St Augustine's Care Home

I would have no hesitation in recommending the home, as the care for my mother has been tremendous. St Augustine's is a warm and welcoming environment whereby staff and sisters have always been approachable and very understanding of personal care needs and often going the extra mile to ensure optimal health and well-being is maintained.

To start with, when my husband was taken ill and was taken into hospital at the beginning of December, it looked highly likely he would need a care home. So, started looking for one suitable for his needs. Was recommended St Augustine's by several people, so continued trusting that he would be accepted and was delighted when he was accepted. I am so very happy with the way he is being looked after, the managers and staff are so loving and caring, and he has settled in so well, and has accepted it's his home. This gives me great peace, and I am so grateful.

Mum is very happy here; she says everyone is friendly, and the food is fantastic. There difference in Mum since living here is fantastic. She looks happy and healthy, and she is always in good spirits when we visit. The sisters and staff clearly show that they really care about the residents, and I feel that Mum is very well cared for.

My father was being cared for at home with carers visiting several times a day and despite their best efforts, he was sadly becoming more and more withdrawn. St Augustine's was highly recommended and has not disappointed us. Dad has now remained out of the hospital for the longest period in years, he is engaging with staff well and always looks well cared for. As a family, we are very great full for brilliant care dad has received. You all work so hard. We thank you for everything.

My mother was living in sheltered accommodation for a number of years, but was shielded during the first lockdown and could not contact other residents. She was diagnosed with vascular dementia on a telephone assessment. She was initially given a community care package of 2 carer visits, which was then increased to 3 carer visits. While the community carers provided an excellent service, the long periods of isolation were having a detrimental effect on Mum's dementia. Following discussions with Social Services, the family made the decision to do a trial period for Mum in a local care home, with a view to becoming a permanent arrangement.

From the initial contact, the response from the care home manager and her team has been prompt, efficient and caring. Mum is making friends with other residents and the carer team. Mum is enjoying the meals that are cooked on site. Our family are firmly convinced that we have made the right decision in choosing St Augustine's.

I have no hesitation in recommending St Augustine's.

Thank you, everyone, for putting on an amazing birthday celebration for my father yesterday - so much effort was put into it and we all had such a good time, including my dad. All the staff did an amazing job and the cake was delicious. He so enjoyed it. Many thanks for all your hard work and kindness.

Mum is 91 and for years I and my family had been in despair for her health and safety because she lived alone. What a blessing to find St. Augustine's home for her, early this year. I was encouraged at my first meeting and they were so positive and welcoming. I could see clearly as I looked around, that her management and leadership has underpinned a beautifully bright, clean and well- functioning environment. Fun, too. The carers are so professional and loving in their response to the elderly there, as indeed, are the Sisters who contribute so much in their daily lives. It is very reassuring to know that my mother's needs are carefully monitored; I have been kept informed of each little break in her health (which is managed swiftly) and updated. It's so good to see Mum eating and drinking properly again and being well. The chefs produce the most marvelous food. In Lockdown, standards and spirits have been kept high. Absolutely five stars, St. Augustine's.

My mother has been at St Augustine's since April last year and she has received extremely good care from all the staff, sisters and management. While the home has been in lockdown the entertainment has been fantastic, long may it continue. Mum is always very pleased with the meals and says everybody is lovely. Also, the large garden is such a bonus and is so well maintained.

St Augustine's has done a fantastic job of looking after my father. The manager has been simply incredible. She moved into the home during Covid to provide the necessary support and has thankfully kept the home Covid free. Not only this but she has filled the home with love and much laughter and regularly arranges parties which are the highlight of my father's week! A great home full of care and compassion.

Mum comes home tomorrow, much stronger and revived from the stroke and with a confidence that she can cope with the effects left from the stroke and continue her life in her own home, I couldn’t have asked for more.

The spirituality of the home is very much there and this aspect brings a lovely calm and peaceful contribution to the residents' lives. We trust the home completely and know they have Dad’s interests at the top of their agenda.

Our mum was unhappy about leaving her own home for respite care, but since she has moved to St. Augustine's, we have seen her blossom. The hard-working staff can't do enough for her and have shown her personal kindness we will always be grateful for. The tasty and nutritious food, and extensive and beautifully-kept grounds she can walk in, have also helped to rebuild her strength and spirits. Before lockdown, we would have described the entertainment on offer as minimal, but since then, the staff, under their inspirational manager, have really gone out of their way to keep residents distracted and entertained. We really hope that events and activities will continue post-lockdown. The only other improvement we would suggest is more rooms with en-suites (the number is currently very limited). However, for warmth, kindness and a high level of care, it would be hard to find anywhere better.

My Aunt came to stay in St Augustines in December last year. She enjoyed Christmas there. The Covid-19 has presented huge challenges for the manager and staff, which they have met by continuing to give great care, but also going the extra mile to make sure the residents are happy, entertained and anxiety-free. I feel St Augustines is a very special place, where they demonstrate God's love in all they do. They have exceptionally high standards and have made my Aunt feel valued and loved. She says the food is excellent too!

During lockdown, the staff have been fantastic in ensuring the social events and activities are enjoyed by the residents. I am happy that my mother is in a safe and caring environment.

Mum has been at St Augustine's for two and a half years. On arrival, she was fairly well but at 99 age has taken its toll. Throughout her stay, the staff have been more than attentive and have continued to tailor the care to her needs. The decor is bright and cheerful, the residents are encouraged to join in with crafts and there is a wide range of entertainment provided, including singing, dancing and celebration of events of the day. There is a beautiful garden which is used as much as possible and visitors of all ages are welcome. The diligence during the Coronavirus outbreak was second to none with staff moving in to ensure smooth running of the home. Relatives were kept informed and given the opportunity to communicate with their loved ones. The entertainment provided by the staff during that time was inspiring and the residents all appeared to be having a wonderful time. All in all St Augustine's is a very caring organisation with hard-working staff.

These last twelve months have been very demanding for Mum, she entered the home after recovering from a fall at her own home, requiring a partial hip replacement, bringing further strain when walking, adding to this slowdown, the onset of dementia was gradually developing. Being at St Augustine's has been such a load off our minds, especially now we have the Coronavirus to cope with.

Exceptional care is being given to my mum. The manager, together with the staff has planned and managed the response to lockdown brilliantly, keeping families of the residents well informed and maintaining a calendar of activities for the residents to enjoy. While the lockdown prevented visits, we could have video calls and I felt assured by the kindness and support given to my mum.

St Augustine's has provided a lovely, warm and caring home for my father since February. He settled in quickly and everyone made him feel welcome. All the staff stop and chat and everyone smiles. There are plenty of activities and there is even some arm-chair keep-fit. You can join in with activities or not, the choice is yours. Birthdays are celebrated and in normal times, families are always welcome; if you are there at 3 o'clock there is always tea and cake! On sunny days, Dad has enjoyed the large gardens, he loved gardening so this is a treat for him. If I have a query, for example, Dad's mobile phone needs charging, or I have a question about his medication, then it is easy to contact the home and everything is promptly dealt with. At first, Dad was unsteady on his feet and fell a few times. I was always contacted and informed and involved in discussions. There have been no more falls and I feel confident that I am an equal partner in his care. We made the best choice for Dad's care.