Actions speak louder than words

Actions speak louder than words is a good mantra to adopt when considering which residential care accommodation might best suit the needs of a loved one.

That was certainly the case for Nigel Phillips who realised the original care home selected for his mum, Joan, had been a “terrible mistake.”

“On the day mum was due to move in we realised the care on offer did not match up to what we had been led to believe,” said Nigel. “In particular, the lack of staff. One poor resident fell over in front of us and we couldn’t find anyone to help.”

Not prepared to leave their mum, Nigel and his brother Richard brought Joan straight back home and began an in-depth search for a better place. An arranged tour of Bramshott Grange left them impressed, but having been bitten once, they resolved to make doubly sure.

“We turned up a second time at very short notice and the care and detail were at the same level,” said Nigel. “This re-assured us that the previous visit hadn’t been stage-managed. We also spoke with a couple of residents and their recommendations left us feeling confident to progress.”

A former nurse and midwife, Joan raised her two boys as a single parent when she was widowed when they were just young.

Now 94, she has been living with Alzheimer’s for a number of years, the condition getting gradually worse.

“Mum was finding it increasingly stressful and challenging living at home and it reached the point where she couldn’t be left for any length of time on her own,” said Nigel.

He added: “We were really concerned that when she moved into care she wouldn’t like it but in fact she is thoroughly enjoying life at Bramshott. She takes part in numerous activities including music and movement and enjoys the live entertainment. At Christmas she has a better social life than I do.”

Joan enjoys the wide range of facilities available at Bramshott and the gardens and for Nigel the compassion of staff that gives peace of mind.

“We see on a daily basis the individual acts of kindness, the hugs and the re-assurance,” he said. “Some staff have been there for many years and that recognition and social interaction is very important for residents.”

Perhaps the ultimate vote of confidence came when Jen, a 98-year-old friend of the family who Nigel and Richard had also been caring for, moved to Bramshott.

“For Jen it was a conscious decision. She had visited Mum and decided she wanted to move there as well,” said Nigel.