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Searching for care for a loved one can be a stressful process with many factors to consider, including cost, comfort, and visitation flexibility, and can take up a lot of time and effort.
When Cheryl Hossle needed to find and secure two places in a care home for her parents Joyce and Derek, she called 30 different care homes and found a Care Quality Commission (CQC) report. After researching all of this, I happily ended up at St. Faith’s Nursing Home. Cheltenham — Part of Lillian Faithful Care Home.
Sogros interviewed Cheryl to share details of her experience and advice for those considering the next step in the precious life of a loved one.
When did you decide it was the right time to start looking into caring for Mom and Dad?
My mother has vascular dementia, and although my father had been caring for her at home for several years, it became increasingly difficult to care for her.
When her mother began to forget how to walk, she became bedridden. An independent person, in this case my father, always told me it would be okay. I never saw him lose his patience, but I could tell he was stressed and losing his strength.
My home caregiver only came for 30 minute visits four times a day, so the days and nights were very long.
This decision was really made when I started to see that she wasn’t happy and was starting to run away. Although she has an active brain, she was not able to entertain herself enough.
Please tell us about your experience searching for a care home.
We placed my mom and dad into a nursing home so she could have permanent care and he could get some well-deserved rest.
When that home stopped accepting long-term care residents, I had to start looking again. I inspected 30 houses before arriving at St. Faith’s. I haven’t visited all of them, but I’ve called them, driven to visit them, and listened to many of their CQC reports.
I was looking for authenticity, but also good, solid reporting and activities offered in each home.
Lillian Faithful Care offers a huge variety of activities for residents, from cooking and gardening to crafts and exercise classes, as well as off-site trips to accessible attractions across Gloucestershire. I am.
Home Manager Teresa Weiss is extremely knowledgeable. The conversations we had had a huge impact on where her parents decided to move. We had no complaints at all in our first home, but St Faith’s is like an ethereal palace.
What were the other key elements you were looking for in a care home?
Visits were important to us and we were always welcome to stop by. There is a kitchen to make your own tea or coffee when you visit and I pop in there to share and catch up.
We also wanted to make sure their new home was comfortable, warm, friendly and as welcoming as possible. The home needed to be able to care for the couple, and the Fairhaven Suite at St. Faith’s had a bedroom that the couple could share.
Dad had a big 88th birthday party here and the staff did their best with the cake and decorations. We all sang together, it was truly a family day, and it became a truly wonderful and precious memory.
When looking for a nursing home, everyone is concerned about cost. Lillian Faithful Care is great because it’s a charity. They have a ‘home for life’ philosophy which means they will never ask you to leave, regardless of your personal finances. It’s really reassuring for families.
What were your impressions when your mom and dad settled in St. Faith’s?
As soon as we arrived, my dad said, “This is my home.”
He commented on how helpful and considerate the staff were, which gave us full confidence in St Faith’s. This is something you really need as a family member.
The care, activities, cleanliness, furniture and facilities are all excellent. Caregivers not only help with basic care such as feeding, but also interact with residents at the same time. The way they interact with people is amazing and that’s what stands out at St. Faith’s. The mother has dementia but is treated with respect.
If you look at her now and everything she’s doing, she has a good quality of life. St. Her Faces has a great variety of activities, including arts and crafts, pet visits, and conversations with musicians and student volunteers. Her mother was a piano teacher, so she loves listening to music.
She only eats purees. She eats as normally as possible, just pureeing it beautifully and arranging it. They often prepare things like tiramisu so that she can enjoy sophisticated and delicious tastes.
All these small details make up the big picture.
What was your father’s end-of-life care like?
My mom and dad were together until the end, and I think my dad wants to say thank you to me.
I sit here knowing that he had a wonderful time filled with tender care during his six weeks at St. Faith’s.
They had a double room in the Fairhaven Suite, which specializes in end-of-life care, so I know he was treated the best.
The nurses were very good and treated him very kindly. Honestly, I don’t think I could have received better treatment than this. When I got the call that my father had passed away, the nurse thoroughly talked to me about the next steps and what we needed to do next as a family.
What advice would you give to people looking for care for a loved one?
I don’t think going to care should be something to be afraid of. If you are going through this stage, never panic.
It may be the best option for the whole family. When your loved one is taken care of, fed properly, and sleeps well, they will feel much better and you will be able to share some truly precious time with them.
If you would like to find out more about how Lilian Faithful Care can support you and your family, please visit lilianfaithfull.co.uk or call the St Faith team on (01242) 240240.
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