Facilities & Communal Areas

There is a range of different communal areas for people to use. These vary from quieter, cosy areas to larger lounges for television or for people to relax and enjoy each other’s company. There is also the two acres of landscaped garden for residents to enjoy that is fully wheelchair accessible so no one misses out.

Laurel Lodge was built to enhance the garden and give the residents another place to go and spend their time. Whilst it is still located within the grounds, we find our residents enjoy using the lodge as it feels as if they are going somewhere different. It’s used throughout the summer by both residents and staff and has kitchen and toilet facilities.  

Relatives and people can use the cabin for special occasions such as birthday parties and anniversaries. The local community also uses the facility with yoga classes run in the evening for both Laurel Care Home staff and members of the public. The cabin provides a quiet retreat and space for people and has also been used to deliver training courses and events for staff. 

The library was a new addition to the home in 2018, residents can go there whenever they want to and just take a book to read. It is a quiet place to relax with a lovely view of the garden.  We have books donated from libraries that have closed and donations from the local community and residents’ families.

Our shared communal areas are light, bright and comfortable with the home being decorated to a high standard throughout. We have recently built a sensory room for residents. This included relaxing lights, fish and birds that provide a soothing quiet area for people to relax in when they wished. 

What our residents say about our facilities:

One resident told the CQC Inspector in 2019: “I love this room…I can see everything going on from here.” A staff member told CQC  one person really loved birds and the Manager had agreed to get the birds in for this person to enjoy. When the birds were delivered they said, “His face lit up, it was such a joy to see. He loves watching them.” 

One relative the CQC Inspector in 2019: “I mentioned once that it would be nice for one of the lounges to have a visual display but without noise. Within two weeks they had arranged for a large tv display unit in the quieter lounge which had visual displays only for people to watch…it was done and sorted just like that, it’s so good.”