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Respite Care

Helping You Take A Rest

At Woodlands, we understand that it can sometimes be difficult to provide individuals with the long-term care that they need without giving yourself a break. This is why we provide all-inclusive Respite Care, exclusively for ladies, designed to help you take a rest when you need it the most. We take pride in knowing our ladies by heart and foster a positive lifestyle for all the ladies who stay with us, whether long-term or short-term.

What is Respite Care?

Respite care, or short-stay care, is when a resident comes to live with us for a short period. The length of time will vary; however, it is usually between a week and four weeks. During this time, residents will still experience and benefit from the same level of professional care and support as our permanent residents. Respite care provides carers, families and loved ones with a break and a rest period from the responsibilities of caring for a loved one. Caring for someone full-time can be a joy, however, taking a break can provide you with much-needed time to rest and get back on top of things. You can also have the peace of mind that your loved one is being taken care of in a safe and positive environment, by an experienced team.

Knowing Our Ladies By Heart

Woodlands provide modern comforts to aid mobility and promote and support independence whilst enjoying day-to-day life and meaningful experiences. What this means, is that we talk to our residents to understand what each lady would like to get out of her stay, regardless of whether she is staying with us for a week or long-term. There isn’t anything we wouldn’t do for our ladies. From the moment they wake up in the morning, we ask ourselves, how can we make this lady’s day better? Whether that’s supporting them as they decide what to wear or arranging a family visit, we prioritise our ladies’ independence every step of the way. From encouraging a positive and active lifestyle to catering to our ladies’ individual healthcare needs, a personal connection forms the heart of the care we offer at Woodlands.

Our highly experienced and dedicated care team offer personalised care and support. All staff have either achieved NVQs or the equivalent within their designated roles, along with completing all mandatory respective training as part of Skills for Care and the Care Certificate.

All our care professionals work to infuse Woodlands with our values. We are committed to ensuring a positive and independent transition into your new home. We pride ourselves on the family atmosphere at Woodlands and always ensure that there is a familiar face to greet you, whether with your morning cup of tea or to welcome you back home after a fun day out with your family.

All-Inclusive Accommodation at Woodlands

The beautiful period house that Woodlands residents call home is equipped with all modern comforts without compromising on the authentic charm of our property. All ladies who stay with us at Woodlands can enjoy all-inclusive facilities and amenities, meaningful and personalised experiences, care, compassion, and hospitality that goes above and beyond.

Click Here to See What's Included in Your All Inclusive Stay

  • All-inclusive accommodation, as we don’t charge for loved ones being accompanied to hospital appointments or outings/activities which some other homes do.
  • Exquisitely appointed rooms in 23 homely, spacious single bedrooms with walk-in shower rooms which offer seated comfort and support to meet individual needs.
  • A professional Aid Call system with additional PIRs (Passive Infrared Sensors) to help assist ladies who may need additional support.
  • Additional bathrooms are located on the ground and first floors fitted with hydraulic baths with a separate comfort room for visitors and staff.
  • A large bespoke semi-commercial kitchen, with highly experienced chefs who actively engage with ladies to discuss individual nutritional needs and prepare home-cooked meals, with all dietary needs catered for. Residents are invited to bring their cooking skills to the forefront whilst under the supervision of trained and experienced staff to ensure their safety.
  • An inviting dining room adjacent to the main lounge, leading to a bright and airy conservatory.
  • A weekly visiting Nurse Practitioner to support any change in health care needs with regular medication and health check reviews and links to Physiotherapy or Occupational Therapy.
  • Designated Activities Co-Ordinator offering a variety of meaningful engagement.
  • Personalised shopping trips, with visits to local places of interest such as the Mercury Theatre, Arts Centre, FirstSite, Castle Park and Colchester Leisure World, Tiptree Jam Factory and local cafes.
  • Strong links with the FAN’s (Friends & Neighbours) community who offer activities in and around the local area.
  • We offer personalised shopping experiences and accompany ladies to outings of their choice.
  • Dentistry, Audiology and Ophthalmology needs are assessed upon arrival, with the availability of all appointments being accompanied by a member of our team as part of our unapparelled care service.
  • Visiting professionals for pedicures, reflexology, chiropody and more.
  • A communal light and airy lounge, offering TV, radio, or general recreation needs, with an additional reading TV area looking out onto the south-facing rear garden.
  • A weekly visiting Reflexologist, Hairdresser, Holistic Well-Being Healing practitioner and Fitness/Chair Exercise Instructor.
  • Complimentary accompaniment to Health Care professionals or Hospital appointments.
  • A dedicated housekeeping team that maintains a high level of daily cleaning. Provision of complimentary toiletries, fresh towels daily and an evening turn-down service if required.
  • All personal laundry is taken care of within the Home with a fresh same-day service.
  • A frequent bus service, with a bus stop directly adjacent to and opposite the home.
  • A 6-person passenger lift and two large staircases offering access to the first floor.
  • Car parking available within the grounds

Prioritising Your Health & Well-Being

At Woodlands, we recognise the importance of being healthy, so we support your well-being wherever possible. We have a weekly visiting Nurse Practitioner to support any change in health care needs with regular medication and health check reviews and links to Physiotherapy or Occupational Therapy. We can also arrange Dentistry, Audiology and Ophthalmology appointments if necessary. You will always be accompanied by one of our friendly care team members to your health care or hospital appointments, so you will always have a friendly face to turn to.

About Your Home From Home

Woodlands is situated in the very heart of Lexden, in a desirable residential area of Colchester, which served as the first Capital of Roman Britain and achieved City status as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022. Woodlands is a beautiful period home positioned slightly set back on Lexden Road which is recognised for seasonal colourful tree-lined paths and forms part of a conservation area. It is also considered to be one of the most attractive and sought-after locations in Colchester due to its proximity to the Royal Grammar and Girls High School.

Woodlands is also within easy reach of the independent boutique-style shops of historic Crouch Street, which is also just a short stroll away. The bus stops are conveniently located outside the Home which provides services to all local surrounding areas, including Colchester train station which offers a direct service to London Liverpool Street. The pretty seaside resorts of Frinton, Brightlingsea and Mersea Island are also just a short drive away.

What To Do In Colchester& the Surrounding Areas

At Woodlands, we prioritise independence and individuality, including encouraging our ladies as they explore Colchester and the surrounding areas. Whether they wish to explore with family, or our experienced care team – who become as close as family over time – we support our residents to get out and about when they wish. Colchester and the surrounding areas offer many historic, beautiful, and intriguing locations to discover. Here’s what you can explore from Woodlands…

  • Visit Colchester Castle which offers many historic and interesting exhibitions.
  • Discover the beauty of Colchester Castle Park.
  • Connect with wildlife at Colchester Zoo.
  • See a great show at The Mercury Theatre, Headgate Theatre or Colchester Arts Centre.
  • Visit historically significant gardens at Beth Chatto’s Plants & Gardens.
  • Explore boutique shops in Colchester City Centre.
  • Get active at Colchester Leisure World for swimming, classes and the spa.
  • Visit Guntons, Colchester’s oldest fine food shop.
  • Enjoy nature walks at local country parks.
  • Discover visual art, exhibitions, films, events and food and drink at First Site.
  • Visit local seaside towns such as Maldon, Frinton, Walton-on-the-Naze and Brightlingsea.
  • Satisfy your sweet tooth at Tiptree Tea Room & Jam Factory.
  • Explore further afield with close connections to Chelmsford and Ipswich.
  • And much, much more!

Whether our ladies want to immerse themselves in history or explore the great outdoors, Woodlands is on hand to support their needs every step of the way. If there’s anything our ladies want to do, we encourage them to ask us and we will do what we can to make their dreams a reality.

Making Memories With Immersive Activities

At Woodlands, we take pride in crafting a fun, exciting and immersive calendar for our ladies to enjoy. From stimulating and energising activities and engaging experiences to seasonally appropriate events – we ensure that our ladies get the most out of every day. At Woodlands, our ladies can enjoy:

  • Visiting musicians.
  • Arts and crafts activities, including knitting, crocheting, flower arranging and painting.
  • Family games including cognitive stimulation and help with dexterity.
  • Talks by visiting historians, and experts in several fields.
  • Animal therapy engagement.
  • Tasting afternoons.
  • Musical therapy.
  • Performances from visiting dancers, school children and more.
  • Immersive cooking classes.
  • Religious support.
  • Seasonal activities such as playing with Easter ducklings, visiting Irish dancers to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, celebrating Independent Women’s Day, Christmas Day with all the trimmings and more!

Whilst we offer wonderful opportunities to share a busy social life with other residents, we also recognise it is important to many of our ladies that they retain their ties with their friends and their previous communities. As well as personal social visits from family and friends, visits from clergy and other community leaders are always welcomed and encouraged.

Dining Decided By You

At Woodlands, we have a large bespoke semi-commercial kitchen, with highly experienced chefs who actively engage with our ladies to discuss individual nutritional needs and prepare home-cooked meals, with all dietary needs catered for. Residents are invited to bring their cooking skills to the forefront whilst under the supervision of trained and experienced staff to ensure their safety.

All our meals are home-cooked, using fresh, seasonal, and local produce and are wholesome and nutritious. Our meals are prepared with love and care, and above all, catered to your requirements. We cater to all dietary requirements including:

  • Food allergies and intolerances: such as dairy-free, fish and shellfish allergies, nut allergies, gluten-free and diabetic requirements.
  • Special dietary requirements: this includes vegetarians, vegans, and pescatarians.
  • Religious reasons: halal or other religious dietary restrictions.
  • Personal preference: whether you prefer a particular condiment, or only drink a particular brand of tea – Woodlands will meet your needs.

All mealtimes are flexible, and you can choose to eat in the dining room, in the privacy of your own bedroom, the lounge, conservatory or garden area, weather permitting. Non-alcoholic and alcoholic refreshments are served with lunch and evening meals should you fancy it and we even have a twilight bar every evening. If you want to have a meal with your family, that’s no problem either. Simply let us know when your family members or friends will be joining you, and we can fix them a delicious meal.

Trust, Confidence, Individuality & Personalisation at Woodlands

At Woodlands, we value trust, confidence, individuality, and personalisation to offer a truly exclusive and all-inclusive experience to all our ladies. From the relationships that our carers cherish with our ladies and the immersive experiences we encourage to the dining choices available and the impeccable health care we provide, all the ladies in our care are happy, safe and secure. If you think that Woodlands could be your home, please don’t hesitate to speak to our friendly team today.