Dorking Manor Care Home

I think you'd need to hear from someone local.

Have you looked at the CQC report?

Thanks.

There's probably someone in the Dorking area?
They perhaps haven't noticed this yet.

It has a score of 9.9 so I shouldn't worry! 😁😁www.carehome.co.uk/carehome.cfm/searchazref/dorking-manor

I would advise to not pay too much notice of reports on carehome.co.uk as I know for a fact that these can be rigged by carehome owners.

My late Mum spent a few months in a care home before I moved her to a much better one. I was taken in because it was very clean which impressed me but sadly the care was poor as was the way they treated residents and the food was miserly.

At first they were nice to Mum but as soon as I signed the contract the Manager kept badgering me to leave a good review on that site which I did.

After a short time their attitude changed and I felt Mum was being neglected. I spoke to other families who reported the same. I visited 14 care homes in a couple of weeks until I found the right one and then moved Mum. I contacted the carehome review site and asked for my positive post to be removed and it took a long time before they agreed to do so.

The only way to check out a care home is to visit personally without an appointment (avoiding mealtimes). If they do not allow you to look around then they are hiding something, so walk away. It is often very helpful to speak to families outside or in the car park for honest opinions.

I swim with someone who checks care homes. She suggested one locally (should we need it). She said something like "this is not the best home but it's the happiest."

She said its one where if she's being shown round and a resident speaks to the manager she never asks them to "wait a minute" - she said she always asks the visitor to wait a minute instead.

My swimming friend has seen this several times - and from more junior staff too.

I'd want somewhere my loved one could be happy above most other things.

I loved the swimming friend's tip. I run a small company that builds home sensors for older people, and talking to families has taught me that dignity is the best safety feature there is. The question I would add to the unannounced visit is: do the staff treat residents as people first, with a name and a sense of humour, or as tasks on a list? Any home, or any support, that protects someone's sense of self will look after them better in every other way. Wishing you and your mother the very best with the search.