For Martin Brotton the devoted care shown to his wife Barbara by the Roseleigh staff has come as a great relief.
His parents had been residents at a different care home – something Martin describes as: “not a good experience.”
“It was ok, but not what I had envisaged or hoped for,” he said. “So, I was apprehensive when Barbara first had to go into care – but the staff at Roseleigh have been wonderful.”
Martin and Barbara first met in 1988 at The Belmont Club in Middlesbrough. Martin was a painter and decorator, Barbara an office manager and PA at a very senior level. Two years later they were married and shared many happy years together.
“We had both been in difficult marriages before and finding each other made us happy, it made us better people,” said Martin. “They say you have to have felt the rain to appreciate the sun.”
The couple were well known in the Koi Carp world, winning national awards for their fish. They also enjoyed holidays all over the world, including Kenya, Maldives and the Caribbean as well as an unforgettable trip to Memphis to visit Graceland, home of Elvis Presley.
Then a few years ago Martin noticed that Barbara was becoming forgetful, little things like not putting the car headlights on. She went for a scan and dementia was diagnosed. Gradually her condition deteriorated.
A friend’s relative had moved to Roseleigh and they recommended the home so Barbara went there initially for a week of respite care. As her condition deteriorated further she began to lose mobility and speech and became a resident with Martin visiting most days.
“It was such a difficult step to take and I was anxious because of the previous experience with my parents, but I need not have been,” said Martin. “From day one the staff have been so caring, so compassionate and so professional.”
Barbara has her own room overlooking the park and Martin visits most days, enjoying meals with his wife.
“Roseleigh is a home from home, we know the names of all the staff and they all know us,” said Martin. “It is so re-assuring to know that when I am not there Barbara is being well looked after, she has company and isn’t just being left on her own.”
