Marlborough Lodge Care Home

Our first visit to see Mum yesterday and we were extremely impressed with the whole place. Beautiful home, comfortable, clean and light. Staff were amazing with all residents and there was a happy, friendly atmosphere. Having spent a lot of time in hospitals etc with other family members, we found that this was MUCH more like a real 'home'. We were there over lunchtime and the meal looked and smelled delicious, the portions were a decent size too. It's great to be able to leave Mum, knowing that she is being well cared for. Thank you all.

Always pay close attention to both care and medical needs. Communication is very good with any key events notified in a reasonable timescale and emergencies notified immediately.

I have scored Marlborough Lodge consistently good. I would have scored excellent but there are occasions when staff changes or shortages reduce the, usually, excellent provision of services. I would expect that pretty well every care home must experience the same difficulties.

I visited the care home to see my mother in law and father in law and I was so impressed by the homely feeling and atmosphere on arrival. My mother in law, who, at home, was almost catatonic, was up, dressed, conversing and looking nourished, clean and happy. My father in law was clean, up out of bed, reading (not done in years) and in a beautiful room. The staff, through their care, saved his life by noticing a dangerous medical condition and for that, I hold them in the highest esteem! They were being cared for at home for years and nothing was ever picked up. Marlborough Lodge are amazing.

A wonderful home with wonderful staff.

Fantastic loving home, that provides excellent standard of care, a warm inviting environment. Staff always have a happy positive attitude and are always happy to help and go the extra mile for all their residents and staff.

The staff are always friendly and truly love their residents. Their patience is phenomenal!

A family friend is staying at Marlborough Lodge. I find it a very friendly and caring home, always so many staff. There is a very nice homely feel to the home, I very much enjoy visiting. Nothing is too much trouble. I am very confident that the lady I visit is cared for in a way I would care for her. The management/staff involve me in her care which is very reassuring. It is a wonderful home.

Marlborough Lodge is an exceptional home. Having had a disastrous experience elsewhere in Marlborough, at a 'job's worth' nationally run home, my mother, who has advanced Alzheimer's , has found happiness and superb loving care from the staff who are of the highest calibre.

It goes to show that it really is all about the people- having enough well trained, and committed staff; and not about 'reporting' 'safeguarding' and 'that's for management' attitude that constitutes the running of a modern purpose-built, soulless institution where profit margins sacrifice true care.

This is home where the heart truly is, complete with imperfections in its layout (previously referred to by another review), it is more lovable for that. This is a team who are truly committed to the highest standards of care and respect, and who ensure that stimulation, good humour and affection are the norm. I recommend Marlborough Lodge wholeheartedly: my mother's life has been enriched by their efforts, and all our family join me in paying tribute to all the staff and visiting activities organisers, so unrelenting in verve and enthusiasm.

Marlborough Lodge is the only place for my mum to be looked after - it's the best place. Trying to find a care home for my mum was probably the worst time of my life. However the moment I rang Marlborough Lodge I just knew it was right for mum. The manager was so kind, so understanding. All the staff are kind, caring and I know my beloved mum is safe and very well cared for. Mum has alzheimer's and she has been at Marlborough Lodge for 4 and a half years now and I cannot express my appreciation enough to all the staff for their wonderful care and kindness. I wouldn't be here now without Marlborough Lodge's help and support, they all need to know how good they all are. Thank you so much.

Marlborough Lodge provides care for my father which is caring, supportive to both residents and relatives. My father always appears to be very happy and secure, comfortable, well fed (amazing food) and stimulated. He is taken out on great trips, including possibility to go on holiday. The visitors to the lodge that provide entertainment are very geared to dementia sufferers. All in all I am extremely happy withy the care provided to my father and the staff that provide it.

The care and attention given to Mother from all of the Marlborough Lodge team is excellent. A great environment and one that I have great trust and confidence in. All the team take a pride in their work and truly look to know each of the residents and their individual needs.

My friend has been a resident for almost 5 yrs. I have never been concerned about her care since being in Marlborough Lodge. She is always clean, her room and her clothes, clean and tidy. There is lots of stimulation for the residents sometimes it is outside groups or just the staff doing things with them.

My sister was first placed at Merlin Court in Marlborough where she became depressed and unwell due to the severe lack of stimulation. They also had no toilet-ing regime, partly due to minimal staff. I decided to move her early this year to Marlborough Lodge, having looked at many alternative homes in the area.

Marlborough Lodge is unique. From the outside it looks very dated compared with other homes, but from the inside it is like no other home that I have visited. On first entering, it passes the 'smell test' and you can feel the dynamic energy that is emitted from the many staff on duty. They have capacity for approximately 16 residents and I have always seen 6 or more staff on at anytime (not including the cook & management). My sister, who has Alzheimer's, responded positively within a week, to the cheerful, caring manner of all the staff and showed improvement in her health & well-being. She responded to the toileting programme and started to engage in all the activities which she found fun and stimulating. Although some activities are programmed, most of the stimulation provided is spontaneous, with members of staff providing music, playing the guitar with sing-songs & a range of physical games providing group play, hand - eye coordination and fun. My sister is also taken out regularly for trips to the shops, canal boat rides and local walks.

My sister does have her bad days, but the management, who are very much 'hands-on', & staff spend time together, analysing what triggered her bad mood and deciding a plan of action to limit the situation reoccurring. I have also found their record keeping to be comprehensive and am presented with Record / Progress sheets, to read & sign, during my visits.

My sister recently had a appraisal conducted by a Wiltshire Council support worker, who agreed with my choice of Home, and commented that it was the best Home that she had ever visited - praise indeed. I feel sure that my sister feels like she is still living in our family home, as she is so happy. It confirms my choice of Care Home for her, which is a great comfort.