Rustington Convalescent Home Reviews & Testimonials

"My goodness they had a hairdresser. The worst thing for me about being in hospital was that they won’t wash your hair. The NHS don’t realise how washing your hair makes you feel human."

"I love the building especially the fact that it’s an old building from outside but nicely modernised inside. Every time I’ve been there there’s been an improvement like a new carpet or they’ve painted. They’re always spending money to keep up to date."

"After I arrived, I was taken into the dining room for tea and that was just so welcoming. I asked if I could have Earl Grey tea and they said of course! There were home-made biscuits and cake. If you‘re at home on your own you wouldn’t necessarily eat very well because you wouldn’t have the energy to do it."

"I found those daily checks with the nurse useful. They made me feel everything was being looked after. It would have been a nightmare having to manage on my own at home with no nursing help."

"Once you’ve had surgery, your confidence takes one hell of a battering, mentally you’re a bit twisted up. RCH is very good at encouraging you to get back into the swing of things even if it is just about sitting down and having a conversation with you in the lounge."

"I walked to the sea front and back again. I went up and down the stairs which was very exciting – and I rested every afternoon because they said I should bed rest in the afternoons. I read my post. I did a little painting because I’m a painter and I read a lot and chatted to everybody."

"Whatever you get up to in there, it’s not going to be problem, someone there is just going to sort it for you. The first time I was there, I was still in the police and I wanted to keep on doing office work so my brother brought in a laptop and we set up a dongle thing for me and I just carried on working."

"I am looking after my wife with dementia. It’s 7 days a week so to have a complete break from that and not have to go shopping or book carers or hospital visits, well, you just come out feeling relaxed and more physically able."

"I got used to getting around because after you’ve had a hip done everything takes so long. It takes so long to get dressed, to eat, to get from a to b. I wanted to explore because RCH has got about five lounges for different things – for television, for games, for visitors, the conservatory – you could go to anything. It was lovely."

"When I typed in convalescent home most seemed to charge £2,000 a week which I couldn’t have afforded. RCH is very reasonably priced because the cost is subsidised by the charity."

"I really think the NHS should do convalescent homes again. It gives you such a kick start if you’ve been unwell or if things haven’t gone as they should do after an operation. You need somebody behind you doing the motherly thing. Everybody was so lovely at RCH. We just bolstered each other up. There was lots of camaraderie."

"I couldn’t really fault them. The staff were always there if you needed them, always very friendly. The atmosphere at Christmas is lovely – you get what I call a proper family Christmas. You get Christmas trees, decorations, carol singing, everything that goes with Christmas. Lovely."

"I chose RCH because I was looking for a convalescent home only. When I looked online lots of care homes came up but all of them to my mind were aged care homes that said they would do convalescent if they had space. That’s not my idea of a convalescent home so I chose a real one – I chose RCH instead."

"I was looking for somewhere to go for a respite break because I look after my wife who has Parkinsons and dementia. I just got away from everything and RCH did everything for me. I charged my batteries up and then carried on with my life at home. I met some lovely people too. I would like to go again."

"I’ve been probably 15 times. I wouldn’t be talking to you now if it wasn’t for RCH if I’m honest. The doctor said why don’t you go back for a respite even though you haven’t just had surgery. It’s nice to have someone checking over you medically, all your meals are done for you. It takes the pressure off you. I feel refreshed."

"It was like being at a really nice hotel with lovely food. You could ask for a small portion which was good when you’re not feeling 100%. And it was fresh. There was fresh food everywhere. You could go and get fresh fruit in the sitting rooms, the dining room, everywhere. I felt the whole place really wanted their clients to feel better quickly."

"Here they offer a nice intermediate stage - getting something between being hospitalised and being at home. I think is very important - we ought to have more of that sort of organisation."

"When you’re living on your own you can’t change dressings or make special meals. I have visited RCH a few times. I like a good bit of friendly banter and chat as well because that’s important for the mental side of it."

"My sister had an operation on her wrist and she went to RCH. A guest said to her `Oh it’s lovely here at Christmas why don’t you come?’ And she persuaded me to go too. I stayed after I broke my arm then after that we went for another Christmas just because we enjoyed it so much."

"I really like the building. They’ve managed to keep the character but still have accessible bathrooms and en-suites and all the mod cons. If you don’t want to leave the building for some reason, it is big enough to walk around. You see people walking a bit, then sit down and chat to someone then get up and walk again."

"All of the staff are so kind and engaging with you. The important thing is, it’s all the staff - the domestic and cleaning staff, the maintenance man, the gardener. They all chat to you and that makes a big difference. I ought to single out the domestic staff because they keep the place spotlessly clean. It doesn’t smell like a convalescent home, it’s more l..." Read more

"Because it was so good, it was worth every penny. They did the work that my GP surgery would have done - took out stitches, did blood tests. So, instead of me coming home and getting a taxi and struggling up to the doctors’ surgery and waiting weeks for an appointment, it was all done at RCH - no travelling, no taxi expenses."

"It’s lovely and quiet area to sit on the seafront and let one’s thoughts go quiet. It’s great because it’s all on the level and there are plenty of places to sit down. If you walk far enough you get to Littlehampton where there are some sea front cafes. But I like it best in the sea front shelters - the quietness, the sound of the sea, the lovely fresh air,..." Read more

"I like the reassurance factor with the nurses available 24/7. I’ve had to pull the emergency cord in the night before and they’re there straight away for you."

"The staff are so damn good, they really look after you and they’re so pleasant. The first two or three days they kept coming up asking me if I was ok, is there anything I can do to help you because I was in a bit of a state for a while."