Our history
Virginia Lodge Care Home - named for the Virginia creeper vine that welcomes you as you enter our gates - is an established and well-respected care home with a reputation for quality care. Having been owned and run by the same family for three generations, Virginia Lodge knows the importance of family values, and strives to make all residents, relatives, friends, and staff feel part of the family too.
The building originally opened in 1920 as Longtown Isolation Hospital, our building was purpose built for those with communicable diseases. Still fondly known as 'the TB hospital' in our surrounding communities, our layout and rural location came in use once again in 2020, where we remained safe from the COVID19 Outbreak.
The family behind the busines
1990 - present day
In 1990, Dorothy Foster, a Boltonian RGN-turned-care-home-manager, set out to deliver quality care on her own terms. Purchasing Virginia Lodge, a small, eight-bedded home, Dorothy was quickly able to put her experience to use and by February 1993 had 29 elderly people residing at Virginia Lodge…
Being 61 years old herself Dorothy realised she needed some help and so recruited her daughter and son-in-law, Julie and Glen Walsh, to pack up their home and children (Christian, then 18, Glen, then 16, and Lauren, then 5) and move up to ‘the lodge’
Glen began developing the land and home, increasing the amount of communal spaces within the home, and Julie, after realising how naturally care home management came to her began running the home, and implemented many of the tried and tested procedures still in situ today. In 1999 Dorothy retired, and Julie and Glen became the sole proprietors.
In 2008, Julie and Glen’s daughter Lauren - having graduated from university – began working full-time in business administration. In 2010 Lauren was made a partner in the business, and after four years ‘behind the scenes’ (no nepotism in this family!) progressed to a more ‘hands on’ care role; becoming deputy manager and working closely with Julie learning the ins and outs of running Virginia Lodge.
In late 2018, after a short illness, Julie died, leaving the management of the home in Lauren and Glen’s hands.
2020 saw one of the most difficult times in elderly health care, though the home was proud to have remained free of COVID19 at all times, whilst also not excluding loved ones from visiting. In 2020 Lauren's husband, Steven, joined the business as Operations Assistant, supporting Lauren and Glen in the day-to-day running for the home.
In late 2021, Glen died suddenly, leaving Lauren at the helm. Lauren does her best to ensure that the lasting impact of Julie’s passion in quality care remains at the very core of Virginia Lodge’s ethos.
Dorothy Foster. Proprietor 1990 - 1999.
The lasting legacy of our founders
Glen Walsh & Julie Walsh. Proprietors 1993 - 2021
Julie and Glen informed and created the principles that underpin all that we do at Virginia Lodge - perhaps none more important than seeing the individual behind their care needs - having themselves refused to be defined by their own health issues. Julie successfully overcame cancer twice, all the while continuing to work her socks off for Virginia Lodge, before finally succumbing to it on a third time. And Glen continued to steward the business following a stroke in 2004 that left him disabled. Both personally understood that a person should be measured by who they are, not the circumstances they find themselves in, and that with the appropriate care everybody has the opportunity to be their best-possible self.
Being owners as well as managers and living onsite gave Julie and Glen unrivalled dedication and commitment to their role and to the residents they shared their home with. For over 25 years their passion to ensure dignity, person centred care, choices, and independence to a frequently ignored group in our society - the elderly - gave Virginia Lodge Care Home an excellent reputation in the local community.
Julie’s knowledge gained from her experience means she knew what was required to achieve excellence in care. A natural leader, who was able to train and guide a strong, capable team with ease, Julie was always open and honest about her goals and her desire to maintain high standards of care.
This passion and dedication underpins everything we do at Virginia Lodge. We're transparent, open, honest, and professional. We strive to keep our knowledge updated and stay ahead in the issues that affect the care industry. We promote our team to understand the necessity of flexible learning, promoting the benefits of sharing and updating knowledge by being positive role models.
The tried and tested company policies and procedures are constantly reviewed and adapted as needed in order to meet needs, remain person centred, and provide quality care.
Thanks to Julie’s professionalism throughout her tenure we have excellent working links and relationships with other professional agencies, who know we put our residents first and have trust in our abilities.