St Matthews Care Home

My mum has been in St Matthews for nearly 6 months now and I can't say how grateful I am to all the staff who regularly go above and beyond to look after my mum and her challenging requests! Honestly, nothing is too much trouble for them and everyone is so lovely, caring and friendly with an unlimited amount of patience. There are plenty of activities and outings and lots for residents to do. It is a really happy atmosphere and my mum is like a different person since she's been there and following the difficult time she had before going to St Matthews. It has given her a new lease of life. I really appreciate everything the hardworking staff do to keep my mum happy and I know she does too.

Mum goes to St Matthews on a regular basis for respite care. She is always made very welcome and looks forward to each visit. All the staff are very efficient, professional, caring and kind. I know when I leave her she is in the best possible hands. The accommodation and facilities are excellent. Entertainment also excellent. Mum is always included in outings and events, even though she is only resident for short spells. Mum celebrated her 100th birthday in November and St Matthews put on a wonderful party for her with all the residents and also provided a singer. They also made her a birthday cake. She was overwhelmed by everyone’s kindness and love. I really don’t know what we would do without St Matthews as Mum requires this arrangement due to our work commitments. Thank you all so much, you are a wonderful team.

My 94-year-old father was admitted to the home for two weeks of respite care following a 10-day stay in hospital, having suffered from a severe infection. The staff were all very warm and welcoming and helped to build my father's strength and mobility back up again so that he was able to return to his own home after two weeks. He settled quickly and the whole team made him feel very welcome. I was able to take a few day's holiday as a result, which I was very grateful for. The range of Easter activities was excellent and enjoyable. Thank you for taking such good care of my father.

The care given by the staff at the Home was very good. Mum stayed at the Home for 8 weeks of respite care last summer and for two nights prior to her death last month. She told me that the care she received last summer was satisfactory (she didn’t want to be there). The consideration extended to me and other members of family during and following her death was extremely kind. The administration, however, left much to be desired. Although her admission last month was on very short notice, she was not expected by the staff at the Home when we arrived. On both occasions, there was an issue with the invoicing after her stay. I was deeply upset by the fact that the day after Mum died at the home, I received an invoice in the post - there was no respectful delay by a couple of days, there was no covering letter offering condolences and the amount was wrong by a huge amount.

I cannot thank the whole team enough for all the care he is being given.

I spent one week of respite care at St Matthews Care Home. It was most enjoyable due to the care given by the staff. They were so kind and helpful. I am a reasonably fit 93-year-old and wanted a break as apart from shopping I care for myself. Two residents fell and were unable to reach alarm cords, would a wrist alarm help? Keeping food hot is always a problem, would a microwave in the kitchenette enable room-served males to be reheated without a carer having to return to the dining room? Even during the nights, lights were left fully on in the corridor and the room was so warm that the window needed to be kept constantly open. The range of activities were very impressive.

I knew immediately that this was where I wanted my mum to be as I feel that the happiness of a resident is more likely to be increased by interaction with the people around them than the facility itself. The caring nature of the home has a culture which permeates through all the staff and this has greatly helped Mum transition into this next phase of her life. We have not regretted the decision for a moment. The manager and her team are all absolute stars.

This is a wonderful care home. I can't express how glad I am that I chose it for my husband who has dementia. The staff are so kind, so compassionate and so caring, My husband is looked after so beautifully, with a personal touch. I trust them completely and I know that I can go out or go on holiday knowing he is in the most capable hands. The home has a lovely atmosphere and is so pleasantly decorated and furnished, light and airy and always sweet smelling. The reception staff are always wonderfully welcoming and friendly, also extremely supportive, they understand exactly how terrible it is to see a loved one suffering from dementia and are kindness itself. My husband is always beautifully clean and well-groomed; the staff understanding how important that is. I can't rate the care home highly enough.

And an extra thank you to The Nutter!

My mother moved in, in March this year. It was a tough decision for our family to make, but however much time we spent with her she needed more companionship. St Matthews has been a godsend to my mum and the family. She has made friends and has 24-hour care by staff who are amazing. St Matthews has made such a difference to our mum, and taken the worry away from the family knowing she is safe, healthy and happy. A big thank you to all the staff.

Mum has been a resident of St Matthews for 2 years. She settled in quickly and gets involved with and enjoys the activities, especially the trips out. The staff are friendly and welcoming when we visit and we are never made to feel in the way. Her care is regularly reviewed and adjusted as her needs increase. The home is well-maintained and very clean. There is a choice of meals with plenty to eat and snacks available.

The reception staff are always wonderfully welcoming. I do think an assigned carer to Mum would be helpful for communications both ways.

And finally - the staff always have time for me - the anxious relative wants to know he's well.

Such a lovely home where my mother has been since October 2020. Would highly recommend! Very caring, and the engagement team are amazing and organises lots of fun activities both inside and outside the home (canal boat trips, trips to Dunstable Downs etc).

My mother has been at St Matthew’s since December 2022, and we have previously given a very positive review. We continue to be really happy with the way in which she is cared for and the encouragement she receives to remain active. She especially enjoyed the recent ‘cheese and wine’ party and is really looking forward to the next ‘fish and chips’ supper. As her family, we are especially grateful for the care we receive from all the staff. They seem especially skilled in dealing with (sometimes) ‘fractious’ relatives, giving us reassurance and putting our minds at rest. I recently said to my husband, “start saving - I want to come here when the time comes!”.

The home was highly recommended to us, and it has lived up to its reputation.

My mother has been a resident of St Matthews for the past 18 months, and during that time, she has been so well cared for by all members of staff. This morning I went along with Mum, another resident and the lady who had organised a visit to a local golf club where Mum had been a member for over 40 years. The visit was a great success and triggered many happy memories for her, with several lady members remembering her and coming to say “hello”. I’m very grateful to the lady for arranging the visit, and I think it only goes to show how much effort is put into meeting the needs of individual residents.

It has a family home feel, and we were welcomed as if we were family when we visited. The staff work so hard to provide a stimulating environment with many activities available. They have a personal choice approach and very much respect resident choice. We have had the most caring and kind support since Mum passed away, and we can't thank St Matthews staff enough.

I have no hesitation in recommending it to prospective residents and their families.

It is such a relief knowing your loved ones are so well looked after.