Vaughan Lee House

I am writing this review in the hope that it helps other families choose the right care home and level of support for their relative. My experience with Vaughan Lee was mixed. The home itself is clean, homely, and in many ways pleasant, and some of the staff were fantastic with my relative. However, I do not feel the home was able to meet her needs as someone living with dementia. This was known at her assessment, but after three months I was asked to move her to somewhere considered "more suitable". Some staff seemed unsure how to support someone with dementia, and at times my relative felt lonely and overlooked. In my view, it would have been better if the home had been clear from the outset that it was not suitable for her needs. The decision felt as though it came from the manager and other staff appeared unsure why she was being asked to leave. Although there were positive aspects to the home, the overall experience was very upsetting for my relative.

Amazing care home! Staff are so friendly and really care about the residents. They go above and beyond to ensure that the residents are happy and feel special. Vaughan Lee House is very 'homely'. It is immaculately clean and smells nice. The staff provide a range of enjoyable activities and outings. Open views make the residents feel amongst the community. Little touches, like birthday and Christmas gifts are very heartwarming. I am pleased that my friend is in such a wonderful place.

The Activities' Co-ordinator organises a variety of activities which Mum really enjoys. Mum is particularly pleased that each month there are church services led by volunteers from the local church

I'm particularly grateful to the members of staff who understand mum's problems with anxiety, and manage to help her to keep calm. Thank you!

Mum moved into Vaughan Lee after a hospital stay due to a fall at home. She immediately felt welcome. Staff were kind and understanding and her room was clean and bright. Over the last 17 months thankfully mum has had no further falls due to the diligence of staff being there to help at times when a fall could easily arise. Cleanliness at Vaughan Lee is first class. Everyone I have taken to visit has commented on the high standard of cleanliness and on how delightful it smells inside. Mum really appreciates the social aspect of meal times. Being able to sit with others and enjoy a meal in lovely bright surroundings is a real plus. The daily menu is displayed for all to see and from my observations consists of extremely nourishing meals with a choice on offer. All staff approach their job very professionally and obviously have clear guidance on how to react in any circumstance. They build excellent relationships with the residents displaying compassion, happiness and a love of their job

My mother was a resident at Vaughan Lee House for just over 3 years before she passed away there in December 2024 at the age of 99 years. Throughout her time there she was treated with kindness, respect, compassion and professionalism by the staff and management. My brother and I both reside outside the UK, and so we were reliant on Vaughan Lee House to recognize my mother's needs and to communicate with us proactively about details of her care, and they did so in a way that allowed us to feel reassured that my mother was very comfortable and well taken care of. They were also considerate of our position and feelings as family members and went above and beyond to support us as well as our Mum. There are no words adequate to express my gratitude to the wonderful people at Vaughan Lee House for providing such a lovely place for my Mum during her last years. Anyone who lives at Vaughan Lee House is very fortunate, as are their families.

My 98-year-old mother has been resident at Vaughan Lee for over a year now. As I am resident in France and my sister in Canada, we need a place where my mother is completely cared for. I visited her in Vaughan Lee in May 2024 and was extremely impressed. The food is excellent. There are activities for the residents almost every day. Very regular checks are made on the residents in their rooms. I was invited to join some of the activities and eat there, so I could really see the quality for myself. The staff are available, attentive and always relaxed and smiling. My mother is receiving a standard of care way beyond what any family member could supply for her. She is relaxed and happy.

First and foremost everyone is so friendly at Vaughan Lee House. You feel at ease the moment you go through the door. Everything is clean, very well presented and obviously well-managed. The staff are professional, polite, friendly and knowledgeable. Nothing is too much trouble. My friend says it is not a home, it is her home. I say that speaks volumes.

My father came to Vaughan Lee in December 2023, after a stay in hospital and losing much of his mobility. He settled in immediately with help and support from the carers there. He has a lovely room that he likes to stay in because it's warm and cosy and he gets his meals delivered to him in there. The care team are wonderful; they spend time chatting to him, attending to his needs and being there to help him with anything. He is happy and contented. This takes a huge amount of worry and weight off my shoulders, because I know he is happy and safe.

Thank you to all the staff at Vaughan Lee House for looking after him, and particularly on his last day.

The short time that my mother was in Vaughan Lee House the care was exceptional. The carers were always very friendly and caring, also nothing was ever too much trouble. Her room was always clean and tidy and in the last few weeks of her life the care that she was given while bed ridden was second to none. She could not have asked for better care.

Friends with knowledge of care homes visited me during my stay and were most impressed with the welcome, the dedication, the cleanliness, the activities on offer and the happy atmosphere. Ilminster is very fortunate to have such a superb care home.

My daughter and I regularly visit my mum at Vaughan Lee House Care Home, also attending many of the events that are put on for residents and families to come along to. The staff are very kind and caring to my mum and family when visiting her. We have always been impressed with the care provided for my mum.

My aunt, now 93, has lived very happily at Vaughan Lee House Care Home for the last two years. I can only heap praise on the excellent level of compassionate care she has received from all of the staff. We have also always felt welcomed and supported by all of the team. This home has the ethos of those in the community who worked to build it and continue their support. It feels an integral part of all that is so good about Ilminster.

Thanks.

Mum stayed at Vaughan Lee House Care Home for two weeks to give my brother some respite. She had a lovely time and the staff were all very caring towards her and our family when we visited Mum. Mum needs quite a lot of help as she had a major stroke three years ago and the level of care was exemplary. Her ensuite room was lovely, as was the entire home. The food looked and smelled delicious. We will definitely be arranging further respite visits for Mum in the future. Can't recommend Vaughan Lee House enough.

My mother stayed in Vaughan Lee for a short while following a fall. The care she received was exceptional. The staff and management were so supportive and kind to us all. The food was very good and any requests made e.g to borrow a wheelchair for hospital visits were always willingly accommodated. Vaughan Lee House is very well run and very good value for money.

I went to Vaughan Lee for two weeks between hospital and home and received excellent treatment.

Wonderful, homely environment. Lunch of roast dinner smelt lovely and all the staff were so kind and welcoming. Would recommend.

My mother has been a resident of Vaughan Lee since January 2021. She was sorry to lose her independence at home but now accepts Vaughan Lee as her home. She is as happy here as she would be anywhere. She is looked after extremely well and is treated with dignity and care. Each member of staff treats my mother as they would their best friend or family member. She loves them all. She never ate very well at home but now she enjoys every meal. She likes food. Everything is presented well, cooked in a homely style and cut up for her. She can then feed herself and she enjoys every meal. She has a problem with incontinence but each 'accident' is treated as if it's 'just one of those things' and everything is soon back to normal - as if nothing had happened. All the staff live locally - and when my mother speaks of local places and events from her past, which she does all the time, they are familiar to anyone listening to her, so she feels it's just like talking to a friend.