Rustington Convalescent Home Reviews & Testimonials

"Very considerate attentive staff. It’s been the same staff all the time so when I go back there, they know me and I know them. I like that."

"They thought it was fantastic. The people from Worthing came to see me and had the expectation it was going to be like a hospital smelling of Dettol, But they said it’s like a hotel - it smells like and looks like a hotel."

"In the hospital I just felt awful. If you only have a tiny bowl to wash in that says an awful lot – you like to be clean. The very first night the Sister was so matter of a fact and got me through this panic thing and help me wash and put on clean nightclothes. I just felt like a human being again."

"The nurses were fantastic. They were knowledgeable, they were reassuring, they were willing to make statements about how I was progressing – more than most nurses because most nurses in hospitals are intimidated by doctors."

"The food has always been jolly good to brilliant. It’s always very good quality, varied and plenty of it – I have to make sure I don't over-indulge! It’s served by lovely staff as well."

"I’m delighted that the Worshipful Company of Carpenters support RCH so well. I’ve enjoyed meeting one or two of the fellows from the WCC. They come and stay occasionally and talk to the guests. Just a gentle conversation. They want to know if the guests are well satisfied with their treatment. I’ve always been pleased to tell them how happy I am to be here."

"We telephoned loads of nursing homes but I was only 52 at the time so the nursing homes and rest homes told me I was too young. It’s crazy. Don’t get me wrong I didn’t particularly want to be going to a nursing home but they can’t take you if you’re younger than their registered age. Thank goodness RCH doesn’t discriminate."

"I could be on my own whenever I wanted even though I did a lot of socialising with the other guests too – it’s very good."

"They plan the dining room. Firstly, for access, so people aren’t struggling with and walking frames and secondly to get people talking and mixing. It’s quite clever the way they do it. Some people say `I don’t want to sit there` so they juggle the tables around for you. Even for people who aren’t confident it’s manageable and they will get you sitting with t..." Read more

"It’s a lovely historical building. If you can’t go out there’s plenty of room for you to walk about inside and be active because there’s plenty of space."

"The nursing and ancillary staff were so friendly and warm. The kitchen staff were fantastic. The domestic staff were extremely friendly and would go out of the way to help you. It’s a safe place and everyone’s so nice to you. At the beginning I couldn’t lift anything and I couldn’t open the windows but they would volunteer to help."

"I’m on what’s called a soft moist diet. There are lots of things I can’t eat. They said no problem, we can do it. Even with things like apple pie. I said I can’t eat that and they said they’ll liquidise it with ice cream. It came out great – so much so that others on the table wanted it too!"

"I’m more relaxed and stronger in that I’ve been able to take exercise and activities to the level I think is appropriate. When I left RCH, I felt stronger, brighter and more relaxed."

"They think of everything. If you sit out on the patio in the summer, they come out with a sunhat and suntan lotion and they make sure you’ve got a drink so you don’t get dehydrated."

"They said,`cor blimey Dad, you enjoy this. It looks lovely - very peaceful and quiet!’ The chef made a really nice homemade tea and everyone made my visitors very welcome."

"The sea air makes you breathe more deeply, it does. And just seeing that vast expanse makes you feel much calmer, it is just wonderful."

"The medical staff have always been very good and helpful and attentive. My hip operation was the worst one because I really was quite immobile and had a huge gash down the side of my leg. Changing my dressings was all looked after by the nursing sister. All very good."

"It was a lovely rest for a reasonable price. I didn’t have to do anything and it saved my family from worrying about me and my sister because we both live on our own."

"The sea at Rustington is fantastic, there’s always something to look at. In autumn, the sunsets are spectacular - you get murmurations of starlings and they go all over the sea. On bonfire night you see all the fireworks. In winter, the wild weather out to sea is lovely. In summer, the kite surfers go and do their acrobatics. It’s just beautiful."

"I had physio every day at RCH and they were so encouraging. I used to be a dancer so I know how the body is supposed to work but I had a hip operation and my blood pressure was down so I couldn’t have physiotherapy in hospital. I found the physio incredibly helpful."

"The staff were brilliant not only the nursing care, the carers too. You are not just left alone in your room - they are always coming to involve you and chat to you and cheer you up if you need cheering up. They don’t just leave people they encourage them and that makes guests feel better about themselves."

"The people in the Carpenters’ Company are prepared to spend their time and energy making sure RCH is run properly. It’s 21st century standard. This model of a convalescent home really could be an answer to some of today’s problems that the NHS has. RCH has been kept alive and the Carpenter’s Company demonstrate that it can work."

"Ideal place to have a convalescent home. There’s no industry near so there’s nothing to disrupt the calm. And it’s not a purpose-built modern facility – that would be soulless and characterless. This has so much soul and character."

"The medical care was wonderful. I am one of those ghastly patients who has got a phobia of having stitches and clips out. Sister, bless her, took them out and gave me time to take deep breaths and that could be a ghastly time - but not at RCH."

"We used all the rooms depending on how active or inactive we wanted to be. There were never people crowding out any one lounge unless there’s a special activity on. It means you’ve got three different lots of TV. If people want to watch something and I don’t then I can go elsewhere or do something separate. Such a lot of variety on offer for a relatively sma..." Read more