The Laurels

As a family, we want to say thank you to the Laurels. We could not have asked for a better place for our Mum to end her very long life of 97 years.

My mother has been with Laurels for over three years now and the care by all has been exceptional. Mum became end of life toward the end of November. I didn't think it was possible to improve on perfection but it appears you can. The staff extended their kindness to us as a family and we were offered facilities that enabled us to be with Mum 24/7. We had a room and full use of all facilities. We were fed, watered and given love and support in abundance. The staff would find time in their day to sit with us and Mum, some even attending on their time off. Having to leave out extended family when Mum died was difficult, but we will be forever grateful that there are such selfless people in the world. Thank you is never enough, but we do as a family thank you all. You will always be, for me, angels without wings.

My mother has been living in the Laurels for several years now and I could not think of a better place for her to be. Moving a parent into residential care is not a decision that is made lightly with so many things to consider and worry about. The care and attention that my mother has received from the amazing staff, since moving into the Laurels, has put all of my fears to rest. The Laurels care home is precisely that, a home from home where my mother has been taken in as if she is one of the family. That family feeling even extends to me and my siblings whenever we visit, with nothing being too much trouble for the cheerful and friendly staff, who all should be rightly proud of themselves. I would like to pass on my heartfelt thanks to all the management and staff at the Laurels for making a difficult time in our family's life so much easier. Thank you all.

My Uncle had 2 strokes and we placed him in The Laurels after visiting 3 or 4 other care homes in 2017. Our initial decision was based on the pleasant ambience in the home and the friendly staff we met on our initial visit. Also, upon talking to family members of residents they all seemed to be complimentary of the home and the facilities. From mid-2017 until the last week of his life in May 2022 my Uncle had a comfortable, caring and enriched life sharing time with residents and the staff who were not only excellent carers but friends and confidantes when needed and entertainers to keep the residents happy and stimulated. The staff are all very approachable and the home Manager is an example of a Team Leader who is hands-on and gets involved with the residents and their families making sure they have full interaction with her and is available to answer any questions or issues. The food is excellent and the chefs use Pioneer Foods so you know that everyone is eating well.

Our very elderly mum has been in The Laurels for the last 4 months or so, she was very reluctant to leave her home and we, her children were hesitant and anxious as to how mum would settle, she has been a wonderful caring thoughtful mum and we all wanted to do the right thing. Well, we need not have worried…. Hindsight is a wonderful thing! The staff are truly amazing, from cleaners to the manager, they take their time when talking to mum and other residents, treating them with respect, asking about their lives, families, past holidays and travels - taking a genuine interest and it shows. The food is well presented and we’re assured by Mum it ‘tastes lovely, just like homemade’, she also tells us that staff are always on hand, day and night. We’ve had some hiccups, but the staff have been so understanding. Three of us live many miles from Carlisle, so social media has been a wonderful way to keep track of Mum's activities in the home and now we’ve been included in a WhatsApp group! How great is that?

All the staff are brilliant. Nothing is too much trouble for them. They are all polite and very respectful of the residents. The home is always clean and the meals both smell and look delicious. My mother-in-law loves it there and is very happy.

My mum has been at The Laurels since October last year. She has settled in well and this is down to all the staff making her feel at home. She hasn’t lived apart from my dad since the day she married. The transition from home to this home has, overall, been a good experience. I don’t live locally, so I speak to the reception team regularly who are all so very friendly and take the time to ask how I am, which is always a nice touch. The care team, whom I have met in person and spoken to on the phone, are all very pleasant and work with my mum to ensure her needs are catered for on a daily basis. I can highly recommend The Laurels Care home.

Our experience of The Laurels has been amazing from start to finish. My stepfather came into the home in September 2022 for respite care. After the 8 weeks, the decision was made by my stepfather to stay long-term. From the day we met the manager, she was so helpful, caring, and kind. It was a difficult decision for all of us and she and her staff made the transition and settling-in period so much easier. The staff at The Laurels are always smiling and they are always happy to help. During times of confusion, they are patient and caring with my stepfather. The fantastic amount of activities that they put on for the residents have actually helped him cognitively since he moved in. You can tell that the manager is a very good leader and is well respected by her staff. Oh, and according to my stepfather, the food is amazing! Thank you to them all.

My granny has been in The Laurels since September 2019. The care she has received has been to a consistently high standard, with attention to her needs being met as they have changed throughout the course of her stay. The carers are on hand to provide excellent care at all times, and work hard to build relationships with all of the residents; this is very evident from my perspective. In addition, they work hard to accommodate and update family members as to the welfare of the residents. The pandemic cannot have been easy for all staff, and during a very difficult time, they have continued to remain positive and supportive of both residents and family. The Laurels was a very wise choice of a home for my granny, and all carers and office staff deserve a massive well done and thank you for their efforts in making it a real home from home.

Having to make the decision to place Mum into care was heartbreaking and stressful. She has Dementia and is very frail. When we took Mum to the Laurels, it turned out to be a very positive experience as we enjoyed a delicious homemade afternoon tea in her room. All the staff, without exception, are friendly and caring and I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly she settled in. She has a nice room, which we have furnished with family photos as well as some paintings so it feels like home. Mum is gregarious so she really enjoys getting together with the other residents in the lounge. The staff work very hard to organise a variety of games and activities for the residents. I honestly did not think it would be as good as it has been, Mum is engaged mentally in a way that is far richer than her life was before.

My wife of over 50 years spent just over a year at the Laurels. She moved into the Laurels at the height of Covid, under extremely difficult circumstances. It was difficult for both family and staff. From the start, we were impressed with the efforts the Laurels made in helping us to maintain contact. Nothing was too much trouble and everyone was very caring. My wife was made comfortable and quite happy, considering her Parkinson's and dementia. Even though her health deteriorated over the period of time, we were delighted with the care and consideration given to her. She greatly enjoyed the wide range of activities residents were able to partake in. Likewise, the end of life care given to my wife and the access we were granted, despite Covid restrictions, were excellent. I wholeheartedly recommend the Laurels to anyone who asks me.

Ever since Mum first went into The Laurels care home, we have been over the moon at the love and concern all have shown towards her. She settled very quickly with them and this has given us all great peace of mind, that she is happy and well cared for.

The Laurels were so amazing with all the difficulties with covid. They went out of their way to ensure the residents had a brilliant Christmas. My Mum has been in the Laurels for nearly 2 years, and every time I visit, she says she loves it there and the staff are great with her. Trust me - my mum calls a spade a spade and if she was in the least unhappy, I would know. I can't praise every member of staff highly enough. They are lovely with the residents - from the manager to the cleaners, every single one is kind, caring and thoughtful.