Tara's Retreat Care Home

When I visited a family friend I was impressed from the outset. Taras has such a lovely warm and welcoming feel to it. The level of care shown to my family friend was second to none and staff showed compassion, kindness and patience. Taras is in a lovely, peaceful location with excellent facilities for its residents. What a lovely place

My Husband has now been in Tara's Retreat for 7 months and in that time has been very well looked after the care and attention he gets is second to none. The staff are all excellent and look after each resident as if they were their own relatives I cannot praise them enough for what they do. Thank you All.

As a temporary Respite resident my Mother found that although many staff were lovely, especially activities staff, there were often problems with communication, resulting in repeated use of male carers for personal care and some late meals.

From the absolute beginning of my mums journey at Taras, she has been looked after above and beyond expectations! Mum now has severe dementia but remains quite physically fit, with her weakness being her chest/ lungs. My sister and I have been called to hospital on two occasions, to be told that mum would not live - we both knew that if we could just get her back to Taras she'd be okay! We were told by doctors that mum had forgotten how to swallow, which we thankfully knew not to be true as we went in to give her yoghurts/ sips of water etc whilst at hospital! On the evening she got 'home' to Taras- she independently ate a huge meal, followed by lovingly prepared extra desserts! She was sent back under 'End of Life' care, which thankfully neither we or Taras agreed was the case. We are now about two years on and mum is extremely happy and alive!!! Taras have put in place every possible asthma/ breathing help- first spotting signs of a chest infection etc. Taras is beyond amazing!

Gill

My Dad became a resident at Tara's in 2023. He lived in "Meadows" initially which is bright and homely with plenty of activities and atmosphere.

He has since moved down to "Hillview" as he requires more personal care. He is always brought into the lounge now so he can be with other residents. He looks forward to his food and clears his plate - he has always had a good appetite and this hasn't changed.

The home is clean and tidy. We did have a temporary issue with the cleanliness of his room which was addressed with management and resolved - he had new flooring put in his room and regular checks mean that his needs are met. I have given a 5 star review for cleanliness as the home is clean - the main challenges are when a resident's needs change which I believe is the case with my Dad.

These carers are incredible people and I cannot thank them enough for what they do and keep on doing. Knowing I can talk to any member of staff whenever I need to gives me total peace of mind and reassurance that Tara's is a truly special place with truly special people. x

My friend was discharged from hospital for 'End of Life Care' in the evening. The following morning I went to visit at 10 am. I was let in, didn't see anyone, went to her room, she was lying there half-covered with a coloured type of sheet. There was a duvet on the armchair and dirty bedding on the floor. I sat with her for 10 mins, then left, still didn't see anyone. A relative was going in at 12 which the Home knew about, so I knew she would be clean and comfortable for them. I went to visit again late afternoon and she passed away whilst I was there, Thank God I knew she didn't die alone. Also, how can a Care Home not have any clean laundry to use on Christmas morning?

The home is well-run. Staff and management polite and helpful. Any problems or queries are resolved promptly. Any issues regarding the resident are taken seriously.

As a PAT (Pets as Therapy) volunteer, my review is based on experience and observations on fortnightly visits with my dog when we visit residents both in the lounges and individual rooms, accompanied by one of the staff members responsible for activities. Tara's is a bright, clean and welcoming place and there is a feeling of community and things going on, whether it's visits to the hairdresser, watching a film in the cinema room or knitting at the 'Knitter Natter' session. For those who spend more time in their rooms, rooms are spacious and pleasant and personal belongings are accommodated. In my experience, the staff are friendly, dedicated and caring and they go the extra mile to engage with residents, as well as attending to their practical needs. Based on my experience, residents appear to be treated as individuals, with care and respect.

I have always found the staff at Tara’s Retreat very kind and helpful to my mother in law who is very confused every day. She is safe and comfortable in her own room with her own facilities. She chooses not to partake in the activities but a variety of events are available.

I chose Tara's Retreat out of all the care homes in the area for a variety of reasons. The staff are amazing. Positivity and kindness go so far. They always have great activities on and they allow pets to visit which makes such a difference. Shout out to the loveliest receptionist and understanding manager. The nurse comes weekly. Can’t fault anyone and really trust Tara's.

Tara's Retreat has provided my mother with safety, security and friendship. Knowing she is receiving a high level of care and support has alleviated some of the stresses experienced by having a vulnerable elderly parent. From the very experienced Home Manager and her team to the carers, all staff are welcoming, friendly and supportive, taking the time to discuss any issues or needs.

With plenty of activities to get involved with, the residents at Tara's Retreat have access to a cinema room where they are able to watch a good selection of movies past and present. My mother particularly enjoys a game of pool in one of the smaller, more intimate lounges. Activities for the summer also included a great game of crazy golf and the activities coordinators always encourage friends and family to join in the events. The home is tastefully decorated and the ensuite bedrooms are very comfortable.

My aunt has certainly rallied since she has been a resident at Tara's Retreat. Every time I visit her she sings the praises of the staff. I feel comforted that she is being well cared for and is safe and happy.

Tara's Retreat Care Home is a comfortable home where my father (who has advanced dementia) is kept clean and comfortable and well fed. It is well managed with enquiries and requests dealt with promptly and cheerfully. The staff take an interest in the residents’ likes and dislikes and makes an effort to get them venturing out into the communal areas and involved in the life of the home. It is early days but so far we are very happy with the level of care provided.

After a long stay in hospital we needed to find a Care Home for Dad. We were struck by the welcoming atmosphere and how clean and tidy Tara's Retreat Care Home was on our first visit. The manager has been very helpful in finding a lovely room for Dad and assisting with all the paperwork involved as this can be quite daunting. All the staff have been kind, caring and respectful to Dad and helping him to adjust to his new situation. He has actually gained a little weight since his arrival thanks to the lovely food he is enjoying. He has had a couple of medical issues since his arrival but these have been dealt with swiftly and we have been kept informed at all times which helps us to adjust to the situation and stops us worrying about him so much as we know his welfare is a priority to the whole team here.

My mother is treated with great kindness and dignity by the staff. It is very clear that the staff and the management work very hard to look after the residents. Although my mother suffers significantly from Alzheimer's, she is always able to tell me that she is looked after very well. Great credit to the manager and her team.

Right from the initial assessment at Mum's home where I also lived, the assessor completely ‘got’ mum, who has severe dementia - reassuring from the outset. On Mum's arrival, members of staff all came to introduce themselves to Mum, my sister and one of Mum's other carers. They all had a good knowledge of Mum's needs and were all very kind and welcoming. We are now in February and Mum has really settled - Tara's Retreat Care Home has now accomplished the care Mum really needed, which we were finding impossible at her own home with lots of wonderful carers in place. Mum seems happy and the staff and receptionist are always fully able to give me any latest updates on Mum - staff change over information is always clearly relayed. Without exception - I have been thoroughly impressed by the extremely honest, genuine care at all times.

We looked at a few local care homes - Tara's Retreat had a lovely 'feel' about it from the minute we walked in. Their greatest asset is their staff. My mother cannot fault them - she thinks they are all extremely kind, compassionate and welcoming, we agree. They work hard to provide extra experiences, such as summer parties and events. The setting is also perfect - backing onto open fields and the forest. Our mother is fortunate enough to have a room with far-reaching views across fields and paddocks, which she loves. It has been the perfect choice for us.

The management and staff at Tara's Retreat have gone above and beyond expectations. They not only care for their residents but their relatives too. It is a happy place where there is a good relationship among all the staff.