.100, 9th = 0.100, 10th = 0.100) 3 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.1 = 3.6
    2. 1 point is available for the number of Positive Reviews reaching 20% of the registered maximum number of service users in the last 24 months. If this number is partially reached, then that proportion of 1 point is given. eg a Care Home registered for a maximum of 50 service users has to reach 10 Positive Reviews to receive 1 point, if it has 7 reviews it will receive 0.7 points. 20% of the 16 registered maximum number of service users is 3.2, which has been reached with 6 Positive reviews. Points = 1
  3. When a Review is submitted by someone who has previously submitted a Review, only the latest Review will count towards the Review Score.
  4. If a Care Home does not have a review in the last 24 months, then it will not have a Review Score.

Regulatory Rating

Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rating

Date: 1 Nov 2018

Overall Good

  • Caring Good
  • Effective Good
  • Responsive Good
  • Safe Good
  • Well-led Good
Care Quality Commission is responsible for the registration and inspection of social care services in England. View Latest Report

Bed Vacancies

Please contact us for latest vacancies.

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Awards / Recognitions (0)

Meet the Team (0)

There are no team members posted.

Frequently Asked Questions about Down Lodge Residential Care Home

What types of Care is Down Lodge Residential Care Home registered for?

Older Person Care is the registered (by the Care Quality Commission) category of Care.

How many Rooms does Down Lodge Residential Care Home have?

There are 14 Single Rooms and 1 Couple/Companion Room.

What are the Facilities & Services at Down Lodge Residential Care Home?

Own Furniture if required, Pet Friendly (or by arrangement), Smoking not permitted, Close to Local shops, Near Public Transport, Minibus or other transport, Stairlift, 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 Down Lodge Residential Care Home to the centre of Wokingham?

0.1 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 Down Lodge Residential Care Home to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Down Lodge Residential Care Home has an Enhanced Service - more info.