Care that feels like home, in the heart of Saltash
The Elms is an independent nursing and residential home for older people, a few minutes from the shops, the surgery and the banks of the Tamar.
Welcome to The Elms Care Centre
The Elms is an independent care home in Saltash, the town known as the gateway to Cornwall. We are registered to care for up to 37 older people, and because the home is run by the people who work in it rather than a distant head office, decisions get made by the team who actually know each resident.
Choosing a care home is a heavy decision, usually made at a difficult time. We will not rush you. Come and look round, stay for a cup of tea, meet the staff and ask the awkward questions.
How we care for people
Everyone arrives with a different level of need, so we assess each person properly before they move in and write a care plan around them. These are the ways people come to us.
Long stay
Residential care
Long term care in your own single room, with help at hand for washing, dressing, medication and the ordinary business of the day.
24 hour nursing
Nursing care
A registered nurse on duty 24 hours a day for residents living with a long term illness or recovering from one.
Short stay
Respite care
Short planned or emergency stays. A break for family carers, and a gentle way to find out whether the home suits you.
Daytime
Day care
Company, activities and a hot meal during the day for people who still live in their own home. Up to five places a day.
Specialist
Palliative care
Calm, dignified support at the end of life, working closely with district nurses, GPs and the family. We can care for up to six residents under 65 needing palliative support.
Every month
Activities and outings
Two activity coordinators plan a full programme every month. Live music, quizzes, armchair exercise, art, church services, reminiscence talks and regular trips out.
Every day
Food and nutrition
Three meals a day including a cooked two course lunch, made with ingredients sourced locally where we can, and menus reviewed with the people who eat them.
Around the home
Rooms and facilities
Thirty four single bedrooms over two floors, a passenger lift, two lounges, a dining room and conservatory, and a private patio garden.
Why families choose The Elms
Nursing on site, day and night
A registered nurse is on duty around the clock, and every new member of staff completes a full training programme before they work on the floor.
Independent, not a chain
We answer to the people who live here and their families, not to a head office three counties away. That shows up in how quickly things get sorted.
A proper Saltash address
Banks, churches, shops, the chemist, the post office, the library and two GP surgeries are all within easy reach of the front door.
Rooms that feel like your own
Every bedroom has a nurse call point, a profiling bed and a television. Residents bring their own soft furnishings, mementos and, where there is space, furniture from home.
Care planned around one person
A full assessment before anyone moves in, then a care plan written with the resident, their family and the professionals who already know them, reviewed regularly.
Families kept in the picture
Clear and constant contact with relatives, a tablet on hand for video calls, and visitors welcome throughout the day.
Life at The Elms
Bay windows, a lit fireplace, flowers on the mantelpiece and a garden to sit out in. The photographs below were taken in the home on an ordinary day, nothing staged.
Come and see the home for yourself
Have a cup of tea, meet the team and ask us anything about life here. A call ahead means someone is free to show you round properly.
Common questions
You are very welcome to visit. A quick call on 01752 846 335 beforehand means someone senior is free to walk you round, answer questions properly and introduce you to a few residents rather than rushing you through.
Fees are based on each resident’s assessed care needs, so there is no single price list. They are payable monthly in advance by standing order or direct debit and are reviewed once a year, with a month’s notice of any change. Our administrator can talk you through public and voluntary funding as it applies to your circumstances.
Care plans are reviewed regularly rather than left to gather dust, and any change is discussed with the resident and their representatives at the time. Because fees follow assessed need, a significant change in care can change the fee.
What that usually involves:
A review with the resident, the family and the professionals involved,
A revised care plan, and a fee that reflects the new level of support
No. All 34 bedrooms are single occupancy. The home is registered for 37, but the few twin rooms were converted so that everyone has their own space, privacy and door to close.
The home is well supported by two Saltash surgeries and most new residents register with one of them, but tell us if you would rather stay with your own practice and we will work around it. Residents are also free to choose their own dentist and optician.
Yes. New residents are invited to move in on a trial basis before anyone commits to a permanent stay, and a respite booking is another low risk way to find out whether the home feels right.
Accommodation, all meals and refreshments, laundry, heating and utilities, and the activities programme. Hairdressing, chiropody, newspapers and personal toiletries are charged separately. We will give you the full list in writing before anyone moves in.
From the blog
What has been happening in the home, alongside plain English guidance for families weighing up care for the first time.