LGRA hears about RMBI Care Co.’s care services and support for older people
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In May, members of the London Grand Rank Association gathered at Freemasons’ Hall, in London, for their quarterly meeting.
Debbie Hollands, Resident Placements and Contracts Manager at RMBI Care Co., joined as a special guest to speak about the vital work of the charity, which provides care and support to older Freemasons, their families, and people in the wider community.
Part of the Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF), RMBI Care Co. has been supporting older people for over 180 years. Today, it operates 16 care homes in England and Wales, and one care home in Doncaster supports adults with learning disabilities.
Understanding older people’s care
“Knowing what different care options are available to you or a loved one can be quite daunting,” Debbie says. “Navigating adult social care can be complex; so it’s understandable why people often feel overwhelmed during this process. It’s a big decision to make and it’s important to make the right one.”
Part of Debbie’s work, alongside the management teams in each of RMBI’s Homes, is to help people navigate their way through the different care options. Debbie’s wealth of experience includes over 30 years working in social care, as well as first-hand experience supporting loved ones into care. This has given her a deep understanding as well as a personal and compassionate approach when advising people about their care choices.
Moving into a care home is often a very emotional journey for the person involved and their families. “If someone has difficulties managing day-to-day life and living independently, even with help from care workers and loved ones, moving to a care home may be a good option for them. The right care home will provide a person with the level of care they need now, or may need in the future,” explains Debbie. There are also various websites, such as carehome.co.uk and lottie.org, which now make it easier for people to find out what care homes are available in their preferred area, the services they offer, regulatory ratings, and other useful information.
RMBI Care Co.’s care and support
RMBI provides residential care, nursing care and residential dementia support to around 1,000 residents across its care homes. The homes can support older people looking for permanent care as well as those looking for a short respite stay, perhaps to give their loved ones a break, and an opportunity for them to socialise with other residents and enjoy new activities.
Debbie encourages anyone thinking about moving into a care home to speak to the local management team at their chosen home and, where possible, to take a tour of the home and speak to some of the residents and staff to get a better feel for it. “Before moving into a care home, each person will need to undergo an assessment to confirm their category of care, and to ensure the home can meet their care needs,” she highlights.
A husband of a resident at James Terry Court, in South Croydon, said of the Home: “There is a strong feeling of community and joy. The food is prepared and served with great care. The carers and nurses are all cheerful and well organised. And the activity programme with activities every day, seven days a week, provides great stimulus.”
“Mixing with the other residents is also heart-warming. We often join for meals, making our visit extra special. All of these factors, and more, contribute to our feeling that my wife is in the best possible place. None of this good stuff just happens by magic; it shows that behind the scenes there is good management at work to produce these results,” the relative adds.**
Funding your care
Care home fees vary depending on the area you live in, the individual care home and your own financial circumstances. The way a person pays for care will depend on your financial situation and capital assets, and this could involve a financial and care assessment by the social care team from your local authority. If they determine you should move into a care home, they will carry out a means test to find out whether you qualify for help with the cost, looking at your capital and income.
In England, if you have savings of more than £23,250 (£50,000 in Wales)* or own a property, you will usually not be entitled to financial support from the local authority. In some instances, however, a property may not be taken into account, e.g. if a spouse or partner still lives there. If you are eligible for funding support, they could pay some of the fees. In that case, your local council should calculate the overall cost of your care and how much you need to contribute to the overall cost. Freemasons and their families that qualify for local authority support may also be entitled to financial support from the MCF. The MCF does not pay the full cost of care fees for new residents; the subsidy is used as a top-up.
If you would like more advice and support about your care options, please contact the management team at your local RMBI Care Co. Home. Contact details can be found at https://rmbi.org.uk/our-homes/
Alternatively, you can contact:
Debbie Hollands, Resident Placements and Contracts Manager on 07932 870 304 or email
Hazel Salter, Older Persons Support Adviser on 07717 019752 or email
The team can offer advice and support on:
- Types of care
- Permanent care & short breaks
- Your care needs assessment
- Eligibility for Freemasons, your families & wider relations
- Funding your care, and much more.
* Figures correct as of 10 June 2025
** Relative review on carehome.co.uk, March 2025
This article is part of the Arena Magazine Issue 58 – Summer 2025 edition.
Arena Magazine is the official online magazine of the London Freemasons – Metropolitan Grand Lodge and Metropolitan Grand Chapter of London.
Read more articles in Arena Issue 58 here.
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