St Heliers Care Home

My friend/neighbour has been at St Helier's for 2 years and has nothing but praise for the staff and the food and care he has had. I would recommend St Helier's to anyone for respite or long term care.

This care home has an excellent balance of first-rate care and compassion while also having the comfortable feel of a private home. All the rooms are different so there is a suitable one for all requirement. The staff fro the owner and managers right through to the cleaners are well trained, helpful and always friendly and compassionate. The situation, half a block from the pedestrian Folkestone Leas with lawns and walking area is ideal so that residents can walk without having to brave traffic and the town centre is also within easy reach. I wholeheartedly recommend this care home.

It is a very happy place to be part of.

Overall I think it is the helpful and good natured attitude of the staff who have restored my confidence.

I had the misfortune to fall and injure myself, resulting in a fractured hip. I decided to stay in a respite home as my discharge from hospital. I decided that staying at St Helier's; one of the best decisions I have made. My stay here has been sixteen days of loving, compassionate, care. The young staff have been wonderful; not for just one or two days, but the whole time. Nothing has been too much trouble for them, both night and day. I feel so much stronger and confident to return home to my own premises, having spent sixteen days here. The food is amazingly good; every meal freshly cooked, and so much food!!

Independent, retired, 81yr old, career in physical education. While waiting for a knee replacement, two close friends with repeat hip and bunion surgery stayed at St Helier's and enthusiastically recommended I do the same. Spoke to the manager concerned about fixing arrival and departure dates. "Not a problem" she replied. Amazing. Transferred to St Helier's three days only after surgery. Immediately she took responsibility for my muddled, worried anaesthetic mind and painful disability. Between organising hospital, warfarin, taxi and doctors appointments her supportive staff, cooks, domestics all genuinely cared for my health and peace of mind. Special, very special, waited on hand, foot and finger. So grateful. There is a loving restful recovery next at St Helier's.

This is called a home. It doesn't feel like it to me. It is your house or home. We're lucky to get good food and plenty of the pudding. The carers are so nice and very helpful. I have one or more to help me. There is a homely feel where you are welcome and we have music and something to do in the afternoons. I am very happy here as I am 88. I cannot do all the things I like to do, but we have a lot of laughs with the girl carers.

My mum had previously been to St Helier's Residential Hotel for a couple of short breaks so when she needed permanent care it was the obvious first choice. It's a huge step having to leave your own home but right from the start mum was made most welcome. I can honestly say that I could not fault anything- staff, managers and catering were all brilliant and nothing was too much trouble. Mum spent almost two years there and the family were relieved to know she was well looked after and were kept aware of any problems however small. A good test of anywhere is when you turn up unannounced and find all as it should be.

My father, who was terminally ill, spent his last three months at St. Heliers. He settled in very quickly with the help and support of the wonderful staff, and was provided with a safe, comfortable environment and a high level of care and medical attention. The atmosphere at St. Heliers are very friendly and cheerful. I was a constant visitor, and found the staff to be consistently kind and helpful. Residents are treated with dignity and respect and as part of a family. There are few if any, restrictions placed on them or their visitors, and no set visiting times. People come and go as they wish. My father was happier during those last months, thanks to the warmth, laughter and friendship he shared with the staff. This friendship and support was also extended to us, his family during those months, at the time of his passing and even at his funeral. Thank you all at St Heliers.

St Helier's is a home in every sense of the way. It is extremely comfortable and clean and there is a healthy bubble of a background of speaking, music, laughing. The staff are very welcoming and the residents are clearly happy. It was always clear that my friend was being very well looked after both physically and emotionally. Residents are spoken to like respected adults. It was so good to be able to take my dog in and see how he could cheer up so many of the residents. When I am old, I will certainly book myself in there.

My mother had fairly severe dementia and diabetes when she first went to St Helier's. During her 18 months there she was cared for in an understanding and patient fashion, even when her behaviour became more challenging. The staff were flexible and caring. It was good to know that they would keep her there, comfortable, until the end. The continuity of staff and their communication with me were also valued.

My mother has been here for 6 years now and is extremely happy. She is so well cared for. They are always kind, patient, considerate and helpful and have extremely high standards.

As my mothers dementia has progressed the staff at St Helier's have dealt sensitively with her changing needs e.g. incontinence, needing assistance with eating and showering and dressing. She usually looked well cared for and seemed to have her needs met. She started to deteriorate physically towards the end of July and was subsequently admitted to hospital owing to attentive staff (as I was away on holiday). Following further development of pneumonia for which she was treated, she was then able to return to St Helier's where the staff were so kind and bent over backwards to care for her and the family in her last days, she died peacefully.

After viewing 11 homes in the district, we decided that St Heliers was the most appropriate for my mother. It had all the facilities, she requested (including a bar). We anticipated a difficult transition from her home in South Devon to St Heliers in Kent, however due to the kindness of the staff and quality of care, this was not the case. 5 months later we are still very satisfied with the care provided by the staff.