Yeovil’s newest care home, Chestnut Lodge, has been formally opened by the Mayor of Yeovil, Councillor Evie Potts-Jones.

The home was purpose-built in 2010 and has been given a comprehensive re-fit by award-winning dementia care specialists Camelot Care. It will offer nursing care for up to 24 people living with dementia.

Manager Graham Oakes said: “After months of hard work we were delighted to have a suitable event to mark the official opening of Chestnut Lodge, and to welcome some of our neighbouring businesses and local councillors to share the day with us.

“Chestnut Lodge will fill a significant gap in care provision for the people of Yeovil and a small number of residents have already moved in, with a growing number of families also reserving rooms for loved ones.

“We deliberately chose to fill the home slowly so that staff could get to know everybody properly, so it’s good to see the first residents settling in happily.

“Their families have been very supportive and every member of the staff team is totally living up to our expectations.

“Dementia is a condition that affects so many families and when the decision is taken that residential care is the best way forward for a loved one, families want to know they will be supported to live their best life – which is exactly what we intend to do.”

Chestnut Lodge is set over three floors with residents’ rooms set around a central courtyard garden, with its position at the top of Hendford Hill giving far-reaching views over Yeovil.

Manager Graham Oakes originally trained as a nurse at Yeovil Hospital and spent 10 years with the NHS, largely in geriatric care, before changing track to become a care home manager in 1994, motivated by a desire to deliver ongoing care to the vulnerable people he was supporting. 

He has since worked in a variety of roles in different parts of the country within both the home care and the care home sector and came to Chestnut Lodge from a care home in Bridport, Dorset, which was rated ‘Outstanding’ by CQC under his management.  

Camelot Care also runs care homes in Bridgwater and Wellington in Somerset and Plymouth in Devon, see www.camelotcare.co.uk