As a loved one grows older, the implications can impact not only the individual, but also their family.
After being widowed in 2019, retired cleaner Brenda, continued for a while to live in her own home without problem, supported by regular visits from her three daughters Janet, Susan and Carol.
However, in later years she developed Epilepsy, this resulted in a fall and hospitalisation.
Her daughters rallied round, with Susan moving back home, but Brenda became more frail, needing personal care and help with medication, food and drink and it became clear that she required 24-hour care.
Janet told how the situation was also affecting her own health. She suffers from AF, a heart condition which can be brought on by stress and anxiety and the final straw came one day after she had just collected Mum from a neurologist appointment.
“We’d gone for lunch and Mum suffered another fall in the toilets and I thought we cannot continue like this,” said Janet. “Seeing poor mum on the floor bleeding was too much.”
Brenda, 84, and her daughters visited some care homes in the area and Mum went to stay at St Johns House initially for a few days respite care.
“A friend of the family had spoken very highly of the place and Mum absolutely loved it and the respite care became permanent,” said Janet. “It’s a home from home for Mum and the staff are so caring.”
Brenda has been living at St Johns for over four years now and Janet says the family have peace of mind that she is being well cared for.
“Mum tells me she likes living there because staff have a laugh and a joke with her, they treat her as if she was one of their family, nothing is ever too much trouble for them,” said Janet.
“I see the kindness the staff show towards Mum. To them it doesn’t seem so much a job as something they really enjoy doing.”
Looking for a care home that treats you like family? Take a look at St Johns House Care Home in York.
