Old Wall Cottage Nursing Home

My father was transferred from another nursing home who were unable to meet his needs and asked us to move him with no notice. I cannot praise Old Wall Cottage highly enough. It was a difficult time and sadly Dad went downhill very quickly and died several weeks later. The manager went out of his way to make sure that Dad was welcomed and settled in. The individual staff were kind and caring and treated Dad with respect. We were kept up to date and encouraged to raise any queries or concerns. Nothing was too much trouble. The room was bright and airy and clean. The food was good. Overall an excellent experience.

My mum, now aged 85, came to live at Old Wall Cottage in September 2020 on a trial basis after a spell in hospital. Her home living arrangements had become very difficult and her health had deteriorated very badly. Since moving in she has never looked back and I have nothing but praise for the standards of care he receives. From wonderful fresh, home-cooked food for every meal, beautifully kept grounds and interiors, and most all an amazing team of friendly, caring and very professional staff. My Mum is happy, clean, well-fed and very content, she tells us constantly how much she likes it there. Well done Old Wall Cottage, you have got it right. When I am old and unable to care for myself I want to live somewhere as good as this, please.

When my Mum's previous care home refused to have her back after a hospital stay (a fall resulting in broken ribs, arm and black eyes!) and a positive asymptomatic Covid test, we were very apprehensive about her being sent to Old Wall Cottage as we had no say in the choice. Well, it has turned out to be the best thing ever for Mum. The manager and staff are the kindest people and treat Mum with respect and so much kindness. I couldn't be happier with the care she's receiving.

Moving my mother from residential care to nursing care was difficult, particularly at this time but from day one I could see that it was the right decision. The Old Wall Cottage felt like a home and mum was treated with care and dignity during the short period when she lived at the home. The staff were supportive to me and mum and I would not hesitate in recommending this home. Also, I only chose 'Good' since the home is being refurbished and I did not see all the activities.

My uncle went downhill very quickly during the pandemic, and it was a trying time for our family. He became a resident at Old Wall Cottage who gave him individually tailored and compassionate care. They engaged him and helped him join activities where he was able to. They got him out in the sunshine to spend time with friends. I was particularly impressed by one person who got to know my uncle and did everything he could to make him comfortable in the challenging circumstances we have all been faced with. Furthermore, although care is very much centred on each resident, he and the team also extend their compassion to family and friends of the residents.

My mum does not have dementia and the majority of other residents do so she is treated the same. I feel she needs stimulation as she has an active mind. Also, she is very frail and gets handled roughly at times, lots of bruises appear and it is hard to know how this happens. She cannot always understand the carers and gets frustrated. She misses our visits and personal care, which have been limited due to Covid-19.

Very pleased with mums care in the home. The staff and manager are kind, caring and always have time to answer any questions you may have. Mum is happy, and that makes me happy. The staff are very caring towards my mum and always have a fun element day. Excellent, thank you.

Due to current conditions, I have not been able to enter the home so cannot complete the options below. But I feel that my husband is being well looked after.

All the staff and management are very friendly and helpful. I'm happy they are looking after my husband.

My aunt is taken care of with love and care.

Very pleased with the care my father is receiving. The staff are wonderful and very caring. My father has come on leaps and bound since being there and is very happy. The staff and management have made it very easy to arrange visits to see him. Overall, we ate very happy and highly recommend.

My dad has been here for over 8-weeks now, we are very happy with the care he is receiving. The staff are wonderful and very accommodating, nothing is too much trouble for them. We are informed regularly and are able to visit Dad either outside his window, or they sit him by the patio doors, and we sit 2-metres away. My dad is well cared for by genuine people and is kept clean and comfortable. We are extremely happy and know that is getting the best care.

The final straw was that on the day my father died, I told the Manager that I would come to collect my father's belongings later that week. Within two days, they told me they had "misplaced" them. Two days after that they said they had been thrown away...they thought. A suitcase with my father's name in black marker pen, clothes, shaver, personal photos and correspondence, all gone. Disgraceful and disrespectful.

Social services helped to put both my parents into the same nursing home literally a day before the lockdown when they suffered some falls at home. We had to make a decision to move them in without seeing the property and just by meeting the manager who came to see us at their home. It was a leap of faith, all done because we felt the manager had the right qualities, always asking about my parents and their preferences. We moved them into the home that afternoon. I should not have worried. I have seen so much caring and kindness in that home. It is clear that the needs of the residents come before anything. Sadly my mother passed recently but my father and I couldn't have been treated with more consideration at such a sad time. The carers keep me updated on my father and how he is doing and encourage him to live life to the full (as much as possible at 93!). It is a happy home and I can't recommend it more highly.

I travel to Old Wall Cottage by train from Reading and my Brother in Law drives me from Deepdene to the care home. I love my day set aside for visiting my sister as the staff recognise me and I like to spend time talking to other residents too. The home is in beautiful countryside and I often wheel my sister into the gardens. Nothing is too much trouble for the hard-working, kind and thoughtful staff. I am always offered tea and never made to feel in the way. I go home happy and calm knowing my sister is safe and loved.

Following a period in hospital it was realised that my brother-in-law would not be able to return to living by himself in sheltered accommodation. It was for this reason that social services arranged for him to be transferred to Old Wall Cottage. I was extremely concerned about how he would be able to adapt to residential care home living as he had a strong character and had a tendency to be quick to criticise. However, I should not have had any worries as my brother-in-law settled in very quickly and during his 10-month-stay until he sadly passed away in January 2020, he was always very complimentary about the food and the care/kindness given to him by all of the staff. In fact, on many occasions, he went out of his way to tell me that everything about the home was first-class.

My dad has been at this Care home for just over a week, I am so grateful to all the staff. My wife and I are quite pedantic when it comes to cleanliness. This place is on the way up, the people that work there are so helpful, kind and caring. They go the extra mile. I only wish this place success and that it becomes a shining example to what other care homes should be doing. Thank you.

This home has recently changed ownership and little money has been spent before the sale, therefore the overall standard requires improvement. Mum is funded by Social Services, therefore the room is satisfactory. Facilities are currently satisfactory, but the new owners are already making improvements. Cleanliness is good, however, old flooring and shabby decor makes cleaning a challenge. In places, there are very narrow corridors with blind, right-angle, bends making moving around very slightly unsafe. Security appears excellent. I cannot recommend this home any more highly. The staff are genuinely caring, both to the residents and to their relatives, they talk to and say please and thank you to the residents and have endless patience. The food is excellent, including choices. The new owners are spending money on many different improvements and have more plans for the future. My parents celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary in October. The home made wall decorations and a special cake was baked and personally decorated for my parents. Tea was served with a beautiful bone china tea service with fresh flowers on the table. There was no charge to us.

My father has lived at Old Wall Cottage for 22 months and has always been treated with kindness and respect. The staff are very caring in their approach to care for the residents and their relatives.

My wife settled in well and was extremely well cared for and happy. It is with a heavy heart I am now looking at alternative homes for my wife as after a change in home manager, nearly all of the permanent staff have left or are leaving and the home is now predominantly staffed by agency who are unfamiliar with my wife and those who live there.