Blackbrook House

Although my husband was only in Blackbrook House for a short time I spent several hours there and was so impressed with the patience, kindness and overall enthusiasm of the staff. Especially when he was reaching the end of his life he and I were cared for and treated with dignity and gentleness.

We recommend Blackbrook House to anyone seeking care for a loved one.

My husband and I are so glad we made the decision to place her in Blackbrook and we can rest easy that she is getting all her needs met.

I originally visited 5 care homes around the Colchester district to see the facilities and suitability for my fathers needs. I choose 2 to show him, with Blackbrook being my preference but did not tell my father. After the visits with him, he choose Blackbrook. From my initial visit and for every visit subsequent all the staff were welcoming and helpful, nothing ever seemed to be a problem. Its fair to say my father probably wasn't the easiest resident the home or staff had experienced, but regardless never a word of complaint, all they did was support, adapt and help. My father was treated with a huge level of respect and provided his dignity too, right through to his last days. On that occasion the support for me was fantastic too. Thank you to everyone for your help and support to my family. Clearly good management comes from the top and that is clear to see at Blackbrook.

Thanks again

Excellent experience of Blackbrook House. My Mum has been there nearly 2 years and she has been transformed from someone who just watched TV, was not taking care of herself and was not interested in anything or anyone around her, to someone who takes an active interest in everything. She is a very different person and I have not only got my Mum back but a happier version of my Mum than I have ever seen in spite of the fact that she was very happily married and had a lovely family! Being nurtured and looked after suits her down to the ground. She loves the staff, enjoys the activities, feels respected and cared for. I am always welcomed and the staff are very caring and friendly. I think the care and attention the staff show Mum is something she has needed for a long time and finally found! I definitely chose the right home for Mum. I am so happy she went to Blackbrook House.

My mum was very unsettled when she first came. However with the excellent care and kindness of the staff she is now in a much better way. The staff are all very kind and considerate, if I have any questions they are only too happy to answer and reassure me. I am entirely satisfied with the care she is recieving

All the staff are so very kind and helpful.

Having tried several care home previously I am delighted to find Blackbrook House for my mother. She has settled in very well. Your carers are all really polite and attentive. It is a great comfort to know my mother is being well looked after. The premises are very cheerful and bright, my mother's room on the north side is a bit glooming and I understand you will consider her for a brighter room when one becomes available.

Excellent decor comfortable furnishings a real homely atmosphere,i in fact everything you could want from a care home Food also looked super. All in all wonderful place for a loved one to find themselves when personal independence is no longer an option. Visited my friend in a few local homes when she has had short care needs and this seems gold star in comparison.

Dad moved to Blackbrook House at the ripe age of 97 - quite a transition for someone who was previously living in an independent flat. From the outset the managers and all the staff were very kind and thoughtful and treated Dad with respect and care. The home is welcoming, clean and bright with lovely areas to sit and walk around. Although Dad is now very frail he continuously comments on how kind and caring the staff are. To end with his own words 'Excellent, nice staff, very understanding and always prepared to listen to what you have to say. They are all very lovely'.

The managers were always approachable and treated Mum as an individual not just as a client. Her final passing was treated with compassion and dignity.

Thank you for all your help and support for the family as well.

My sister and I visited our mum at Blackbrook House and had our lunch with her last week (12th December) and it was such a memorable and joyous visit. We were given a lovely table in the dining room in a little secluded area all decorated festively for Christmas. The staff were all amazing and made us all feel very special taking pictures for us and the assistant manager went above and beyond to look after us, printing and laminating a lovely photograph of all three of us together. The food was delicious. Thank you Blackbrook House.

The staff are very helpful. Breakfast is brought up to my room. I watch TV while I'm having breakfast. There's a choice for lunch and dinner which is very nice. A lady who sits at my table is a vegetarian and she is catered for. My room and shower room are regularly cleaned and polished. I forgot to say I have the same thing for breakfast every morning!

Blackbrook House is the best-kept care home that I have been in. My husband is a resident, he is very happy where he is. With dementia, it is very hard to assess his feelings. I only have one gripe and on several days over the last few weeks, when there are no senior staff on shift, things seem not to run as smoothly. The inexperienced agency staff seem to not know what they are doing. It is a very hard job, I know, and it is easy for me to say but I do think there should be more experienced staff to guide them.

Would appreciate, when the weather is appropriate, that the outdoor patio area could be cleaned, swept and pressure washed, and bird feeders cleaned with table and chairs as the area looks unloved and not useable.

My aunt moved into Blackbrook House in November, she has said how lovely the home is, so clean, friendly and beautifully decorated it is. The staff are all so welcoming and friendly and nothing seems too much trouble if you ask for anything. She loves her newly painted room and seems very settled. I am very pleased with her settling in so quickly.

Very welcoming, caring care home. Good staff ratio to residents. Good level of activities. One to one time spent with residents on a regular basis. Management and staff contact relatives should there be a problem, They do this in a timely manner. Communal area's are comfortable and clean. The individual residents rooms do now require an up-lift as they are looking a little tired.

I would not hesitate to recommend this care home to people considering relocating loved ones. By far, the best we looked at and we looked at a lot of homes in the Colchester area.