National care inspectors praise Edinburgh care home

A national care watchdog has given an Edinburgh care home its seal of approval, with relatives and residents praising its caring team members.

The Care Inspectorate, the regulator for health and social care in Scotland, rated Care UK’s Lauder Lodge, on Wakefield Avenue, ‘very good’ following an unannounced inspection.

The home is now rated ‘very good’ in its leadership and support for resident wellbeing. It has also achieved a rare ‘excellent’ score in two areas: ‘People experience compassion, dignity and respect’ and ‘People get the most out of life’.   

Behind these high scores is the home’s “strong and dedicated” activity team, which regularly organise a range of meaningful activities for residents, including visits from local community groups. Encouraging residents to lead fulfilling lives, members of the lifestyle team also help to grant resident wishes, with one wish seeing resident Betty co-pilot a plane. The team also empowers residents to be as independent, giving them opportunities to get involved with daily tasks at the home, should they wish to – from mealtime audits to reception.

One resident commented: "This is now my home and I'm happy to be surrounded by my friends here".

The report also highlighted the holistic approach to care promoted at the home and the strong relationships team members have formed with residents, treating residents with “compassion, dignity and respect”. 

Inspectors noted how this “warm environment” put residents at ease, allowing team members to better support those in their care to live independent and fulfilling lives. 

One relative said: “They're very caring...when we're there, there's always people popping in which delights [my relative]. [They] feel they're part of our family and [the team] treat us with equal respect".

Commended by inspectors for their “innovative and sector leading” approach to care, the team encourage residents and their loved ones to be actively involved in their care. For example, families are invited into the home for special sessions to increase their knowledge of dementia. Similarly, residents are given the opportunity to have an active role in decision making, with those receiving care able to attend regular forum meetings and share their ideas for improvement.

A team member said: "I feel Lauder Lodge is a fantastic place to work and I feel very privileged to be invited into the residents’ home to provide a service".

Inspectors were impressed with the respectful relationships between team members at the home, with senior team members being described as supportive and reactive, and keen to listen to new ideas. A relative echoed this sentiment: "It feels like a positive, forward moving environment. Considering the challenges care homes face, it's admirable".

Anees Riaz, Home Manager at Lauder Lodge, said: “Being awarded a very good Care Inspectorate rating truly reflects the passion of our team members who ensure each and every resident receives high-quality, tailored care, and we’re thrilled with the result. 

“We have a fantastic team here at Lauder Lodge and it is through their dedication and enthusiasm that we are able to support residents to lead active and fulfilling lives. I’d like to thank everyone at the home for their continued commitment, which I know is also greatly appreciated by residents and their families.” 

To assess service standards at Lauder Lodge, the Care Inspectorate inspectors spoke with team members, residents, and their visiting relatives on the day of the inspection. They also reviewed the records and procedures already in place at the care home. According to The Care Inspectorate, Care UK is the top-rated private care provider in Scotland.

Lauder Lodge is a state-of-the-art care home which provides full-time residential, nursing and dementia care. Designed to enable residents to live enjoyable and fulfilling lives, the care home has its own café and hair salon, and there is plenty of space, both indoors and out, for relaxation and recreation.