As conversations around ageing and elder care continue to evolve, one Hampshire care home is quietly redefining what it means to flourish in a care home.
For Shirley Manning (89), one of the first resident who moved to Rownhams Manor in Southampton in 2024, the difference is clear: “It doesn’t feel like I’m in a care home — it feels like I’m just living with friends.”
Shirley starts mornings enjoying breakfast with her peers. Not one for the spotlight, she enjoys being part of the home’s rhythm — sometimes joining in activities such as gardening or seated yoga, other times content to observe and reflect.
What sets living at Rownhams Manor apart is the home’s commitment to preserving independence and normalcy.
“The staff encourage me to do things myself,” Shirley says. “They don’t just take over — and that’s important. If they did everything for me, I think I’d feel a bit low, but they empower me.”
This ethos is part of a wider cultural shift happening in social care, where places like Rownhams Manor are focussing community-based, resident-led care. The result? Residents like Shirley experience not just care, but genuine wellbeing.
Shirley told staff and residents at the one-year anniversary celebration of the home: “It’s been such a busy and enjoyable year. It’s gone so fast it just feels like I’ve always been here.”
Samantha Squibb, the General Manager at Rownhams Manor, said, ‘We’re incredibly proud that Shirley feels at home here — not just cared for, but truly known and supported.
‘We create a place where residents still feel like themselves, where independence is nurtured, and where every person is treated as an individual, not just as someone receiving care.’
You can meet Shirley and the residents at Rownhams Manor during the home’s weekly Tea on Tuesday event, where all are welcome to enjoy a warm drink and freshly baked treats from 10:30 in the home on Harrison Way, Rownhams, Southampton, Hampshire, SO16 8NG.
To find out more about life at Rownhams Manor, call 02381102248 or email rownhams@oystercarehomes.co.uk.
Rownhams Manor care home in Southampton, operated by Oyster Care Homes, offers 24-hour residential, dementia and respite care for up to 66 people. With ensuite bedrooms, beautiful social spaces, and landscaped gardens, Rownhams Manor offers an inclusive fee to give peace of mind to its residents and families.
