Bupa Letcombe Regis

My brother moved to Maple, Richmond Village Letcombe Regis in April 2022. Since then, I have been a constant and regular visitor. I have always found my brother very well cared for. The staff are professional, friendly and engaged with the residents and always available if there are any issues for discussion. It is obvious from my brother’s demeanour that he feels secure and content with the care he receives in Maple.

My wife is content and safe thanks to the excellent and sensitive care she receives. She adores the staff and they reciprocate. I have complete confidence in the staff, from cleaning to kitchen through to carers and nurses.

I have just come home from a two-week stay in Sycamore, Richmond Villages. My respite was for rest, relaxation and recuperation after taking a turn for the worse after a double hip fracture. It was all I expected it to be. All the nursing and care staff were absolutely wonderful and I thoroughly enjoyed my stay. I was able to recuperate and go home feeling so much better. Thank you.

My 93-year-old Mum contracted pneumonia at the beginning of January this year while living at home and although she had received wonderful care when in hospital for 6 weeks she still was too frail to return home. At very short notice all the staff involved in admitting new patients at Richmond Villages, Letcombe Regis did an amazing job in assessing her needs and making a room available to her for a three-week respite rest. When I arrived at the care home with my Mum all the staff were very welcoming. She has been in the care home for 3 days now and having met/spoken to several of the staff, as well as speaking with my Mum over the phone, I can say she is very well looked after by all the lovely staff and feels very safe in their capable hands, which gives both my Mum and I great peace of mind.

Since Mum moved here I have had complete peace of mind knowing that she is very well looked after and is safe. She has all her needs fully met 24/7. All the staff are friendly and go out of their way to make her feel valued and treat her as an individual. When we have been around within the village, several staff say hello and address her by name. The design and decor of the main areas is fantastic and provide a variety of seating areas for you to sit quietly or to be able to chat if you so wish. I highly recommend Sycamore, the nursing unit here.

Brilliant staff, very well looked after. Food is good home comforts and facilities are excellent. I love the tranquillity of the village a perfect place for my retirement worth the money. Family and friends are always welcome. I am free to come and go as I please which wasn’t the case in other care homes. The care floor is divided into two sections one for general nursing care and the other being for dementia. This works as the separation allows the nursing area to be calm and quiet.

Richmond Village was chosen for my father for many reasons but one very importantly was for the ability to add additional care as and when it became necessary, which we knew it would be. When the time came, we were told, in fact we were always kept informed of any issues, the time for additional care being one of them. His care requirements increased very rapidly and very dramatically but were arranged immediately and without fuss. The culture is one of nothing is too much trouble and any needs however big or small will be and were dealt with in an effective and efficient manner. My father’s last weeks after a long and fruitful life were made comfortable, painless and calm by the attention of not only his family but also most particularly the care, commitment and sensitivity of the staff be they the care staff themselves or the office staff.

The staff are lovely, however, a large number of long term staff have recently resigned.

Due in part to an unprecedented amount of experienced personnel leaving over the last few months, remaining employees have been under a great deal of pressure. Nonetheless, every effort is made in all departments to ensure residents are well cared for, albeit in some cases with limited resources. Supper club, bistro evenings and etc. are well received and special occasions are adequately catered for. However, everyday meals are often below the standard one would expect for the money we are paying. The spa and other activities are well organised, with varied entertainment to suit all tastes. However, a meeting/indoor games room large enough to be fit for purpose is required; it’s unsatisfactory to be using the restaurant for all in sundry. Laundry has at times been questionable and several of our jumpers, trousers and blouses have shrunk, which means added expense in buying new clothes. Statistics are important, but actions speak louder than words.

Whilst the setting and village are just perfect it's the staff at Richmond Letcombe that really makes it home for mum and so reassuring for us. They are incredibly caring, thoughtful and patient and now feel like an extension of our own family, we are truly grateful to them all.

We have found that you can be as independent as you wish, if you are able, in the knowledge that there is support when you need it. We have recently needed regular help from carers and they have been very caring and friendly whilst knowledgeable and professional.

A great home and a perfect choice.

I spent two weeks at the Richmond in Letcombe Regis recovering from a major back operation in February 2023. The main purpose was to have care on hand if the wound in my back did not heal properly and to avoid all lifting and major effort as I got back to walking again. The care I received from staff at the home was excellent. Members of staff were, without exception, extremely helpful, supportive and friendly. As my walking improved, I was able to get out for walks in the beautiful Letcombe Brook Valley. Towards the end of my stay, I could venture out onto the adjacent nature reserve. I was also able to go to the on-site cafe, which is open to those staying in the home as well as villagers and visitors. As a place to recover from an important operation the Richmond in Letcombe Regis was ideal. The only significant problem which I had was the poor mobile phone reception which appears to be a problem in all the villages along the foot of the Downs.

As a regular family member visitor over the last 5 years I can only describe Richmond Villages Letcombe Regis care home as truly outstanding both professionally and supportive to their residents. Management, the care teams and nurses have to undertake very difficult challenges night and day associated with the nature of the illness and this certainly stands out due to the quality of the care given, the compassion and professionalism. All staff appear to go above and beyond their daily tasks making sure Richmond is a very cheerful and secure place for the residents to call their home. The resident's happiness and welfare are of paramount importance and this appears to be constantly adhered to. Due to the constant expertise and dedication from all staff members whichever field they work in Richmond Villages Letcombe Regis has grown from strength to strength in recent years overcoming certain hurdles ie COVID and I have no doubt whatsoever this will continue in the future constantly making improvements and progress where it is required.

There are many interesting activities available which include a book club, discussion groups and memory games and also craft activities, all of which allow for plenty of social interaction. There is a choice between living independently or with additional support where necessary.

My wife is as contented and comfortable as she could be away from home. Her care and nursing needs (advanced Parkinsons) are attended to with competence, patience and good humour. Additional services (food, laundry etc) are of a high standard. A greater opportunity for residents to spend time outdoors would be good; as would a lesser dependency on agency staff.

My father was discharged directly from the hospital to Maple Ward in July 2022 and remained there until his death in October 2022. He received the most exemplary standard of care whilst there. At the same time, my mother moved into a flat within Richmond Letcombe and was able to visit Dad as many times as she wished each day. I also live reasonably locally, so we were both regularly dropping in on him unannounced. Every time we visited, often without notice, we saw that Dad was being treated with kindness, dignity and complete professionalism. His favourite radio channel was always put on for him, and he was always beautifully turned out in his own clothes and surrounded by pictures and books from home. He regained a significant amount of the weight he had lost in the hospital, the staff taking every measure to ensure he ate and drank well. We can't thank the team on Maple Ward enough for ensuring that Dad's final days were as peaceful and dignified as one could ever hope for.

My 94-year-old partner received a diagnosis of dementia in May 2022. He had respite in Maple Ward Letcombe Regis and I was very impressed by all aspects. I cannot comment on the meals because I was not present but I thought all other aspects of his care was exemplary. He was a resident from 4th to 16th November 2022.

From the first phone call to Richmond Villages Letcombe Regis, it was a whirlwind of action! My father was ready to be discharged from hospital and needed more end of life nursing care than we could provide at home. My initial contact was so positive and helpful and dad was whisked from hospital to Richmond within 24 hours. The staff looking after him were forward-looking and understood every need. Their kindness in maintaining his comfort and dignity I will not forget. Even after his passing away, he was treated with the utmost respect. The whole experience has been hugely positive and knowing that Dad had a pain free and peaceful last 10 days has been a great comfort. Thank you all.

The nursing staff lead did not understand what palliative care of the dying involved. There was no preparation to receive the resident and no forward plan of the possible needs of the resident. The nursing and care staff did their best, but the overall impression was that BUPA were cutting corners and saving costs.