New luxury care home Glenburnie Lodge opens in Wenvoe

Peter and Diana Andrews are the first to move into a new state-of-the-art luxury care home Glenburnie Lodge Care Community in Wenvoe.

The couple ran their own chain of chemists in South Wales before selling to Lloyds Pharmacies, and they then bought a run-down farmhouse and 22-acres at Hensol and transformed it into Llanerch Vineyard, the best-known vineyard in Wales. They sold the vineyard in 2006.

As the first residents, the Andrews, were invited to perform the official opening of the Glenburnie Lodge Care Community in Wenvoe.

The event marked the culmination of three years of planning, a multi-million-pound investment and a step-change in the approach to latter years living.

Glenburnie offers residential, dementia and 24-hour nursing care delivered by an experienced team, enhanced with high-end hotel-style services including fine dining and a meaningful programme of daily events and fun and stimulating activities.

The home features 70 fully furnished ensuite rooms all with balcony or patio access to beautifully tended communal gardens.

The focal point is the café style coffee lounge and bar alongside communal lounges, gym, hair and beauty salon, cinema, and dining rooms.

Peter and Diana, now both in their eighties, said they were delighted to be asked to perform the official opening.

 “The facilities are excellent,” said Peter. “But no matter how good the facilities are, it’s the people that matter and we have found that the people here, whatever their role, are amazing.”

Local Vale of Glamorgan councillor Russell Godfrey believes Glenburnie will become a valued addition to the local community.

“We have had a care home in the village previously which closed abruptly and that left a void so it’s great to see Glenburnie now up and running,” he said.

“The facility is breathtaking, it’s wonderful to see how the design of the rooms, communal area and gardens all links so well and the residents have told me how much they appreciate the range of activities.”

Peter and Diana Andrews are the first residents in the new care home (Image: Supplied)

The opening of the home increases the provision of accommodation for older people in the area, whilst also providing over 100 jobs in the various roles needed to operate a care home, including caring, housekeeping, gardening, maintenance, catering and activity coordinators.

Reflecting on the opening, Managing Director Jacqui Orrells said: “I see our role as helping people to live their best lives. In many ways it can be the exciting start of a new chapter, the chance to make new friendships and try new activities.”

And the reaction of one elderly lady who recently moved in makes Jacqui confident they have the right balance between support and independence.

“The lady told me she had been on her own for five years and was so lonely.  Within days of moving in, just the hub of the café and being around people lifted her spirit. Now she has made new friends and taken part in activities and is so much happier. That is what a care home should be about.”

The home was designed by care home design specialists Harris Irwin Architects and the interior design by award-winning residential care home specialists Kerry Wilson Interiors.