Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What and where is Inchmarlo House Care Home?
A. Established in 1987, Inchmarlo House Care Home is a 52-bed luxury care home and an integral part of Inchmarlo Retirement Village, which is set in the scenic beauty of Royal Deeside, near Banchory in Aberdeenshire. Inchmarlo House is a listed Georgian mansion, which was built around 1750 and sits on an elevated south facing position with superb views over the River Dee and surrounded by a 100-acre garden paradise.
The care home provides the ideal solution for those who require additional support outwith their own home. The full care package includes help with washing, dressing and eating if and when required. Temporary care is available for those in need of respite and day care packages are available for those who need that extra bit of help during the day. The primary aim of Inchmarlo House is to provide individualised care to the highest standard in a homely environment.
Q. Why do people choose to live at Inchmarlo House?
A. Our residents tell us that they chose Inchmarlo House because they wanted to:
- live in a beautiful home
- live in a natural environment
- benefit from personalised care planning
- enjoy excellent food on a daily basis
- enjoy various activities and social events
- meet like-minded people
- have peace-of-mind that care and support is available 24/7
Q. What types of rooms are there?
A. Inchmarlo House has 52 single and double rooms, all with en suite facilities and finished to the highest standard. Many rooms have superb views over the estate and Royal Deeside. The rooms are equipped with a specialist bed and a nurse-call system. To make residents feel at home, many bring their own furniture and personal items. Assisted bath and shower rooms are located throughout the building.
Q. Can I bring in my own furniture?
A. It is important for residents to feel they are in familiar surroundings so we encourage them to take their own furniture and make themselves at home. However, to ensure safety for all residents, electrical items and furniture must be fire safety tested.
Q. Can I have access to the internet, a phone and TV?
A. There is free wi-fi throughout Inchmarlo House, which allows residents to stay in touch with family and friends.
There is a telephone point in each room, so residents can make and receive direct dial calls whenever they wish. Most residents bring their own TV so they can continue to enjoy their favourite programmes. We also have a large TV in the Red Drawing Room, which is mainly used for showing films and special events rather than general viewing. An additional TV is located in the Green Drawing Room with Sky TV channels, including Sky Sports.
Q. Is care available at all times?
A. There are always care assistants and a registered nurse on duty and available to respond to residents day or night, 24/7.
Q. Is security available at all times?
A. Inchmarlo Retirement Village is a safe and secure environment. Security Wardens are based at Inchmarlo House and patrol the estate 24/7, ensuring peace-of-mind for residents and homeowners.
Q. Is Inchmarlo House age exclusive?
A. Residents of the care home are required to be over the age of 65 but exceptions may be made for those below the age of 65 on medical grounds.
Q. Can I stay at Inchmarlo House on a trial basis?
A. It’s important for people to make the right choice so trial stays can be arranged, either for a day or longer. Once a resident has chosen Inchmarlo House, their stay will be considered as a trial for an initial period of six weeks. After the trial period and a comprehensive care review, their placement will be considered long-term.
Day-to-day living
Q. What is the daily routine?
A. We encourage residents to follow their usual schedule as much as possible. Meals at Inchmarlo House are served at the following times, seven days a week:
7.30 to 9.00 am – Continental breakfast is served in the dining room or in-room. Cooked breakfasts are served in the dining room.
10.45 am – Morning coffee is served in the lounges on the ground floor.
12.30 to 1.30 pm – Lunch is the main meal of the day consisting of three courses (with a choice for each course) followed by tea or coffee. Soft drinks and lighter bites are also available.
2.30 to 3.00 pm – Afternoon tea/coffee with home bakes is served in the lounges on the ground floor or in a room of your choice.
5.15 to 6.30 pm – High tea is served in the dining room, when a lighter menu is available. Snacks are available on request at any time. All dietary requirements are catered for.
Q. What type of meals are provided at Inchmarlo House?
A. Our restaurant offers a sophisticated menu of fresh, locally sourced and seasonal dishes. It is open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We also offer morning coffee with home bakes or an afternoon tea of sandwiches, scones and jam.
Many of the dishes served at Inchmarlo are inspired by Michelin-starred chefs including Gordon Ramsay, Lady Claire MacDonald and Paul Bocuse. We are always happy to accommodate dietary requirements and requests, no matter how unusual they may be. Eating well is an essential part of feeling well so we regularly hold food tasting evenings to gain feedback from the community to ensure our menu is interesting and enjoyable. Residents can meet visitors in the bar/restaurant or book the Green Drawing Room for larger groups.
Q. How often do residents exercise and go outside?
A. We believe that fresh air and exercise are essential to our residents’ health and happiness. We therefore encourage residents to do light exercise on a regular basis and offer a variety of keep fit activities such as seated Tai Chi and Pilates.
When the weather is good, we also encourage residents to go outside for morning coffee or afternoon tea and go for walks through our five unique gardens to enjoy the magnificent views and fresh air. We regularly host events on the lawn. The Sensory Garden is adjacent to Inchmarlo House and is securely enclosed, allowing for safe outdoor activity.
Services & Activities
Q. What services are available at Inchmarlo House?
A. Residents may benefit from the following services:
- Hairdressing – a hair salon is available by appointment three days per week.
- Transport – we operate a regular mini-bus shuttle service from Inchmarlo House to Banchory and various other places by arrangement for a subsidised charge.
- Shopping – a shopping trolley provided by the WRVS visits every Thursday. Items not available on the trolley can be ordered.
- Laundry – a personal laundry service is provided in-house and dry-cleaning can be arranged.
- Library – books are available to borrow free of charge in public areas and from a mobile library, which arranges regular exchange of books every fortnight. There is a Public Library in Banchory.
- Newspapers & Magazines – daily newspapers are available at reception. Personal copies may be delivered by arrangement.
- Internet Access – there is a laptop computer available for residents in the public areas.
- Wi-Fi – provided in all public areas and bedrooms free of charge.
Q. What extra services are available?
A. To ensure our residents look and feel their best, we have a hair salon in Inchmarlo House for cuts, tints and blow-dries. We also have a team of carefully selected and specialised therapists, from chiropractors to dentists, who visit Inchmarlo House for private appointments. A doctor visits once a week to take care of the residents’ medical needs. Although independence is encouraged, our staff are always on hand to assist with daily needs. The following services are available at Inchmarlo House on request:
- Beauty treatments
- Chiropody/Podiatry
- Dental services
- Optical services
- Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
- Reflexology and Massage
Q. What activities are available for the residents?
A. Inchmarlo House promotes active retirement living. We organise a weekly calendar of activities and events for our residents and make sure there is something to suit everyone, e.g.
- Book Club
- Boules and Bingo
- Bridge Club
- Church Services
- Craft and Sketch Workshops
- Film Nights
- Indoor Bowling
- Knit & Natter
- Men’s Group
- Outings to Banchory
- Puzzle Afternoons
- Seated and Standing Exercise Classes
- Sing-a-longs
- Tai Chi
- Walking Group
We encourage feedback from residents and will adapt our schedule accordingly. Family and friends are encouraged to join any of the organised activities. We also arrange external trips to places of local interest and garden centres, and hold regular events at Inchmarlo House for those who are less mobile.
Q. Can you support my religious beliefs?
A. We respect residents’ religious beliefs and holidays. Ministers or Priests are welcome to visit residents at Inchmarlo House. In addition, residents may attend local churches every Sunday and can also participate in inter-denominational services, which are held in Inchmarlo House three times a month.
Family & Friends
Q. When can family and friends visit Inchmarlo House?
A. Visits are important for residents’ well-being so family and friends are welcome at all times and may be invited to join residents for morning coffee, lunch, afternoon tea or high tea. Children’s meals are also available. We will inform relatives if we need to restrict visits for health reasons.
Q. Can residents celebrate special occasions with their family and friends?
A. We help residents entertain their family and friends by providing catering for special occasions. Residents can request a home baked complimentary birthday cake to share with family and friends. Larger parties and celebratory lunches can be booked for one of our drawing rooms. All tastes and dietary requirements can be provided for, and our Head Chef is guaranteed to come up with something extra special for the occasion.
Q. Are families regularly updated?
A. The Director & General Manager of Inchmarlo House, Julie Mackenzie, invites family members, next of kin and/or representatives to meet with her and other key members of staff four times a year. This meeting allows those involved to share ideas and to ask questions. Julie will also provide updates on matters affecting our residents and is always happy to answer questions. Feedback and suggestions are encouraged.
About the charges
Q. What is included in the fees, and what are the extras?
A. The weekly and respite care fees are for full-board and are fully inclusive of all nursing care and laundry, including personal items. Optional extras such as telephone, hairdressing, beauty treatments, private chiropody, dry-cleaning and drinks from the bar are charged separately. We also accommodate day care and respite stays, subject to availability. The fees are reviewed annually in February. For more information on specific charges, please contact us directly.
Q. Can I read the Care Inspectorate reports?
A. Inchmarlo House is registered with the Care Inspectorate as a care home for elderly and frail residents. The Care Inspectorate is the name for the Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (SCSWIS) regulatory body. The latest inspection reports for Inchmarlo House are available on our website.
Q. Who owns and manages Inchmarlo House?
A. Inchmarlo House is owned by Skene Enterprises (Aberdeen) Ltd, which is part of The Skene Group, a family business founded by Charles P. Skene CBE, which includes Skene House and Skene Business Centres.
The Director & General Manager of Inchmarlo House is Julie Mackenzie, a highly experienced and qualified registered nurse, who has worked at Inchmarlo for over 17 years. Julie is supported by her Deputy Manager, Julie Woods, and approximately 100 other staff, including nurses, care assistants, activity co-ordinators and various community liaison, kitchen, housekeeping, security, gardening and support staff.