"Mum's care at Springwood Residential Home"

Dear PatBetLin,

We are very grateful to be able to include your Mum and yourselves in our extended family. Your involvement contributes so much to the daily life of the home. In fact, family carers can be such a positive force, helping drive improvement and stimulating activities as you no doubt are aware. Your visits are welcomed and enjoyed by all, especially perhaps those who have no family or friends to visit. Each time you come by it lifts the spirits of everyone - staff and residents. So thanks to you and your sisters many times over!

In some care homes families may feel that their job is done now. They turn over the daily tasks to others and they are merely visitors. At Springwood we feel that the high quality of life we are able to achieve for our residents depends upon involvement from everyone. The grown children of our residents, such as yourselves, and even the children of our staff come in and play a part in stimulating life and enjoyment in the day to day world of the home. Families have made our ‘family kitchen’ a success by enjoying the cozy atmosphere, baking bread, doing puzzles and using it as you would use Mum’s kitchen at home.

Families are also vital in helping us move the quality of care forward. We are always trying new things to improve the quality of life for our residents. For those with Alzheimer’s and other dementias, this can be a challenge, especially if families are not onboard. At Springwood family carers have been instrumental in supporting these efforts, particularly by giving us feedback about how our innovations may have improved things from their perspective. Most recently the dolls and prams have been just right for several of our residents, giving them new meaning and responsibility in their day. This type of stimulation provides a meaningful, pleasant distraction, particularly around tea time, when the need to go home and tend to their family is greatest. To be able to try new ideas with family support is a terrific way forward and helps to improve quality of life for everyone. Many thanks to you and your sisters for your help and support over the years, and especially for sharing your views on the website. We are indeed grateful. Long may your Mum prosper with us!