Q: How do I know my care needs will be met?
A: Before your admission to Queens Lodge a member of our Assessment Team will visit you in your own home, hospital, or in another home, and undertake a comprehensive assessment of your care needs. The nurse will assess your personal and social needs as well as your nursing needs and will encourage your involvement in the procedure if possible. Your relatives can be involved if you wish and the nurse will seek input from your social worker or hospital staff if relevant. Our nurse will only arrange your admission if she is certain that Queens Lodge can meet your care needs.

Q: Who will pay for my care?
A: If you have capital which totals less than approximately £23,000 you are eligible for Local Authority financial support. This means that, if you meet the Local Authority's criteria for residential or nursing care, their finance department will pay a contribution towards the cost of your care at Queens Lodge. The rest of the fee will be paid by you from the benefits you receive from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), formerly known as the Department of Social Security (DSS). You will still receive a personal allowance from the DWP to spend how you wish.

If your capital totals in excess of this amount you are not eligible to receive financial support from the Local Authority and your care will be 'self funded'. This means that, until your capital level drops to £23,000, you will pay for your own care from your own funds.

Q: Is there enough staff to look after me?
A: An ample staffing establishment provides the highest quality of nursing and residential care for the elderly. This is supervised by our Nurse Management team headed by the Nurse Manager, Sr Turner, RGN, who has been a Nurse Manager at Queens Lodge for a number of years. She is ably supported by her Staff Nurses, all of whom have many years nursing experience. At least one qualified member of staff is on duty 24 hours a day.

Q: When can my friends and family visit me?
A: There is no restriction on visiting times at Queens Lodge, your friends and family are welcome at any time. However, for your own convenience we politely request that visits are arranged to avoid mealtimes. If you would like to go out with your family for the day, this is easily accommodated; our chef will keep your meal warm for your return or alternatively, our staff can prepare a cold meal if you prefer.

Q: How can I contact my friends once I move into Queens Lodge?
A: A public telephone is located in the foyer which also receives incoming calls, the telephone number is 01254 681675. Alternatively, the telephone in the downstairs office may be used for private calls. If you have any difficulty using the telephone the staff will be happy to assist you.



Q: I'm not sure if residential care is what I want - can I come for a trial period first?
A: Yes, you can stay at Queens Lodge for up to 4 weeks on a trial basis, during which time you can leave without notice if you decide Queens Lodge is not for you.

After the trial period you can still choose to move at any time, we just ask for 2 weeks' notice to enable us to plan for future admissions.

Q: My family are going on holiday and want to make sure I am safe and well looked after while they are away. Can I come to Queens Lodge for a short stay while my family are away?
A: Yes, we offer daycare, respite care (for a fixed period), short-term care and long-term care.

We also take part in the Local Authority's 'Short Term Break for Carers' scheme where carers are issued up to 4 weeks' worth of vouchers which they can exchange for residential accommodation for the individual they care for. Each voucher represents 1 night's accommodation and can be used in any participating Home. This allows people who are deemed as 'main carers' to have a break or a holiday.

Q: I'm not quite ready to move into residential care but I do sometimes feel isolated at home on my own. Does Queens Lodge offer a service that can help me?
A: Yes, we offer a daycare service which is ideal for individuals who do not wish to move into residential care but who lack social interaction. Our daycare service includes the provision of all meals at Queens Lodge, inclusion in our activities programme and planned outings and the use of all our facilities, including our bathing facilities.

Daycare residents benefit throughout the day from the support and supervision from Queens Lodge staff who can liaise with relevant external healthcare professionals, eg District Nurses, GPs, Opticians and Chiropodists, if this is necessary for the individual's care whilst at Queens Lodge.

Q: I don't smoke and don't wish to sit in a smokey lounge, is this a problem?
A: All residents enjoy the benefit of a clean and smoke free environment at Queens Lodge, but for those residents who wish to smoke, the conservatory has been designated for this purpose due to its ample ventilation. Smoking is not permitted in any other room and staff and visitors are not allowed to smoke anywhere in the building.