A TAUNTON care home is adopting a new name as part of its rebrand.

From April 1, 2024, Abbeyfield Somerset Society Residential Home will be adopting the new name of Heron House Residential Home.

The name for the "fully independent" not-for-profit organisation was chosen by residents and their loved ones.

The home on Bishop's Hull has confirmed that staffing and service quality will not be changing.

A spokesperson from the home, which is rated as 'Outstanding' by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), said: "After over three decades of being a member of the Abbeyfield Society, we felt that becoming a fully independent home with a new name would enable us to operate with more autonomy, and to build even stronger relationships with our local community.

"Heron House, as we have become, remains a ‘not for profit’ organisation, retains its core values, our excellent staff and manager, and remains rated as 'Outstanding' by the CQC.

"The greater flexibility this opportunity brings means that we can take advantage of the tremendous reputation we have built, and further prioritise individualised, compassionate care within a supportive and engaging environment.

"We are ambitious and want to take residential care to the next level. Heron House will and does set the standard for premier residential living.

"We will continuously invest in the residents experience at Heron House to enrich their lives.

"The heart of our mission and core values is that life should not stop when coming into a care home, it should in fact provide people with the opportunity to do things they may feel they would never do, to build new relationships and to gain a sense of purpose and self-value, regardless of what stage of life they may be traversing.

"We have more plans underway to engage our community to reduce isolation and loneliness by inviting older people into a community café and to events that regularly take place, arranged by our amazing activity team.

"Other development underway is our commitment to sustainability and the environment. We have a team of trustees, residents, relatives and friends working on plans to ensure we reduce our carbon footprint through extensive recycling, repurposing, solar energy and use of local suppliers to name a few."

A rebranding launch will be held on Friday, May 24, from 2.15pm for residents, relatives, friends, carers, trustees and more. MP Rebecca Pow and the mayor and his wife have also been invited.

There will be refreshments on offer, as well as a high tea.