The Orchards

We had to move my aunt from a care home because she was very unhappy so we were nervous about finding a new home, she moved into The Orchards in January 2020 and has gone from strength to strength. She is a naturally friendly, chatty lady and it has been lovely to see her settle in and make friends, her visitors think she hasn’t been looking as well for a long time.

We have always found the management and staff friendly and if any problems arose they are always helpful.

The first time I visited my Nan in The Orchards it felt like a rabbit warren, trying to remember where her room was! However, the premises did not feel gloomy or rundown in any way. The staff are always smiling and the place is cheerful! There are so many activities my Nan could do despite lockdown, and it has been great to see her getting involved. Nan loves her food and has always praised the meals!

Very friendly place, support is there for the family and my nan when needed, my nan didn't want to go into a nursing home but she's always felt welcome and felt that it's her home which made it so much easier for her when she moved in. Carers do an amazing job no matter how hard it can be.

On the whole, my mum enjoys her stay at The Orchards. Her main concern is the lack of food choice, (she loves fish). Mum said all the staff are helpful and cheerful. As mum is self-funding, I think her cost is too high.

The staff, in general, were superb although working under a heavy load, some of the hygiene needed attention, as regards toilets and bathrooms, overall though some staff went the extra mile to make my wife happy. The medical side also needed attention, talking to and understanding the residents needs more and involving the GP's visits more often.

Quality of care given comes from the top of any organisation and in this case, with the Manager at the helm, I find it is excellent.

My Mum received the best care and attention whilst living at the orchards. The staff were always cheerful and professional and always treated Mum with dignity and respect, they treated her as an individual and kept her spirits up. We were always informed of any health changes and visits from GP's etc. We moved mum to The Orchards from a previous home that she had been in and it was the best decision we could have made regarding her care. When Mum was reaching the end of her life, the care and compassion shown to her and us as a family was excellent, nothing was too much trouble, even when we had family members visiting at all hours, for this, we can not thank them enough.

The home is becoming a home from home gradually, the core staff are excellent and all cheerfull, constantly striving to give the residents the best possible care.

An extremely welcoming respite week where nothing was too much trouble. I hope that I will be going again at least twice more this year the next time in July.

All staff are cheerful, welcoming, respectful and understanding, always having time for Dad and our family. Care and nursing needs are well documented if there is a health issue, the nurse phones us. Time is taken to allow dad to make choices of his own regarding meals, activities and clothing. All curtains are immediately drawn to ensure privacy when administering care. The room and bathroom are a good size, well equipped, clean and well maintained although on the odd occasion clothing not belonging to dad has been put in the drawers. There are many communal lounges of varying sizes and all have tea and coffee making facilities, many rooms overlook the well used, accessible and secure garden. Our dad feels that he is in his own home with carers on hand and friends living close by, he enjoys the regular entertainment and very good meals in the restaurant. He enjoys the freedom of choosing where he spends his time and moving himself around and also enjoys the interaction with other residents and staff.

My Dad had been in this care home for 5 weeks. On arrival, it was noted that his radiator was not working. 5 weeks later it is still not working! With the cold weather fast approaching one would have thought this would be a priority. My Dad has cancer so he feels the cold. The manager did offer more blankets. But surely it can't take 5 weeks to fix a very simple problem! We do wonder what we are paying £1200 a week for? At times he does not get his breakfast until 11 am, he is left in his room when he could be encouraged to attend the functions in the main area.

I wrote the above review in October 2017. The above was fixed shortly after my complaint. Sadly my Dad passed away last week. I would like to thank all the staff at The Orchards for all the help and care they gave him in the last few weeks.

He is severely handicapped. During the first week's visit, I asked if he could have a soak in the bath. This was granted the next day. All the staff that my husband and I spoke to were very friendly, caring and professional. The activity schedule was very impressive.

It is a hard decision to decide to place your loved one in a care home. My mother has been at The Orchards for a few months, she has flourished, she is eating more and gaining very much needed weight. The care team are so very, very, kind and unlike the previous home, the manager is out and about on the floor. I have found the process of committing my mother to care so very distressing, but the manager has spent time with me, offering me words of comfort and I feel finally we have the right home for her. The Orchards is a truly beautiful place to be.

I had a comfortable fortnight with kindly staff. I've very limited sight so rely on my husband to read and write for me.

My family are very pleased with the care and treatment of my mother. Your nursing home is very clean and tidy, much better than other places we have seen.

It's a distressing period for all involved when it comes to picking a Care Home for a member of your family as it's usually the last important decision you can take for a relative. Reviews can often play quite an important part in this which is why I want to share our recent experience. It was a last minute thing with my Grandmother having to leave her home and go into full-time care as her condition was changing by the day. From the moment my Mother had the initial tour of The Orchards she was put at ease and felt there was no need to look any further. From the time my Grandmother arrived and throughout the 5 weeks she was there all the staff from the management to the Nurses and Carers provided an excellent level of care, nothing was too much trouble. As a family, it has helped us tremendously knowing that the right decision was made and my Grandmother was in the best possible place and had such caring and dignified end of life care. Thank you all very much.

We had a lovely meal and nothing was too much trouble. This gave my friend a very big lift, and they felt much better for it, made all the difference. Also a big thank you to the manager and the lady in the office - which is very well run.

My observations are now based upon the continued care, kindness and medical attention shown to my wife over two years and nine months tell me that The Orchards is very good. I have alternated my selections of the "options" concerned that to put excellent for them all might look like exaggeration. My wife is settled, comfortable and well nourished. I happily dine with her there frequently. The nursing is excellent and there is no hesitation when necessary to visit or call in the GP. I am always kept fully informed of any medical situation. The GP response in Crewkerne is excellent too. "Gold standard indeed."

2) Lack of cups/beakers in visitors lounges for people to have tea of coffee.