We felt it would be a good place for my father

This is the case study for Albert Smith Written by his Daughter Annie Smith (Aug 2020)

My father became a resident at Ashton Manor Care home in February this year. Putting him into a Home wasn’t an easy decision to make but we were relieved when he adjusted very quickly.  Then lockdown came!  It was difficult to not see my father during that time and we only had a few weeks to get  familiar with the home and the staff,  so we had to trust that our father would be well cared for and looked after.

We had no need to worry, Ashton Manor Nursing Home staff are doing an excellent job and when-ever he is unwell they have been quick to act and let us know, immediately putting a plan in place to bring him back to good health.

Our Journey started 4 years ago when my father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s mixed type, which has gradually affected his ability to vocalise his thoughts and wishes other than to use the words ‘yes’ and ‘no’.   I  started noticing he was getting forgetful and would visit regularly to make sure he was OK but soon had to move to organizing meals on wheels for him as he slowly started to lose the ability to cope by himself.  On one occasion I was warming his after-dinner coffee in the microwave and I didn’t seem quite right, so I tasted it and realized he had made it with gravy granules and not coffee.   Actually, it didn’t taste too bad!

In 2017 my father spent week in hospital with a bad chest infection. When he returned home he could no longer care for himself and my sister and I temporarily moved in with him to manage his care. At this point we had to decide about his future and so we organised a live-in carer.  The carer did an excellent job of keeping him in clean, tidy, well fed and in good health and together we would take him on outings every weekend. Two years passed but given his age new health problems were developing and his abilities were declining further.  We realised it was beginning to get too much for the carer, who was getting on herself.

After weighing up the pro’s & con’s my sister and I decided to move our father into a nursing home.  I knew of Ashton Manor, it had been recommended by friends, both who had parents in the home and  they had shared how friendly the staff were and confident they felt that their loved ones were being well cared for in a homely environment.  It was reassuring and encouraging for us to hear the positive things said about Ashton Manor.  We felt it would be a good place for my father, preferring it to some of the more ‘fancy’ homes we had visited. He wouldn’t have noticed or appreciated a hotel like environment, what he needed was home-from-home comforts which Ashton Manor had on offer.

We visited Ashton Manor and we were instantly made to feel very welcome by friendly staff.  We learnt the Home does not use agency staff and staff have stayed working at the home for many years.  The member of staff who showed us around provided us with confidence that they could meet my father’s needs.  It was important for us to make sure he wasn’t tucked away and when eventually the right room became available, he moved in.

My sister and I know we made the right choice. On my recent visits to see him in the garden, he has been happy and clearly trusts the staff who care for him.  Feedback from staff has reassured us that he has adjusted well, and it is great to see them reaching out to him with love and good humour.  Their smiling, upbeat positivity and relaxed demeanor has made us all feel at ease.

The diligent approach and the careful considerations we made have been borne out by our father who, in his younger years, worked at Farnborough Royal Aircraft Establishment as a scientist and engineer, he was excellent at solving problems and fixing things.  I once damaged my car, pushing the subframe out of line which left it with a severe limp and rendered it undrivable. My father checked out the problem and immediately set about fixing it, applying his immense skill and knowledge with spot-on precision.  The car ran beautifully for many years after!  His approach and being exact on detail also made him and excellent inventor and creator, creating an early air-purifying system for NHS theaters.

The recent COVID- 19 virus has caused many people distress over their loved ones, however Ashton Manor locked down early and got on with organising the safety of the residents and staff immediately resulting in no cases of the virus entering the home.

Putting my father into a home was one of the toughest decisions my sister and I have had to make, compounded by the unexpected arrival of the pandemic. However, we are so pleased that we placed my father in such good hands and can honestly say that Ashton Manor Staff are kind, compassionate and truly care for those you love most.