About Careford Lodge, Residential Care Home in Merriott, Somerset

MEALS

Our menus are designed to be nutritious, varied, and appealing, while also accommodating the diverse dietary needs and preferences of older adults. We involve our residents in the planning process to ensure we are continually adapting to include their preferences and to ensure they are taking the lead in what dishes are prepared.

Balanced and nutritious: meals covering all the key food groups—carbohydrates, protein, fruits and vegetables, and dairy.  Menu’s that meet the higher protein needs of older adults at risk of malnutrition are continually under review.

Variety and choice: to prevent mealtimes from becoming dull, we offer a variety of options for every meal.  In addition, further alternative options are available every day from a supplementary menu so there is always something to please the palate and stimulate appetite.

Snacks and hydration: Frequent snacks are provided throughout the day to help maintain energy levels, especially for those with smaller appetites. Hydration is also a major focus, with drinks offered regularly and high-fluid foods like fruits and ice cream often included.

Dietary accommodations: Special diets are readily available to meet medical needs, personal beliefs, or allergies. Examples include:

  • Texture-modified: Pureed, mashed, and finger foods for residents with swallowing difficulties (dysphagia).
  • Fortified: High-calorie and high-protein foods for residents with low appetite or at risk of malnutrition.
  • Medical diets: Diabetic-friendly, heart-healthy (low-sodium), gluten-free, and allergy-conscious options.
  • Personal choice: Vegetarian, vegan, kosher, and halal meals.

High-quality ingredients: We use fresh, locally sourced, and seasonal ingredients which are prepared daily, on site by our culinary team.

Enjoyable dining experience: Beyond the food, we proudly focus on the presentation and overall dining environment. We offer the choice of social dining and private room service.

GARDENS

Our gardens consist of green spaces and courtyards, conservatories, gazebo’s, seating areas, gentle paths and a water feature; all complemented by colourful flower borders, containers, baskets, raised flower beds; and accessed easily from each and every room of the home.

 

We know that gardens provide significant physical, emotional, and social benefits for our residents, providing a connection to nature, enhanced physical fitness, a space for calm reflection and contributing to a higher quality of life. Access to an outdoor space can reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness and can encourage companionship through shared activities and experiences.

 

The scents, colours, and textures of our gardens and courtyards can trigger lots of positive memories and enable our residents and their loved ones to make many more memorable moments together.  Our gardens provide intimate opportunities for discussing hobbies, personal experiences and allows people to simply spend quality time together in natural and beautiful surroundings.

 

The raised flower beds and gentle pathways make it easier for residents with limited mobility to participate in gardening activities and enjoy the outdoors. Residents can feel a renewed sense of mood, purpose and joy through activities like gardening.

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ACTIVITIES

Meaningful activity is not just the job of our activity coordinators.  Every staff member knows that their role involves person centred focus upon physical, cognitive, social, and creative engagement with our residents.

 

A monthly residents meeting and newsletter ensures that everyone is involved in the activities of the home and can positively contribute to the type of activities that are planned.  Some of our regular activities include gentle exercise, gardening, and walks for physical health; puzzles, quizzes, and reminiscence sessions for cognitive stimulation; visits from community groups, entertainers & musicians, book club, and pet/animal visits for social connection; and arts and crafts, cooking, music, manicures and hand massage for creative expression. Outings to local attractions and welcoming visitors also enrich the lives of us all at Careford Lodge.

 

We also provide access to a range of other service providers who visit us including hairdresser, chiropodist, dentist, optician, representatives of all faiths and religions.

VISITORS

Visitors are very important to us. You can be assured of a warm welcome; we want everyone to feel comfortable, valued, and free from stress, worry, or discomfort.

Visitors are welcome at any time, and by prior arrangement friends and relatives are invited to dine with us.

If unable to visit, principal carers and/or family and friends of residents may telephone us or the resident themselves directly at any time to enquire about their wellbeing.

OUR STAFF

Careford Lodge has a team of loyal, hardworking and fully trained staff who are on call 24 hours every day to provide companionship, support and reassurance.

 

To deliver a good care service, we must recruit the right individuals. We base the recruitment of all our staff on several key principles; commitment, compassion and shared values being the main requirements. We expect our staff to be committed to providing the best possible care, they must be passionate about caring for others and be able to demonstrate that they share our values and ethos.

Our Management Team

Laura Zbijowski

Job Title: Registered Manager

Joined: 2018

 

Laura joined the team on the 1st of October 2018. Before this, Laura had also worked at Careford Lodge for 16 years between 2000 and 2016, ascending in roles from care assistant to deputy manager.

At Careford Lodge, we celebrate the rich blend of life experience, knowledge, and skills of each resident, and those of their family and friends. We aim to continually improve our listening skills, our consultation process, and our partnership with each unique individual to safeguard and promote his or her holistic health, well-being, dignity and independence.’

Jason Chant                                                 Lorraine Chant

Job Title: Owner/Director                        Job Title: Owner/Director and Nominated Individual

Joined: 2025                                                Joined: 1997

 

Careford Lodge was founded by Mr & Mrs Careford in 1997. Today, their daughter Lorraine and her husband Jason are walking in their same footsteps, embodying the very same positive values of kindness, compassion, empathy, integrity, humility, loyalty and responsibility in everything they do to enhance the lives of those who afford them the privilege of knowing and caring for them.

 

Jason’s career has been in mechanical engineering and in the management of plant hire depots. Jason takes care of the day-to-day maintenance and safety at Careford Lodge.

 

Lorraine was the registered manager of Careford Lodge from 1997 to 2016. In 2016, Lorraine relinquished her registered manager status to assume the position of nominated individual and to support the then owners of Careford Lodge to look after their care home portfolio.

 

In 2025, Lorraine and her husband Jason purchased Careford Lodge to bring the family care home back into the fold.

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