St Andrew's

Our mother adapted surprisingly fast to the British diet, although little choice, we also admired the accessible drinks cabinet and other treats and enjoyed sharing meals with her. She also enjoyed music/singing and dancing activities - we wish these filled every day. Gardens were pleasant, well maintained and accessible - as was the park and local facilities (nor was the home’s own car park ever crowded). Most impressive was management - the manager is a qualified nurse and we had no concerns about accessing health care, even out of hours and the staff readily listened to any mild concern. Medication was carefully administered and we were consulted if there were doubts. We found what seemed lacking elsewhere - a ‘home’, with dedicated, consistent staff who could be playful and expressed genuine affection for residents. They readily adapted to cultural expectations (my mother was Jewish) with open curiosity and warmth. We couldn’t have been happier with our mother’s home for her last year.

The level of care provided for my mother (who had dementia) at St Andrew's was outstanding. There was much appreciated flexibility, eg. ensuring that she had the food she most enjoyed and welcoming some much-loved items of furniture and objects into her room so that she felt truly 'at home'. There was immediate and consistent help with all practical and medical issues.

I found the manager to be highly supportive of concerns and questions which inevitably arose during my mother's 18-month stay, always taking these seriously and responding positively. Most significantly, my mother bonded with one particular carer, who became her main carer and with whom there was considerable shared humour and affection. This made all the difference to the end of my mother's life. I cannot thank the team at St Andrew's enough and will never forget the difference they made to this final chapter for both my mother and myself.

St Andrew's cared for my mother with love and dignity. The staff were amazing, kind, approachable and experienced. The manager is lovely, accessible and responded to any questions or medical needs immediately. They provided entertainment, great food and a warm, safe environment; it was like home from home for my mum. I cannot thank everyone at St Andrew's enough.

I am always made welcome by the staff and appreciate their understanding of the inevitable worries I have about my relative's wellbeing.

All I can say is all the staff at St Andrew's do a fantastic job in making my mother as comfortable and as happy as they can in very difficult and trying circumstances as my mum is very ill.

Staff are friendly, know Auntie is well cared for and all her needs are met.

The staff are absolutely marvellous. So caring, considerate and very smiley. Couldn't wish for a better place for my sister.

My mother has been a resident at St Andrew's for the past 11 months and could not have received better care. The carers always take time with her and she has a great rapport with them. Besides the care given St Andrew's provides very good home cooked food and most days there is entertainment of some kind. Special occasions are celebrated with family members invited also. St Andrew's provides a warm welcoming caring and safe environment and I cannot fault it. The staff do an excellent job.

When I am no longer capable of looking after myself I shall go to the same place. My name is on the list.

I visit my sister in law weekly. The home and staff are wonderful. The patients are looked after well. My sister in law has settled very well in St Andrew's. The food and care and entertainment is wonderful. Thanks to all.

They bring the true meaning to the title Care and Home.

The people who work at St Andrew's always endeavour to provide a warm, friendly and caring atmosphere for both the residents and their families. We always feel welcome when we arrive and are given updates on how my mother is doing that day and over the past week. The care-workers are attentive and always have time for us and the other residents and families. There is some kind of entertainment each day and the home-cooked food is great. St Andrew's takes every opportunity to celebrate the resident's anniversaries and birthdays as well as key dates in the year, with cakes, parties and music. A good example was yesterday's Halloween party, which was full of music, food and life, with some care-workers attending with other members of their own families. My mum was able to join in with the singing and even got up to dance a little. It really does feel like a big family.

My brother has been a resident of St Andrews Care Home for approximately 10 months. During that time I have not found any of the staff disrespectful, unhelpful or unpleasant. Quite the opposite; they live up to their job description of carer and I cannot fault any of the staff I have had dealings with, although I can only comment on the day staff as I have not been in the Home when the night staff take over, but I would expect the same of them.

The Home is clean, the food appears to be good, on most days there is some form of musical entertainment or an activity and visitors (and dogs!) are welcome.

Obviously, I would rather my brother not need to be in a Home but, as he does need to, I believe this to be the best one.

A great comfort to his family as well as him, was that the staff nurtured my father's keeping in touch with family and friends. As he declined, becoming unable to dial phone numbers himself, they would help him to make calls, often several times a day and I shall always be thankful that they did so when he called me the evening before he died.

As a neighbour, I was the only visitor and impressed with the ambience of St Andrew's.

From the day he moved in, to the day he died, even though we as his family couldn't be with him all the time, I never felt that he was alone. The care and attention that he received during his time in the home gave me peace of mind that in the last few years of his life, although he couldn't remain at home, he was in the next best place.

Not many care homes actually feel like a home, but St Andrew's does and this is what marked it out for us when we were looking for residential care for my mother, who is 90 and had previously lived in the family home for 52 years. St Andrew's has the homely feel of a large, extended family home, which is why the residents feel so comfortable in the lounge and the kitchen which is at its heart. The staff are dedicated, professional, engaging and humane and provide a very good standard of care within a safe, friendly, and quirky environment.

The home has provided a safe place for my mother with progressive dementia. She has made a significant emotional connection with the carers and greatly enjoys the musical activities. We are made welcome and treated as part of the care family.

Our wish as a family to have my mother's end of life care at St. Andrews has been entirely respected for which I am hugely grateful.

I would be very pleased to end up there myself.