Blar Buidhe Care Home

Simons Road, Stornoway HS1 2UT
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8.7 57 Reviews
  • Blar Buidhe Care Home, Stornoway
Located on the beautiful island of Lewis, Blar Buidhe Care Home offers personalised nursing and nursing dementia care to older people.

With views across the island, this cosy home offers residents the choice of three sitting rooms as well as a comfortable dining area in which they can relax, socialise and dine.

By getting to know each individual resident at Blar Buidhe, staff take pride in being able to encourage everyone to take an active part in life at the home. Whether it be participating in the popular wellbeing and activities programme or supporting residents in embracing the quieter times, they are committed to helping residents to lead their best lives.

Community is also an integral part of life at Blar Buidhe, and the team works hard to support residents in building strong relationships in the Stornoway neighbourhood, organising regular events with local schools, charities and businesses in the area.

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Care Provided by Blar Buidhe Care Home

  • Primary Care Categories
  • Dementia
  • Mental Health Condition
  • Older Person Care
  • Sensory Impairment
  • Care Types Provided
  • Dementia Nursing Care
  • Nursing Care
  • For a maximum of 40 Service Users
  • Privately Owned
  • Care Offered
  • Alzheimer's
  • Cancer Care
  • Cerebral Palsy
  • Challenging Behaviour/Psychosis
  • Colitis & Crohn's Disease
  • Epilepsy
  • Head/Brain Injury
  • Hearing Impairment
  • Huntington's Disease
  • Motor Neurone Disease
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Muscular Dystrophy
  • Stroke
  • Visual Impairment
  • Other Care Provided
  • Convalescent Care
  • Own GP if required
  • Palliative Care

Good to Know

  • Person in charge
  • Donald McIntosh (Home Manager)
  • Admission Criteria
    • Under 65 years
    • Ages 65+
  • Room Information
    • Single Rooms (36)
    • Couples/Companion Rooms (2)
  • Care Home Design/Build
    • Purpose Built: Yes
    • Last Refurbishment: 2002

Facilities

  • Close to Local shops
  • Gardens
  • Lift
  • Minibus or other transport
  • Near Public Transport
  • Own Furniture if required
  • Pet Friendly (or by arrangement)
  • Phone Point in own room
  • Residents Internet Access
  • Residents Kitchenette
  • Television point in own room
  • Wheelchair Access

Blar Buidhe Care Home Reviews (57)

Total of 57, showing 41-57
8.7

Blar Buidhe Care Home has a Review Score of 8.7 (8.701) out of 10, based on 5 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time Blar Buidhe Care Home has 57 reviews.

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Review from Marion M (Niece of Resident) published on 7 May 2018
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Superb standard of care.
Staff are wonderful.

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Review from Christine M (Niece of Resident) published on 7 May 2018
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

As a visitor, it is a friendly, welcoming environment. Staff are pleasant and show a great deal of care for the residents.

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Review from Murdo C (Grandson of Resident) published on 7 May 2018
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I love coming to the Blar Buidhe. It's a lovely care home.
It's clean, warm and bright. The staff are so friendly and helpful. They are so patient and kind towards the residents and their families. I always enjoy coming to visit my Granny.

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Review from Doreen M (Daughter of Resident) published on 24 April 2018
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My mother has been a resident for 3 years now.
There has in the last 18 months, been a significant upgrade in facilities e.g new furniture, carpets and vinyl to floors.
Some rooms still need upgrading. I would like the carpet removed from my mother's room as she has now to be hoisted for the toilet,
bed etc. Some stains on carpet cannot be removed but all in all, happy with her room. Would like to see resident having more fresh fruit.

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Review from Michael W (Son of Resident) published on 10 April 2018
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Delighted with the home and how well mum has settled in. Lovely atmosphere and all the staff are brilliant!

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Review from Dorothy W (Resident) assisted by family/friend published on 10 April 2018
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Very well cared for. No complaints.

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Review from M M (Daughter of Resident) published on 19 March 2018
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

We as a family are more than satisfied with the personal care and nursing support our Mother is receiving in Blar Buidhe Care Home. Staff are extremely efficient, friendly and kind. The recent change of new management was immediately done with no disruption to the residents daily routine.

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Review from Catherine M (Wife of Resident) published on 19 December 2017
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We will be eternally grateful to the management and all the dedicated staff in Blar Buidhe, for the unfailing love, care and attention given to our loved one. My husband spent 9 and a half weeks in the care of Blar Buidhe until his passing in October 2017.
The staff and management could not do enough
for him and indeed for ourselves his family.

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Review from Emia M (Daughter of Resident) published on 23 November 2017
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

It's the first time in a long, long while that Mum has been settled. We can tell just by looking at her how content she is.
Everybody has been very kind.
The home is beautiful and there are never any smells. When we leave in the evening we are very happy and content. She is being cared for very well.

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Review from Margaret J (Daughter of Resident) published on 1 June 2017
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Very welcoming atmosphere, all staff friendly and acknowledged my presence each time I visit.
Staff appear caring towards residents and visitors.
Recent redecoration and new furniture in communal areas has brightened the home up and adds to the welcoming atmosphere that already prevails at Blar Buidhe.

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Review from Patricia Anne O (Wife of Resident) published on 25 May 2017
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I am very happy with my husbands care. I could not ask for more.

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Review from Ann M (Wife of Resident) published on 11 October 2016
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My husband has been in this home now for over 6 months. His general health and well being has improved greatly over this period. There is a big difference in him. He never asks to come home now and is content and happy in the care and love he's given. The food is excellent and he's put on weight. He
no longer seems down as he was, when he was in hospital. I'm encouraged and amazed at the improvement in his whole attitude to life. It is a lot more than I expected. The staff are wonderful to the clients and family and it is a joy to visit.

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Review from Catriona C (Daughter of Resident) published on 25 August 2016
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Very friendly, open, welcoming and helpful staff. Comfortable single rooms with open outlook. Good food and choice of menu and off the menu if requested. Visitors welcomed at any time and always offered tea/coffee etc. We are very pleased with the service provided and my mother settled in straight away
despite reluctance to enter a care home.

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Review from Dorothy M (Daughter of Resident) published on 24 March 2016
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My mother was admitted to Blar Buidhe at very short notice from hospital. The staff were wonderful and made everything easy for us and a very welcoming experience for my mother. My mother settled in very quickly and we put that down to the wonderful care that she is receiving from the nurses and caring
staff. We as a family are extremely happy with the care my mother is receiving. The staff are all very friendly, courteous and helpful to all members of the family when they visit. The care home is very clean and warm, the bedroom could do with a wee face lift!

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Review from Katherine M (Daughter of Resident) published on 17 March 2016
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The review was conducted in a polite and informative manner. My aged mother's case was discussed in detail covering her physical circumstances, medication and comfort. All my questions were answered satisfactorily, and I was able to convey to my mother all that was discussed and agreed concerning her
case. She confirmed in the presence of the social worker her continuing desire to remain under the care of Blar Buidhe.

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Review from Barbara M (Sister of Resident) published on 23 February 2016
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

More than a happy place.

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Review from Ann (Wife of Resident) published on 23 February 2016
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The improvement in my husbands well-being and health, has been amazing, in this short period. To say he is enjoying his food, doesn't describe the change in him. He has gained a stone over this period, he rests well at night, responds well with staff, seems to have got his sense of humour back, has
become alive again. Not a patient, human being.
He told a friend, "this place suits me very well".
He doesn't seem to feel hopeless, any more.
I also get a warm welcome from all the staff, and am so very grateful for the love and care, given to him. Nothing happens by chance, it is the lords goodness to us all.

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Current Review Score: 8.7 (8.701)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 8.7 (8.701) out of 10 for Blar Buidhe Care Home is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  • a) The Average Rating is 4.6 out of 5 from 5 Reviews in the last 24 months.

  • b) The score for the number of positive Reviews is 4.1 out of 5 from 5 positive Reviews in the last 24 months.

Detailed Breakdown of Review Score

The maximum Review Score for a Care Home is 10, which is made up from the Average Rating of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) and the Number of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) in the last 24 months:

  • a) 5 Points are available for the Average Rating from all Reviews in the last 24 months.

    The Average Rating of 4.576 for Blar Buidhe Care Home is calculated as follows: ( (46 Excellents x 5) + (4 Goods x 4) + (7 Satisfactorys x 3) + (1 Poors x 2) + (1 Very Poors x 1) ) ÷ 59 Ratings = 4.576

  • b) 5 Points are available for the number of Positive Reviews in the last 24 months. A Positive Review is defined as any Review with an 'Overall Experience' of '4' or '5' (out of a max rating '5').

    The 4.125 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Blar Buidhe Care Home is based on 5 positive Reviews in the last 24 months and is calculated as per below:

    The 5 points available are broken down as follows:

    • i) 4 points are available for the first 10 Positive Reviews in the last 24 months; 3 points for the first Positive Review, and then 0.125 Points for each of the next four Positive Reviews and then 0.1 Points for the next five Positive Reviews. (1st = 3.000, 2nd = 0.125, 3rd = 0.125, 4th = 0.125, 5th = 0.125, 6th = 0.100, 7th = 0.100, 8th = 0.100, 9th = 0.100, 10th = 0.100) 3 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 = 3.5

    • ii) 1 point is available for the number of Positive Reviews reaching 20% of the registered maximum number of service users in the last 24 months. If this number is partially reached, then that proportion of 1 point is given. eg a Care Home registered for a maximum of 50 service users has to reach 10 Positive Reviews to receive 1 point, if it has 7 reviews it will receive 0.7 points. 20% of the 40 registered maximum number of service users is 8. 5 Positive Reviews ÷ 8 = 0.625

  • When a Review is submitted by someone who has previously submitted a Review, only the latest Review will count towards the Review Score.

  • If a Care Home does not have a review in the last 24 months, then it will not have a Review Score.

Performance

Care Inspectorate (CI) Rating

Date: 28 Jun 2024

How well do we support people's wellbeing? Good

(4)
How good is our leadership? Good

(4)
How good is our staff team? Good

(4)
How good is our setting? Good

(4)
How well is care and support planned? Good

(4)

Care Inspectorate is responsible for the registration and inspection of social care services in Scotland.

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Bed Vacancies

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Awards / Recognitions (7)

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Meet the Team (1)

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Donald McIntosh

Job Title: Home Manager

“For me, it’s going above and beyond to ensure that all residents, staff and visitors are treated with dignity, respect and compassion - A smile costs nothing!”


Donald is a Registered Nurse with experience in delivering quality care and support in both acute and emergency environments. He uses this experience to provide the Residents of Blar Buidhe with the highest possible standard of care and quality of life.


Donald shares HC-One’s vision in aiming to provide the kindest care for each and every Resident, that’s why he joined Blar Buidhe as Home Manager. He extends his kind caring approach to his colleagues, offering support and guidance to ensure that his team are providing a safe and welcoming environment for both residents and visitors.


He uses his knowledge of rural living to build a strong bond with the local community and organise regular events and activities at Blar Buidhe for all to enjoy.


When asked what he enjoys most about his role, Donald remarked:


“Leading a team that demonstrates and promotes a culture of kind care.”


Outside of work, Donald spends most of his spare time sailing, fishing or with his family.


If you would like to find out more information about Blar Buidhe, Donald has an ‘Open Door Policy’ and would be pleased to welcome you for an informal discussion.