Last year Mum spent a weekend of respite care at Wray Common Nursing Home, which she thoroughly enjoyed. So when she suffered a medical crisis and we had to choose a permanent place at a Nursing Home, the choice was easy. She has her own good-sized, en-suite, room, which includes bed with ripple mattress (she developed two pressure sores during her stay in hospital), easy chair, chest of drawers, bed side chest, large built-in wardrobe, commode and a chair for a visitor. The room has several pictures fixed to the walls, but she has also been able to hang up pictures of her own; we were also encouraged to provide small furniture to display some of Mum's own ornaments and photos.
During the day Mum has breakfast in her room and is then helped to get up and dressed, then is taken downstairs to one of the two main day rooms. There she is involved in the communal entertainment activities, which include quizzes, painting, cooking, flower arranging, and singing. She has her lunch and afternoon tea downstairs before being taken back to her room for her light supper, and then bed.
Mum is very happy here and enjoys the mix of time with others and time alone. She is able to choose the balance herself. Some residents choose not to join the others downstairs, and all wishes are respected.
Friends of mine have suggested that we do unexpected visits to the home at different times of the day to see the quality of care across the day, but personally I don't feel the need for such observation; as a nurse myself I know Mum is getting good care. The matron and staff nurses are quite accessible and happy to chat, exchange ideas and keep me up to date with developments.
