Lansglade House

My widowed father, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's four years ago at age 85, lived at Lansglade House from December 2013 to September 2015. I had Lasting P.O.A. for my father but as I live in Canada I could not visit my father frequently. The visits I made were therefore week long and involved many hours spent at the Home. During these visits I was impressed by the dedication of the care staff and by the way my father's dignity (and that of other residents) was respected at all times. Food was varied and lovingly prepared with plenty of choices and I noticed that menus were individualised to suit the tastes and needs of residents. There was daily entertainment and activities for residents who wished to join in.
All the staff made me feel welcome and at home and showed concern not only for my father but also for me. In his last weeks my father never left his bed and was cared for by frequent checks and visits by carers to change his position, wash him, give him food etc. They always took time to encourage my father to eat and spoke gently and kindly to him.
The very efficient and friendly manager kept regular contact with me by email and also by phone when necessary. She informed me immediately of changes in health and of doctors' visits. She kept me up to date on activities at the home and listened and responded promptly to all my concerns. I noticed that, except for when she was conducting meetings which demanded privacy, her door was always open.
My father's room was kept impeccably clean and was very comfortably furnished. Although he did not have his own bathroom, this did not seem to present a problem to either him or the care staff. A bed alarm was installed to alert staff whenever my father left his bed (when he still was able) to ensure his safety.

Although the dining room is not really big enough to seat all residents at once, as some residents preferred to remain in their armchairs for meals this seemed to work out fine. Breakfast was served to individual residents as and when they were ready for it and I was told that a few liked to have breakfast served to them in their rooms before they came down for the day. I liked the fact that it was the residents who determined their own routines for getting up and going to bed."This is your father's home", I was told when he first arrived at Lansglade House. I am truly grateful to each and every member of staff that they really lived up to this and provided such a caring environment for my father.