Horsell Lodge’s Cottage within a Home

Last year, Horsell Lodge Care Home celebrated the grand opening of Grandma's Cottage - a fantastic resident-run initiative which pays homage to the simple things in life that bring pleasure and provides residents with a little world of their own.

From Maintenance Shed to Inviting Cottage

Grandma’s Cottage was originally just an ordinary maintenance shed at the rear of the nursing home. Rather than being destroyed, however, the team at Horsell Lodge decided it should be transformed into a place the residents could use as their own. Through the vision and dedication of our inspired residents, the ‘shed’ is now unrecognisable as a fully functioning kitchen with a toilet facility.

From selecting the decor to determining the facilities within the cottage, residents from Horsell Lodge were involved in every aspect of the project. The end result means that during the warmer months when residents love to sit in the garden or go for a stroll around the grounds, they can pop into Grandma’s Cottage and make themselves a nice cup of tea to drink in the sunshine. It’s also popular when relatives visit – and a lovely way to help residents feel independent.

Memorial Garden Offers Peace and Tranquillity

One of the most touching features of Grandma's Cottage is the serene memorial garden, accessible via the nursing home’s Cottage Path. This thoughtful addition offers residents a peaceful area where they can cherish the memories of their loved ones, or simply reflect in tranquil surroundings. The area is also perfect for any green-fingered residents who want to indulge in a spot of gardening, which is beneficial in so many ways.

The Power of Collaboration and a Sense of Community

Home Manager, Julie Bignell, said," Grandma's Cottage embodies the spirit and creativity of the people who live here and also reflects the strong relationship between the residents and our team. Collaborating on the project reinforced the deep sense of community here at Horsell Lodge, which is something I’m very proud of”.

Grandma’s Cottage demonstrates the core values of Horsell Lodge – empowering residents, fostering a sense of belonging, and providing a space where cherished memories can be made and treasured. For those residents living with dementia, the homely environment, tea-making rituals and the beautiful gardens can evoke happy memories and a sense of pleasure in the everyday, resulting an enhanced feeling of wellbeing.

With summer around the corner, Grandma’s Cottage is open for the 2024 season and there’s sure to be renewed enthusiasm for this tiny world within a world, where the simply joy of making a cuppa can’t be overestimated!

Horsell Lodge Care Home in Surrey

Horsell Lodge Care Home, a modern and comfortable care home based in Woking is beautifully furnished and offers residential, nursing and dementia care. Our location makes us convenient for family and friends who are visiting the home, and we’re perfectly placed for a host of different outings across Surrey.

For more information about The Orchard Nursing Home, please visit our dedicated page for more information. You can also find information on our other care homes by exploring our site. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch to find out more.