Donwell House Care Home Celebrates Re-Opening After Fire

Residents and members of staff at Donwell House care home, which is based in Donwell and part of Shaftesbury Care Group Ltd, are celebrating after the home officially re-opened following a fire which damaged some areas.

The fire, which broke out in an upstairs bedroom, caused smoke damage to nearby bedrooms and corridors. Thankfully no-one was hurt and the few residents who had to be evacuated to local sister care homes coped well with the move.

The home has since been re-decorated and all the areas affected have a fresh new look, with walls painted and new carpets, lighting, curtains and furniture installed to make the areas comfortable and appealing for residents.

Donwell House, which is situated on Wellgarth Road, provides care for 62 residents, including personal, social and general nursing care for elderly residents and care for individuals with Alzheimers, Dementia and physical illnesses.

There is also a Day Centre on site that provides care for up to 45 clients, including the elderly, physically infirm and individuals requiring dementia care.

Tracey Garland, Manager of Donwell House, said: “We are thrilled that the home is now fully back up and running and its fresh new look will provide a safe and comfortable environment for residents to receive quality care.

“The safety of our residents is always our priority and I would like to say a huge thank you to all the staff at Donwell House who responded magnificently after the fire, including off-duty employees who came in to help out.

“The hospitality of our local sister homes where some residents were temporarily moved was fantastic and provided a smooth transition for residents. I’d also like to say a big thank you to the fire crews who attended the scene, we are extremely grateful for how quickly and efficiently they dealt with the situation.”