Dementia
Nursing
Residential
Respite
Bus Stop
Local Pub
Nearby Shops
Train Station
Berkshire
,
South East England
The home boasts 39 generously sized single rooms and ten double rooms, the majority of which come with en suite facilities. Despite its historic exterior, the interior of Burnham Lodge is a testament to modern comfort. Fully carpeted and centrally heated, it exudes a warm and inviting ambiance that makes residents feel right at home.
At Burnham Lodge, we believe in celebrating individuality. Residents are free to spend their days as they please, whether that's unwinding in the lounge with a captivating view of the gardens or participating in our diverse activities programme. This includes a range of engaging activities such as arts and crafts, musical events, cooking sessions, and even visits from friendly animals.
We also organise regular outings to the beautiful Berkshire countryside, offering residents a chance to explore and enjoy the local area. At Burnham Lodge, we strive to create a vibrant and fulfilling lifestyle for all our residents.
Pros:
- Range of Care Services: Burnham Lodge provides a wide array of care types, including residential, nursing, dementia, and respite care, catering to various and changing needs. They also offer day care, rehabilitation, and support for physical disabilities, sensory impairments, and mental health conditions.
- Positive Resident and Family Feedback (Historically and Some Recent): Many reviews, including some recent ones, praise the staff's kindness, compassion, professionalism, and ability to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Residents and families often describe the home as having a homely, family-like feel. The home has a high average review score on platforms like Carehome.co.uk (9.9 out of 10 overall, 4.9 out of 5 based on recent reviews), though it's important to consider these alongside the official CQC rating.
- Attractive Historic Building and Grounds: Housed in a restored Victorian building with landscaped gardens, the home offers a pleasant and comfortable environment. Facilities include spacious lounges, a dining room, and accessible gardens. Ongoing refurbishment work is noted, including bedroom updates and new wet rooms.
- Engaging Activities Program: The home offers a full program of activities, including arts and crafts, exercise classes, musical activities, cooking, days out, and gardening, aiming to keep residents engaged and social.
- Availability of Nursing Care: Unlike some residential homes, Burnham Lodge provides on-site nursing care, which can be beneficial for residents with more complex medical needs.
- Flexible Visiting: Visitors are welcome 24 hours a day, and overnight visitor accommodation may be available, supporting strong family connections.
Cons:
- Latest CQC 'Requires Improvement' Rating: The most significant concern is the overall 'Requires Improvement' rating from the CQC based on an assessment in June 2024. This is a decline from a previous 'Good' rating (January 2020).
- Specific CQC Concerns: The June 2024 CQC assessment identified breaches of regulations related to safe care and treatment, safeguarding service users from abuse, staffing, fit and proper persons employed, and good governance. Warning notices were served in July 2024 for these failures. The report noted that risks were not always identified or mitigated, safe medicine practices were not consistently promoted, staff training and recruitment practices were not always suitable, records were not always maintained, and governance systems were ineffective in identifying or addressing issues.
- Inconsistent Review Sentiment: While many reviews are positive, some older comments on platforms like Healthwatch Bucks suggest a perceived decline in care standards since being taken over by the current provider, describing it as becoming more of a "business" and losing its "homely caring feel" in some instances (though these specific comments are older and contrast with many recent positive ones).
- Pricing Transparency: Specific pricing beyond a starting rate (from £1,700 per week) is not readily available online and requires direct inquiry with the home, as it depends on individual needs.
- Varied Information on Room Numbers/Types: Different sources provide slightly varying numbers for total beds (49, 60, 62) and the breakdown of single/double rooms and en-suite facilities, requiring direct confirmation with the home.
In Conclusion:
Burnham Lodge Care Home offers a wide range of care services in an attractive historic setting with well-regarded facilities and activities. Many residents and families have shared very positive experiences, praising the caring staff and homely atmosphere. However, the recent 'Requires Improvement' rating from the CQC, particularly highlighting concerns around safety, safeguarding, staffing, and governance, is a serious concern that potential residents and their families must carefully consider. While the home provides nursing care on-site, the issues raised by the regulator indicate areas where standards need to be improved and consistently met. It is essential for anyone considering Burnham Lodge to review the latest CQC report in detail, discuss the findings and the actions being taken to address them directly with the home's management, and ideally visit the home to assess the current environment and care practices firsthand.