Gardening is a popular pastime enjoyed by all ages and as we get older, it’s a great way to keep active and get outdoors amongst nature
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Care at the heart of your community
Find out more about Care South, a not-for-profit charity and leading provider of residential, dementia, nursing, assisted living and care at home across the south of England.
Care South is a not-for-profit charity and leading provider of care and care at home services across the south of England. We believe in helping our residents lead rich and fulfilling lives by providing them with the three Fs – Food, Fun and Friendship. Care South believes that delivering high quality, compassionate care is all about friendly, highly-trained staff meeting individual care needs with professional levels of skill and understanding. Our care is guided by our HEART values: Honesty, Excellence, Approach, Respect and Teamwork. These inspire each and every one of our team always to go the extra mile for the people in our care. We tailor our care to the individual requirements of each of our residents and care at home users.
Care South runs 15 warm and welcoming residential, dementia and nursing care homes across Dorset, Devon, Somerset and West Sussex. We also offer short-term respite care. We want our residents to feel safe and well-cared for and to enjoy the companionship of others.
We encourage choice and independence in a home-from-home environment, with the support of compassionate and professionally trained care teams, who
are on-hand 24 hours-a-day, to help our residents.
As well as comfortable, fully furnished bedrooms, our homes have cosy and inviting communal lounges and dining rooms, and attractive, safe and accessible gardens and outdoor spaces.
We also provide care at home across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, Bath and North-East Somerset, West Dorset and Somerset for individuals who want to live independently but with a little extra care and support from our team of friendly and well-trained professionals. We believe in providing person-centred care, whether that’s companionship, respite support, help around the home or more complex care for as long as is required.
This edition gives particular focus to the importance of excellent food, nutrition
and
in our homes and in the community through our Care South at Home teams. The fantastic activities our teams deliver really reflect the commitment of our staff who always go the ‘extra mile’ for our residents and care at home clients.
There has certainly been a lot going on this year with a lot still to come, including the progression of our new home in Lilliput, Poole, which is featured in this issue.
We hope you enjoy reading and getting an ‘insight’ into Care South.
Care is about providing the right level of support to allow individuals to lead happy, safe and fulfilling lives. It is person-centred and takes into account health needs and personal preferences. It is responsive to changing needs and is provided by caring, knowledgeable professionals who treat people with dignity and respect.
• At Care South, we offer warm and welcoming residential, dementia and nursing care homes for permanent stays, respite or short visits, such as following a hospital stay or to allow carers to take a break or to enjoy a holiday
• Our beautiful assisted living developments in the ample grounds of our care homes allow people to remain in their own home, with the added peace of mind that help is on hand should there be a need
We provide the residents in our care and care at home clients with care and support, filled with plenty of Food, Fun and Friendship along the way.
Getting to know our residents on a more personal level is a priority for all our teams, so we can tailor their care and the activities we offer. Spending one-to-one time with each resident allows our activities teams to find out if there are any specific activities they would like to do, places they would like to visit or experience, or perhaps discover new things they haven’t done before. It could even be a special dish or meal they would like our chefs to cook for them. Our teams take real pleasure from delivering this
‘Bank of Wishes’ and making dreams come true, creating memories our residents and their families and friends can treasure. We have a close partnership with AFC Bournemouth Community Sports Trust, and its teams are regular visitors to our homes, visiting each month to chat with our residents and encourage them to participate in light physical activity. It’s also a chance for many to take a trip down memory lane.
Residents can be as involved as they wish in the activities on offer and we work across the homes to share ideas between teams so that we put on a wide variety of entertainment and performances for our residents to enjoy.
Each member of our team is dedicated to helping residents get the most out of each day, whilst feeling safe and supported. For us, it’s all about delivering the three Fs – Food, Fun and Friendship – to ensure residents live a happy and fulfilling life. Activities are an important part of dayto-day life to keep our residents both mentally and physically stimulated and inject a healthy dose of fun. We want to make sure our residents continue to do the things they love, even if that’s simply sitting down with friends for a card game or a puzzle.
Organised by our dedicated activities teams, our residents enjoy everything from baking and arts and crafts to visits from entertainers. Some of our homes even have their own history and gardening clubs, Tai Chi classes and Scrabble tournaments. Tailored to suit our residents’ likes and favourite pastimes, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Each home also has access to a minibus for day trips to local points of interest and attractions, or for the occasional visit to the theatre, pantomime, or cinema. Here’s just a glimpse of some of the activities in our homes.
For many, moving to a care home is a big decision and it can be difficult to know where to start. As a long-established and trusted care home provider, and a not-for-profit charity, Care South is a safe pair of hands that can fully support you. This guide to choosing a care home is designed to help you and your loved one consider your choices and make the right decision that works for your requirements and circumstances.
1. Research
It’s important to look at all the options and find out if the home has everything you need. Different care homes have different facilities and offer different types of care. Care South has residential care homes across the south of England, providing a range of care, from those looking to continue with some independence with excellent care and help, when required, to caring for dependent, full-time residents and providing nursing and dementia facilities.
2. Get the details
Contact the homes and ask for a brochure to find out more information. It is difficult for care homes to tell you the exact price of their services until a full assessment has been made, but care homes should be able to tell you their price ranges for the different levels of care they offer.
3. Visit
Make sure you visit the care homes that you are considering to make sure they can meet your current and possible future needs.
4. Undertake an assessment
Once you have made your decision on which home you would like to choose, book a time for an assessment to be carried out. Everyone’s needs are different and care homes will want to undertake an assessment to ensure they offer the best balance of care. Care South works with every family to make the process as smooth as possible, and it wants to understand your requirements and your lifestyle preferences.
5. Plan your transition
Ask the staff at the care home what can be done to make the move as easy as possible. Residents may bring favourite pieces of furniture and possessions with them to help create familiar and comfortable surroundings, whilst staff are keen to work with all families closely to make the transition as easy and as settling as possible.
Person-centred care to help you live independently in your own home.
Whether it’s companionship, respite support, help around the house or complex care, the Care South at Home team are on hand to help.
Care South at Home offers personalised and flexible care to meet a range of care needs in the home and local community. We are here to help maintain your independence.
Our flexible care options include:
• Respite and family carer cover
• Reassuring welfare calls by phone or in the home
• Stay at home assistance technology
• Living life to the full – enjoy activities, events and hobbies
• Keeping active – support with mobility, exercise and appointments
• Companionship
• Home help, housekeeping, shopping and collecting prescriptions
• Active recovery, reablement and rehabilitation
• Personal care
• Mobility, adaptations and aids
• Medication administration
• Complex care including high needs dementia and end-of-life care
There are over 400,000 people in the UK living in residential care homes and nursing homes. Of these, almost half pay for care themselves and the rest are supported, either wholly or partly, by their local authority or the NHS.
Care homes are paid for in the following ways:
• Local authority funding: The local authority funds some or all of the care. A relative or friend of a resident can also contribute an additional voluntary payment, known as a topup fee
• Self-funding: The person being cared for (or their family or a friend) pays all the costs of their care
• NHS funding: In some circumstances the NHS will cover the cost of the care
To decide if you are eligible for financial support, your local authority will first carry out a needs assessment to work out what level of care you require. If you are assessed as having ‘eligible needs’ the authority will then carry out a financial assessment to decide how much you should pay towards the cost of your care and how much should be funded by the council.
There are thresholds for savings and assets which is known as ‘capital limits for care.’ If the value of your savings and assets is higher than the capital limit, then you’ll need to pay for your own care. The upper cap limits for care home funding in 202324 in England is currently £23,250 (rising to £100,000 in October 2025).
You will have to arrange and pay for a care home if you:
• Have savings and assets in excess of the capital limits
• Have a regular income that’s sufficient to cover your care fees
• Do not qualify for local authority funding because your needs weren’t found to be eligible following a needs assessment
Even if you don’t expect to qualify for financial support, it’s still advisable to get a needs assessment because the team will make a record of your care needs and help with information about the support you can receive.
In some circumstances, the NHS will cover the care home fees for people with complex health needs.
If you are eligible for financial support from your local authority, you will be offered a choice of care homes to suit your needs. If you want to live in a care home that’s more expensive than the ones selected, a friend or relative can volunteer to pay the difference. This is known as a care home top-up fee.
• NHS Continuing Healthcare funds care for people who need ongoing health care outside of hospital because they have complex medical care needs due to disability, an accident or a major illness
• NHS-Funded Nursing Care may also be available to help pay nursing home fees, if you’re assessed by the NHS as needing nursing care
Neither of these forms of funding are means-tested, but there are strict eligibility criteria.
Rest, relax, revitalise. That’s what holidays are for. Our welcoming care homes are the perfect choice for respite care holidays. If you provide care for a loved one it can be difficult to take a holiday, even if it’s just to stay at home and enjoy some time relaxing. Being able to do that without having to worry about the care can make all the difference.
A respite stay at any of our homes gives complete peace of mind that you or your loved one are getting the best care in a
home-from-home environment. They offer a chance to enjoy a change of scenery, meet new people and try out some new activities and experiences. A change of scene is hugely beneficial to elderly people; new environments stimulate the senses and recharge the brain. A respite break can also be a gentle introduction to more permanent care if required. Respite breaks bring fresh conversation and activities as there is always something happening. Families often find respite
Our homes are governed by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), an independent regulator of health and social care in England. It makes sure the care we provide is safe, effective, compassionate and high-quality. The reports and ratings for all our homes are available at www.cqc.org.uk.
breaks do wonders for a loved one’s confidence and self-esteem as they know trained staff are around in case they need support.
We welcome people for short-term respite care all year round, but the summer is a particularly enjoyable time of year. The activities team organise lots of day trips and activities in the gardens, and it’s a great opportunity to spend time in the company of fellow residents, without the worry of cooking meals, shopping or housework.
We are also monitored by local council contract monitoring teams, to ensure our care meets our contractual obligations. On top of this, we conduct our own internal audits. This way you can rest-assured that the care we provide is exceptional. The health, wellbeing and comfort of our residents and home care clients is our number one priority.
Mealtimes are an important part of the day in our homes, providing a chance for residents to come together and enjoy nutritious, great-tasting food. Eating well is important, whatever your age, and we take pride in offering our residents quality food that looks great, and tastes even better.
We source seasonal ingredients from producers local to our homes wherever possible and food is prepared by our inhouse chefs. Our menus reflect the tastes
and nutritional needs of the residents in our care and we pay special attention to ensuring they all receive the nutrition and hydration they require. Meals are homely and delicious and support the health and wellbeing needs of residents.
As well as eating the delicious food, mealtimes in our homes also provide the opportunity for people to come together and enjoy the overall dining experience.
Good nutrition is important for us all, but perhaps even more so in older age. A well-balanced diet provides energy and the right amount of nutrition to help keep our residents healthy. Malnutrition can have a serious impact on health, but it can be avoided with the right tailored and structured diet for each resident’s needs.
Naturally, our appetites shrink as we age, so keeping our residents interested in food can be a challenge. That’s why it’s so important to think about flavours and spices and the way a meal looks and smells. We offer a varied menu so there is
always something for everyone to enjoy. Staying hydrated is also essential to our wellbeing and an important part of the care we provide to our residents. Our staff promote hydration by reminding and encouraging residents to drink and providing a variety of choices, including tea and coffee, water and fruit juices.
Mealtimes are a mainstay of life in a care home and at Care South, we endeavour to make them special and social occasions, encouraging our staff and residents to eat together.
With quality food and a positive dining experience, we can support the health and wellbeing of our residents.
At Care South, we want gardening still to be an important part of our clients’ and residents’ lives. All our care homes have their own private, secure gardens providing safe spaces for our residents to get outside, relax among friends and soak up some Vitamin D. We also provide plenty of opportunities for residents to get involved in gardening, whether it’s growing our own fruit and vegetables to use in the kitchen or creating colourful pots and planters.
Gardening is a popular pastime enjoyed by all ages and as we get older, it’s a great way to keep active and get outdoors amongst nature. It’s also known to be good for our mental and physical wellbeing.
Benefits of gardening for the elderly:
There are a number of reasons why gardening is great for the elderly:
• Spending time outdoors boosts vitamin D which is vital to keep people healthy
• Gardening involves a manageable amount of exercise – walking around the garden, weeding, sowing seeds, watering plants
• Gardening provides good mental stimulation – from planning what to grow, to remembering to weed and water and the satisfaction of a job well done
• The chance to enjoy freshly grown fruit and vegetables
• It provides social opportunities and the chance to connect with family and friends as you work side-by-side
As we age, lifting and bending in the garden can make things difficult, but with small adjustments, it’s still possible for everyone to participate.
Our homes have raised beds and planters, making them much easier to maintain as they require less bending and are accessible for wheelchair users too. Lightweight tools also make a big difference. It’s wise to pick the right plants too, with low maintenance
crops much easier to maintain. Gardening is a popular activity at all our homes. For people living with dementia, it’s important to create safe, calming spaces that are easy to navigate, with clear pathways to reduce the risk of confusion and disorientation. Being outside can reduce tension and anxiety. Colour, touch and scent can help to calm and relax residents and help awaken memories of happy times.
Many of our homes have sensory gardens which are ideal for older people living with dementia or sensory impairments. Scents from sweet peas and roses can stimulate memories, while touch can be stimulated through tree barks and grasses. With the right mix of flowers and grasses, the gardens will be alive with birdsong, butterflies and bees, providing audio stimulation.
Water features too are a great way to calm and soothe the senses. We encourage nature into our gardens with everything from bug hotels, bird tables and feeders to hedgehog houses.
Bird watching is a lovely pastime and, with bird tables and feeders, we encourage a variety of birds to visit our gardens, even in the winter months.
Wide, flat walkways make our gardens accessible for everyone. There are plenty of seating areas and garden benches, so residents can sit and enjoy some quiet time.
With so many health and therapeutic benefits, gardening should be open to and enjoyed by everyone.
Making the most of our later years is something we all strive for and at Care South, we’re committed to helping our residents and home care clients to lead rich and fulfilling lives.
Our events and activities are designed to ensure that residents can embrace their golden years, socialising and enjoying the many attractions that the south of England has to offer.
Residents and their families have again rated us as one of the ‘Top 20 Care Home Groups’ in the UK at the 2023 Care Home Awards. This is an award that we have been proud to hold for three years in a row thanks to the high-quality of care our teams consistently provide. There are over 17,000 care homes in the UK caring for around half a million people, with over 12,000 of the homes supporting older people aged 65 and over. At the Care Home Awards, the top care home groups receive an award based on reviews from residents, relatives and friends on the care home reviews guide, carehome.co.uk.
Amanda Hopkins, Reviews Manager of carehome.co.uk, said: “It is a huge achievement to be named as one of the Top 20 care home groups in the UK by the residents and their families, who have experienced for themselves the care and support being given at the care homes. “Our awards, which celebrate the excellent
care given by care home groups, show Care South ensures it gives first-rate care throughout it’s homes and we would like to congratulate it on being a top care home group!
“These top performing care home groups are making a profound difference to residents’ lives with compassion, respect and dignity at the centre of their care.”
Simon Bird, Chief Executive, Care South, added: “We are delighted to have received the Top 20 Award for the third year running based on reviews from residents, their families and friends. Being named as one of the Top 20 Mid-size care home providers is down to our fantastic frontline care staff. I would like to thank everyone who has taken the time to leave a review which is such a good endorsement of consistent ongoing consumer satisfaction. Your reviews mean so much to our wonderful carers.
“It goes without saying that we could not
receive the award without our fantastic frontline staff in all our care homes who always go above and beyond to provide the very best for those in our care. We really appreciate all our staff and the great lengths they go to, to make our residents’ experiences in later life the best they can be.”
The average group review score for Care South is 9.6/10* with many of our homes ranking even higher.
*carehome.co.uk, July 2023
Our Castle Dene care home in Bournemouth was delighted to host special guest appearances from AFC Bournemouth goalkeeper and Captain, Norberto Murara Neto, known as Neto, and retired English footballer, Steve Fletcher, thanks to the AFC Bournemouth Community Sports Trust team.
Neto and Steve joined the residents and the Community Sports Trust team for some specially adapted seated football games, designed to help everyone get involved. A well- earned half time tea break provided the chance for residents to chat with the AFC Bournemouth Captain.
Neto said: “We had a great time and I really enjoyed myself at Castle Dene. It’s always nice to see a smile on people’s faces. My grandmother spent time in a care home, and I know how important they are. It’s great to be part of a football club which goes into the community and helps people. We heard stories about residents and their
friends who like football, and it was great to see everybody was happy and enjoying themselves.”
Lana Wright, Home Manager at Castle Dene, commented: “It’s always great to welcome the team from AFC Bournemouth Community Sports Trust to Castle Dene and this time with two very special guests. Residents thoroughly enjoyed the football games, especially with AFC Bournemouth Captain, Neto and Steve Fletcher joining in. The Trust visits the home regularly to deliver football sessions which help to keep residents in our care active and engaged with input from the community.”
The visit from the team was thanks to the ongoing partnership between AFC Bournemouth Community Sports Trust and Care South, which began in 2014. The partnership allows residents, home care clients and staff to get involved in a variety of activities, including meeting players, coffee mornings, walking football and visits to the Vitality Stadium.
Resident, Pam, who won one of the prizes on offer, added: “It was wonderful to see the people from AFC Bournemouth because you need to be doing something every day. It was good to take part in the activities and everybody got involved in the games.”
Ian, a client of our Care South at Home Bournemouth office, recently attended AFC Bournemouth’s player kit sponsor evening, accompanied by staff member, Jane Legg.
The evening, at the Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth, was made possible thanks to Care South’s sponsorship of Illia Zabarnyi, a Ukrainian professional footballer who plays
as a defender for AFC Bournemouth and for the Ukrainian national team. The event started with a welcome drink on arrival followed by a two-course meal and coffee. Prior to dining, there were photo opportunities and conversation with Illia Zabarnyi, Care South’s sponsored player. Jimmy Glass, a former professional
Residents from Dorset House enjoyed a day out to The Tank Museum in Wareham, Dorset, which houses hundreds of military machines from every major battle since World War l. During the visit, resident, Dorothy spectacularly found the tank that her husband served on over 75 years ago during World War ll.
Much to Dorothy’s delight, museum worker, James was able to identify the tank using a photo that Dorothy had brought along with her. James shared stories of the
battles that the tank had been involved in and revealed that his grandfather had also served in World War ll.
The residents took part in a simulation experience of life in the trenches, listened to stories of the war, dressed up in costumes from the time, challenged themselves with games, and even got to experience life on the tanks.
Sam Baker, Activities Lead at Dorset House, said: “It was a fantastic day that brought back a lot of memories for
footballer who played for England as a goalkeeper, was the event host for the evening and conducted a number of player interviews, as well as presenting a fun quiz for all.
Ian said: “It was a fabulous evening. I enjoyed meeting the players as I have seen their shirt numbers on the television, but it was great seeing their faces and putting their numbers to faces. It was a fun evening getting to see and meet a mixture of players, from Steve Fletcher to Illia.”
residents in our care, particularly Dorothy who feels closer to her husband than ever before. We would like to thank James and all the staff at the museum for the wonderful and historical day out.”
We recently celebrated the start of construction work on Marjorie House, our purpose-built, Art Deco-inspired care home in Lilliput, Poole. To mark the occasion, the Trustees of Care South were on site to see the progress being made. The new home, due to open in 2024, is being built on the former Lewis-Manning Hospice site and will be named Marjorie House in honour of Marjorie LewisManning.
en-suite bedrooms, a wellness centre, cafés and restaurants on each floor and a bar and social area for guests and their families and friends to enjoy. There will also be a magnificent garden lounge on each floor, terraces and secure, landscaped gardens which will directly overlook the spectacular harbour.
a charity and not-for-profit organisation, we are continuing the ethos of Marjorie’s amazing gift by providing caring facilities at the heart of our local community.
“We are mindful of the ever-growing need for elderly care across the country and this redevelopment project follows our strategic plan to expand and invest in our care homes, helping us to meet the future care needs of our communities.”
Marjorie House will provide residential and dementia care in a setting with unspoiled, glorious views across Poole Harbour, the largest natural harbour in Europe. The home will benefit from 50
Simon Bird, Chief Executive at Care South, said: “This is a very exciting time for us; we are delighted for the building work to begin on our new home, Marjorie House, which will be nothing short of stunning with views overlooking Poole Harbour and Brownsea Island. Marjorie House is particularly special because we decided to name the home after Marjorie LewisManning, the original benefactor. This is Care South’s latest development and is a testament to our commitment to ensuring we continue to offer the best caring environments for residents in our care and our teams. We believe that, as
During 2022 we made donations totalling £18,585 to some fantastic local groups through our Chairman’s 2020 Fund.
This fund was set up with the aim of ‘supporting Care South’s Friends’ and has
been established to benefit employees, volunteers and community groups who provide a service to our care homes, care at home offices, clients and residents.
Beneficiaries from the local communities have included Lewis-Manning Hospice Care, Caring Canines and Margaret Green Animal Rescue – all groups that are very special to Care South and work closely with the homes and care at home offices.
Alexandra House
88a Alexandra Road, Parkstone, Poole BH14 9EW 01202 712419
ah.enquiries@care-south.co.uk
Buxton House
Radipole Lane, Weymouth DT4 0QJ 01305 237653
bh.enquiries@care-south.co.uk
Castle Dene
Throop Road, Bournemouth BH8 0DB 01202 712468
cd.enquiries@care-south.co.uk
Dorset House
Coles Avenue, Hamworthy, Poole BH15 4HL
01202 712463
dh.enquiries@care-south.co.uk
Elizabeth House
Dolbery Road, Parkstone, Poole BH12 4PX 01202 712466
eh.enquiries@care-south.co.uk
Fairlawn St Mary’s Road, Ferndown BH22 9HB 01202 712467
fl.enquiries@care-south.co.uk
Fern Brook Lodge
Fern Brook Lane, Gillingham SP8 4QD 01747 449812
fb.enquiries@care-south.co.uk
Maiden Castle House
Gloucester Road, Dorchester DT1 2NJ 01305 237652
mc.enquiries@care-south.co.uk
Talbot View
66 Ensbury Avenue, Ensbury Park Bournemouth BH10 4HG 01202 712457 tv.enquiries@care-south.co.uk
Wickmeads
Wickmeads Road, Southbourne Bournemouth BH6 4LG 01202 712438 wm.enquiries@care-south.co.uk
Beauchamp House
Hatch Beauchamp, Taunton TA3 6SG 01823 589778
be.enquiries@care-south.co.uk
Fremington Manor
Fremington, Barnstaple EX31 2NX 01271 445556 fm.enquiries@care-south.co.uk
Kenwith Castle
Abbotsham, Bideford EX39 5BE 01237 879594 ke.enquiries@care-south.co.uk
St Ives House
Horton Road, Ashley Heath BH24 2EE 01425 209464 si.enquiries@care-south.co.uk
Sussexdown
Washington Road, Storrington RH20 4DA 01903 947640
sd.enquiries@care-south.co.uk
For all Assisted Living enquiries please call 01202 712410
Edward Court
Alexandra Road, Parkstone, Poole BH14 9EW
Beauchamp Gardens
Hatch Beauchamp, Taunton TA3 6SG
Kenwith Castle Gardens
Abbotsham, Bideford EX39 5BE
St Ives Place
Horton Road, Ashley Heath BH24 2EE Strome Park
Washington Road, Storrington RH20 4DA
Bath & North East Somerset
Peasedown St John, Bath BA2 8SG 01761 422920
hcbath@care-south.co.uk
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Throop Road, Bournemouth BH8 0DB 01202 394000
hcbournemouth@care-south.co.uk
Somerset
South Street, Crewkerne TA18 8AB 01460 270500
hccrewkerne@care-south.co.uk
West Dorset
Poundbury, Dorchester DT1 3EN 01305 233103
westdorset@care-south.co.uk