FAQs

At St James’ Park Care Home in Dorchester, we offer Residential Care, Nursing Care, Respite Care and Palliative Care. All of our care types are offered by a compassionate and highly skilled team who take the time to get to know each resident as an individual. If you are unsure about what type of care is most appropriate for yourself or a loved one, please get in touch.

We support residents’ overall well-being at St James’ Park Care Home through the high-quality care we provide that helps to alleviate daily stresses associated with personal care, mobility or medical care needs. We also support mental, physical and emotional well-being through the facilities and activities we provide that enable residents to socialise with others, learn new skills, gain new experiences and continue with their hobbies regularly. We encourage residents to live their lives the way they want to.

Our care plans are tailored to each individual and are assessed as needs change, monthly in-house and every 6 months formally to ensure that they continue to fulfil residents’ needs and requirements if a resident’s care needs change. We recognise that people’s health and wellbeing demands change over time and our care is tailored to adapt to this. It is our top priority that throughout their entire care journey, residents receive care that truly reflects who they are.

Yes, we offer respite care at St James’ Park Care Home. Before they move in with us, we will evaluate a person’s care needs and assess what level of support we require.

Respite care is suitable for those who have recently had an illness, injury or operation and cannot return to their usual routine straight away. It can also be arranged for someone who is caring full-time for their loved one at home and who needs a short-term break or a trial period before moving in for the long term.

At St James’ Park Care Home, we require a 28-day notice period for residents receiving any of our long-term care services who are looking to move out. Our compassionate team are on hand around the clock to support you with your moving transition and answer any further questions you have.

Our care home in Dorchester has 31 comfortable bedrooms for residents to make their own from the day they move in. Our team are on hand to ensure residents have a sanctuary that truly feels theirs in our home away from home.

At our care home in Dorchester, we offer a variety of facilities included in the weekly fee that residents pay, including a hair and nail salon, reading room, quiet lounges, landscaped gardens, in-house minbus and much more

We have a team of in-house chefs and kitchen staff who cater to all dietary needs, with a varied seasonal menu to choose from for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Also, beverages and snacks are available throughout the day in our cafe. Meals can be enjoyed in the dining area, our landscaped gardens and patio in the summer months or even in their room.

Our residents are encouraged to participate in group activities and events organised by our wonderful team of Activities Co-ordinators. Examples of activities include arts and crafts, baking, poetry, nursery visits, music therapy, exercise classes, meditation, gardening, flower arranging, trips into the community and much more. We also take requests from residents to ensure they are always making the most of their stay with us.

All of our residents are encouraged to bring their own furniture or personal items such as photographs and decorations, small pieces of furniture and furnishings to truly make their rooms their own. We believe that it’s the little additions to a room that can make all the difference.

Yes, we have a friendly, professional hairdresser who visits our hair salon regularly to provide residents at St James’ Park Care Home with a variety of hair services so that they can continue to look and feel their best.

In England, care home fees are assessed based on the individual’s care needs and financial situation.

The assessment of care needs is carried out by the local authority, which will determine the level of care required and the type of care home that is appropriate. The financial assessment is also carried out by the local authority or by an independent financial advisor. It will take into account the individual’s income, savings, and assets to determine whether they need to contribute towards the cost of their care.

If the individual’s assets and income are below a certain level, they may be entitled to financial support from the local authority to help pay for their care home fees.

If an individual is deemed eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare, their care will be fully funded by the NHS. It’s important to note that eligibility for NHS Continuing Healthcare is not based on a specific diagnosis or condition, but based on an individual’s overall care needs and the level of support required to meet those needs.

Get in touch with the team for more information.

There are different methods for paying care home fees. If the individual has been assessed as having eligible care needs and limited financial resources, the local authority may cover all or part of their care home fees. The amount of funding will depend on the individual’s means.

If the individual has complex healthcare needs that require full-time nursing care in Dorset, they may be eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare Funding. This funding covers the full cost of care, including accommodation and personal care.

If an individual has sufficient income, savings, or assets, they may be required to pay for their care home fees themselves. In some cases, family members may choose to contribute towards the cost of care. In some cases, the individual’s care home fees may be paid for by a combination of sources, such as local authority funding and self-funding.

If your care home fees cost more than what your local authority is willing to pay, someone else can make up the difference between that figure and the home’s fee, such as a family member.

Fees will be reviewed annually, and any change will be advised at least 4 weeks in advance of the change taking effect. The current fee uplift is effective in April each year. For further information, please contact us.

If someone is having financial difficulties, we want to be able to help them in any way we can. Speak to our team about how we can support you.

All fees related to the care agreement will remain in place until 3 days after death. During this period, loved ones are required to remove all personal items from the room.

Get in touch with our team for more information.

Yes. St James’ Park Care Home is regularly inspected by the Care Quality Commission to ensure our care home in Dorchester continues to meet a high standard of care in all areas.

Yes, we encourage all prospective residents and their families to tour St James’ Park Care Home to ensure it’s right for them.

Yes, we allow prospective residents to schedule a trial stay so they can experience what daily life is like at St James’ Park Care Home in Dorchester before making that final decision to move in full-time.

Allowing well-behaved pets into our home is dependent on any allergies others who live in our home may have. Please get in touch if you would like to discuss this in more detail.