Rugby - Drovers House

Drovers House was opened in 2013 and is a purpose-built specialist dementia care home, which provides 75 specialist care home places for older people living with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia. 

Drovers House is designed to compensate for the challenges faced by people living with dementia. Every aspect of it has been carefully planned to create an environment that is based around facilitating, not dictating, the delivery of personalised care.

There are six households of between 10 and 13 people at Drovers House. Each household has its own communal open-plan lounge, dining area and kitchen. Everyone has their own ensuite room, with a personalised front door, and windows overlooking the surrounding neighbourhood, so people can watch the world going by outside, feeling involved in daily community life. For couples, a double apartment can be created with a bedroom and private lounge, or adjacent bedrooms are available.

Whilst there's always lots happening in each household, including our daily Oomph! exercise classes and activities, Drovers House also has a welcoming cafe where residents can meet family and friends for a drink and some cake, a shop where they can stock up on supplies for their household's kitchen, a hair salon and luxury spa bath. We've also introduced a therapy table tennis table which has been an instant hit with residents, friends and family.

Outside is a large garden with a specially designed cycle path for our side-by-side bike for two, a tool shed, raised beds and varied planting which residents look after. Those more green-fingered residents tend to the vegetable and fruit plots growing fresh produce which is used in the kitchens.

Volunteers from The Gift of Years Rugby visit the home regularly to provide regular services of worship, befriending, singing groups and one-to-one activities. 

And people living with, or caring for someone with dementia, are very welcome at the free Drovers House dementia cafe, run every week on Wednesday between 11.15am and 1.15pm. This is a great opportunity to chat, share experiences, and enjoy using many of the facilities the home has to offer (see 'events' for more information).