Highlands Deben

I would like to commend the staff at Highlands for their utmost care in looking after my husband up to and including his final weeks. They were so supportive and went the extra mile willingly. Everything was done to make him comfortable. This was done not only for my husband but for us as a family as well.

I would consider Highlands Care Home to be exemplary in every way and it goes without saying that I appreciate so much the care and kindness given. I would like to thank all the staff for their dedicated time and support.

I have nothing but praise for the care given to my mother (age 96).

My mother truly feels at home due to the care and attention given by the staff at Highlands. Her room is lovely with lots of natural light and a good amount of space. The food is exceptional, although the dining area could do with some extra lighting. The staff are friendly and genuine in their desire to make my mother's stay as comfortable as possible.

My mother-in-law has settled in well at Highlands thanks to the friendly and helpful staff and homely surroundings. We have joined her once for Sunday lunch at the home and the food was really tasty and all home-cooked. There are lovely grounds to walk in and the best view of the River Deben. We are very happy that the residents are all very well looked after, safe and respected.

All the above has had a major impact on my mothers mental and physical wellbeing. She was very reluctant to leave her own home and within a week, said she was very glad she did.

Caring.

Highlands is a generally very good facility, however when my mother moved in 5 years ago it was sold to us as a residential home, now it is very much a care home which means a lot of the staff's time is taken up with more time consuming duties leaving little "time/quality/compassionate time" for residents who need less physical care.

The home is very friendly and welcoming. It is very clean, the seating areas are lovely and bright with books and a lovely fish tank to help relaxation. The staff are so lovely and kind and the food appears excellent judging by the menus and smells from the kitchen. The gardens are magnificent with river views and lots of seating areas. There is also a lovely pond at the front of the home.

My sister and myself knew as soon as we walked into this home it was the right one for our 101 year old mother (after seeing many before). Mum has settled in and is comfortable with all staff, as we found them to be caring, understanding, kind and professional in all their duties. If any matter needs attention it is dealt with quickly and efficiently.

My father has been at Highlands Care Home for a number of years. He is comfortable and cared for but still able to maintain some of his own independence which is very important to him. High standards of care, cleanliness and support are clearly maintained. The food choice is excellent and flexible to individual preferences (within reason). I have been very happy with the people who care at Highlands - there is stability which leads to a better knowledge of individual residents likes/dislikes - I have got to know several of the carers reasonably well and without exception they are lovely.

My father spent the final three years of his life at Highlands. He was well cared for, especially during the difficult pandemic times. The home is both warm and welcoming, and the care staff are of the highest order. Overall, I would not hesitate to recommend it to others.

My mother had three falls in 24-hours and ended up in hospital. We realised she could no longer live alone. She was registered with Highlands and they responded quickly saying she could come straight from the hospital. She did actually go home for three days, with help, so we could pack. On arrival at Highlands, the staff were so kind, gentle and efficient. I, obviously, could not go in but their respite room was on the ground floor so we could talk through the window. Later she moved to a lovely larger room and we were allowed in to set it up for her with her belongings. The facilities provided were excellent, she particularly enjoyed the Scrabble club. The last two weeks of her life were not easy but I was allowed in daily and even my husband once to say goodbye. She recognised him which was wonderful. They rang my brother to suggest he might like to come. The staff could not have done more for her. They were also very supportive to relatives giving as much time as was needed to answer questions. I cannot speak more highly of Highlands. Mother was very lucky to have been there.

Highlands is a very friendly and caring residential home. Limiting the number of residents to 20 ensures a very personal service, giving peace of mind all around. Communication is excellent and family can rest assured that their loved ones are in good hands. Importantly too, it represents good value in terms of fees, with resources being well managed as a not for profit organisation.

My mother was looked after so well by everyone at Highlands, all the staff are local people many have worked there for years and their children as well. They can't do enough. We didn't know what to expect but it exceeded all our expectations. Beautiful gardens to enjoy, great food and all the residents are great company, especially over Sunday lunch. Nothing nicer than sitting in the conservatory having tea and homemade cakes with my mother and other residents. Lots of activities - book club, manicures, gardening, music, films, games. There's just a really nice atmosphere there. Lovely private rooms and nothing too much trouble for the staff. Our family can highly recommend Highlands to anyone thinking about residential care.

My mother was impressed with the loyalty of the staff, some working well into retirement age. I don't claim to know scores of other care homes to compare Highlands with, but I am completely confident that this home ranks as one of the best, not least for location, staff, food and commitment.

The meals are wonderful and I did start to time my arrival at tea time, so we could chat over the tea and cakes on offer! My Mother would always say how lucky she was that they had a room for her, and how fortunate she was to have on offer the gardens and far-reaching views of the Deben.