The Lodge

A hip operation was planned at a nearby Hospital.

With nobody at home to look after me, I opted for two weeks of convalescent care at The Lodge.

Two and a half days after my hip operation, the care home Manageress personally transported me from the hospital, and also was very helpful throughout my stay.

My room had all the features needed following a hip operation, particularly an electrically adjustable bed, and in the bathroom, a raised toilet seat and suitable hand grab holds.

Additionally, there was the assurance of an electronic nurse call system working day and night.

Food at The Lodge was varied and excellent, and always took account of my personal dietary requirements - The Manageress even shopping to obtain special requests !

There are adequate corridors and stairways at The Lodge to provide for walking exercise as needed.

Just one week after convalescence at The Lodge, I am walking without sticks, driving my car, and about to participate in a gliding competition !

First class in every way. spent time with them after a major operation. Nothing was too much trouble for the residents. One was treated with great respects by 'all' staff.

Volunteered here all year round, talking and helping out with particular residents. Residents extremely well looked after and nurses and staff are always patient and cheery. There are a wide variety of activities and day trips held for the residents which they seem to thoroughly enjoy.

I have found The Lodge to be an absolutely splendid Care Home. The whole atmosphere of The Lodge is friendly, relaxed and warmly welcoming. Staff are invariably courteous & friendly, and they try to make the residents feel comfortable and valued.

The menu here is exceptionally good in variety and preparation - it is quite the best mass cooking I have ever encountered: suggestions are followed up quickly, as in the addition of roast parsnips to the menu and pepper mills supplied to each table. I have lived most of my life under mass cooking, and the Lodge is comfortably the best I remember.

Each resident has their own room, with en suite facilities, which is cleaned daily. There is no obligation to join other residents for meals, and food can be taken in your room or in the communal restaurant, where a waitress service operates.

The Lodge has a very varied set of activities, in which you can participate on a voluntary basis if you wish, plus a weekly trip to a local attraction.

For the last 17 years I have been a visiting chaplain (RC) on a regular basis. All the residents I visited were very happy and contented. It has always been evident to me that the care and support is of the utmost standard. In the 80's my mother was a resident at The Lodge. She has already been a resident at a care home in Exeter where she was extremely unhappy. When she moved to The Lodge she was very happy and died there in 1990.

My Father has been a resident at The Lodge for over two years now and in this time the care from all members of staff has been exceptional. The support and care shown to me throughout this very difficult time has been incredible from every member of staff, from the kitchen, housekeeping, office, event planners, managers, nurses and carers. They have been most caring to my Dad and myself and it feels like one big happy family rather than a nursing home. The nurses and carers are absolute angels and I will always be so very grateful to all.

My father stayed at The Lodge for a short term stay of approximately three months before he went home after being hospitalised. Unfortunately my father would have loved to come back to live at The Lodge but he has the start of dementia and the home is not registered for dementia care.

The care home has always demonstrated courtesy, kindness and approachability and efficiency. The latter was displayed when on visiting my friend, another resident with mild dementia wandered into the room and told us her skirt was wet. Clearly she has been slightly incontinent. I went to find a nurse and reported it. I had hardly returned to my friends room when a nurse arrived to take care of the situation and the resident re-appeared a few minutes later washed with changed clothing and ready to chat again. There is exceptional team work and a very high standard of care in The Lodge.

My friend always talks about the staff with the high regard. One of the carers in the night shift sewed some buttons on my friends blouse in her tea break. This really helped my friend and made her feel loved. All staff are friendly, polite and welcoming. As a friend visiting The Lodge I find it a very pleasant place with family attitudes/friendliness.

The food is excellent (I can vouch for that!) and there are so many outings and activities, including music, poetry, theatre, yoga - plenty to occupy the mind and body, indeed never a dull moment ... especially for the staff who work so hard and are so imaginative and creative! The staff deserve a special mention. When you meet a member of staff at The Lodge, it becomes obvious that they are not just doing a job, it is a vocation. It is very reassuring to know that my mother is so happy and well cared for.

Thank you to the Manager for all your help.

Can't praise the management & staff enough. I've worked for Social Services caring for the elderly and vulnerable adults, for over 20 years the quality of care, meals are second to none, As a family member if you want peace of mind knowing your loved one is safe & secure, being cared for The Lodge is the place.

Please provide more of same service.