The newly refurbished hydrotherapy pool at Warnham Lodge is already having a positive impact on the lives of care home residents, helping to improve mobility, wellbeing and independence while creating valuable moments for families.
Based in Warnham, Splendid Care Group has recently completed a refurbishment of its therapeutic hydrotherapy pool, which is now being used regularly by residents across its services. The group operates two care homes for older people – Upper Mead Care Home in Henfield and Derwent Lodge Care Home in Billingshurst – as well as specialist acquired brain injury services at Ullswater Cottage in Pease Pottage and the soon-to-open Warnham Lodge, which shares the site with the pool.
Maintained at a warm temperature and supported by Splendid’s in-house physiotherapy team, the facility provides a safe and therapeutic environment where residents can exercise, improve movement and enjoy greater freedom than they may experience on land.
Laura Newton, Operations Director at Splendid Care Group, said: “The hydrotherapy pool is a hugely valued resource and has the potential to make a real difference to people’s lives. Working in warm water can support mobility, flexibility, strength and confidence, while also providing a relaxing and enjoyable experience. We are already seeing some fantastic outcomes and it’s wonderful to see residents gaining so much from the sessions.”
One resident from Ullswater Cottage – a specialist home supporting people with acquired brain injuries and complex neurological conditions – is already benefiting from the pool.
The young man, Scott*, lives with quadriplegia, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, severe learning disabilities and partial sight loss after suffering a brain injury at birth. His father says the hydrotherapy sessions have given his son an opportunity to experience greater independence and movement.
“We had previously taken our son swimming and I know how much he enjoys being in the water, so this pool is a huge blessing,” said his father. “The wonderful thing is that when he’s in the pool, he can do things that he can’t do anywhere else.”
He explained that the buoyancy of the water allows his son to move more freely than he can on land.
“He moves his arms and legs far more than people would imagine,” he said. “When he’s in the water you can really see what he’s capable of. He can wriggle, kick and move independently, and he gets so much from it physically and mentally.”
Having spent years taking his son swimming, he has worked alongside Splendid Care’s physiotherapy team to help them understand the exercises and techniques that his son responds to best.
“The two physios are really good,” he added. “They’ve taken the time to understand what works for him and he absolutely loves being in the pool. The only thing he doesn’t like is the shower afterwards.”
He says the hydrotherapy pool is a fantastic addition to the support his son already receives at Ullswater Cottage. “It’s a fantastic facility,” he said. “The set-up is excellent and the staff are wonderful. They know our son so well and he really loves them all.”
The pool forms part of Splendid Care Group’s wider commitment to delivering person-centred care and helping residents achieve the best possible quality of life, regardless of age or ability.
Looking ahead, the organisation hopes that the facility may eventually be made available for members of the public to book, enabling more people across the local community to benefit from the therapeutic advantages of warm-water hydrotherapy.
Laura added: “We are incredibly proud of the facility and the difference it is already making. As we continue to develop the service, we hope to explore opportunities to make the pool available more widely so that even more people can experience the benefits of hydrotherapy.”