Wickmeads

Understandably, Dad was anxious initially to go, but he settled in very well and I think actually enjoyed the break from home, and me! He is definitely happy to go back for respite during the year. Thank you so much to everyone at Wickmeads for looking after my Dad so well for the past 2 weeks. All the staff I met were extremely professional, helpful and kind to both Dad and myself. There is such a range of activities organised I don't see how anyone could get bored. Dad is especially complimentary about the food, I don't think he has eaten so well before!

My mother has been a resident for a number of years and is happy and well cared for. She has all her needs addressed. She enjoys the activities - loves dancing and quizzes. She has been kept safe during this difficult time in Covid.

Friendly staff from the welcome at reception to everyone caring for residents in the home. The home is bright and cheerful with lots of activities and inclusion. Excellent meal choices and quality, comfortable bedrooms.

Our mother has dementia caused by a mild stroke and has been thriving at Wickmeads for eighteen months now. We had to choose a care home for her during Covid restrictions when we were unable to take a tour and we are sure we made the right choice. We were kept up to date with information throughout the pandemic. It is only within the last few months we have been able to see inside Wickmeads for ourselves and appreciate how clean, light and airy it is everywhere and the care and attention that each resident is given. The manager is very hands-on and all the staff make an effort to get to know relatives and the likes and dislikes of the residents. There is an active social programme, including trips in the minibus, which aims to stretch the mind and body - it isn't all singalongs as we feared! The hairdresser and chiropodist visit regularly and the staff are happy to facilitate video or phone calls. The gardens are well-kept and are an oasis of care and brightness. All in all, we have had a huge weight taken off our minds as we know she is being well looked after.

My brother, sister and I are pleased both parents have settled into Wickmeads. Mum has dementia and dad is very forgetful and they had to stay together, after agonising over what to do for the best, staff are lovely and it seems lots of activities each week are going on.

I cannot give enough praise and thanks to the whole team at Wickmeads. For the ten months my mum stayed with them she was loved by all. It was not just a job to the team, the team cared. Due to Covid, the team were under some pressure due to staff shortages but they still found the time to help and were always calm. It gave me time to rebuild my relationship with my mum and to anyone reading this review Wickmeads is worth every penny and more. You do hear bad things about care homes and I am sure some stories are true but I promise you the day I need to go to a care home, this is where I would like to be. The home itself is modern and clean and everyone is treated like family. My mum passed away holding the hand of one of the staff members, my mum was not left to pass away on her own which was her biggest worry. Thank you to the manager and your team.

The overriding feeling of the home is of friendliness and happiness. Staff are caring and considerate. My mother has been in the home for a year. She came to the home from the hospital. We were lucky that Wickmeads were able to admit residents during the Covid controls. Mother decided she wanted to move to a care home nearer her house but within two days she desperately wanted to return. The home offers daily events which she largely chooses not to become involved in. She enjoys weekly hairdresser and regular chiropodist visits. The location near the river gives the opportunity to visit the tea gardens that do excellent coffee, cakes and snacks. They also have a wheelchair friendly picnic bench for sunny days! From a relative's viewpoint with a 2-3 hours journey and dogs, the local walks are a great boon. Staff go out of their way to facilitate daily phone calls.

Wickmeads provides a supportive and caring home for my mum, as her ability to live independently declined during the pandemic. The management team (who are very ‘hands on’) and care staff did their utmost to help Mum settle and adapt to her new surroundings. The home itself is light and airy, with a nice relaxed atmosphere and well planned communal spaces (including small/quieter areas) which are well utilised. I am very grateful for the provisions made to keep everyone safe and facilitate visiting of our loved ones in such challenging times and feel I am always very welcome. There is a good and varied programme of weekly activities, with organised outings once again. I am kept well informed of any concerns with my mum’s health, in addition to receiving regular monthly updates and at all levels the staff are always friendly and helpful, ensuring residents' needs are met, their well-being and safety being paramount, for which I am both very grateful and appreciative.

It was a difficult decision to move mum from her own home as her dementia got progressively worse but the management and staff at Wickmeads made the transition the best it could be. The location and environment for Wickmeads is great, the place is clean and well looked after. Mum is always well dressed and it is clear the staff do take pride in looking after their residents. I would highly recommend Wickmeads.

My Mum has received the highest standard of care in the difficult period of readjustment to her new surroundings and dealing with her dementia. This is also true for us, the family. Everyone has been amazing, kind and understanding. In the last few weeks, we have seen such an improvement in Mum as she benefits from the social activities and events. This is exactly what we had hoped for. Mum is well cared for, tidy, clean and loves the food. She enjoys having her hair done and supervising the gardeners! I can't recommend this home strongly enough. Well done to them all.

Mum moved to Wickmeads straight from hospital and just before the first COVID lockdown. We have been so grateful that she has been at Wickmeads during this time and are very happy with the care she has received. The team at Wickmeads have done a great job of putting in place a system which has meant I have still been able to see mum regularly and whenever I do she is happy, cared for and well-fed. Can't really ask for more than that.

My Mum (81) who has mild dementia went into Wickmeads in April when Dad fell ill and was no longer able to care for her. From the start, all the staff made every effort to reassure her and us, that she would be happy and safe in their care. She settled in quickly with help from the staff and soon made friends and joined in the activity programme. When I visited her I was pleased to see that she looked happier and healthier than she had for several months. I always felt that the staff were fond of my Mum and cared very much for her wellbeing, and when she moved to a different care home to be nearer my Dad, it was a bit of a wrench for both of us! I would definitely recommend Wickmeads to others.

This was our second stay and we were made to feel so very welcome. The staff are absolutely lovely. As a visitor, I was always made to feel welcome and full safety was always observed.

My parents moved into Wickmeads. My mother transferred from another care home and my dad went in for respite. My mother died shortly afterwards and my dad was looked after with high quality care. The care home is extremely well manned and employs excellent team of carers. I can definitely say this is a lovely care home and all the staff are dedicated to their work. The manager couldn’t of been more helpful. Thank you.

I have been very impressed with how the staff have helped my husband to settle into Wickmeads. They have dealt very professionally with him even when his behaviour, due to the dementia has been challenging. The staff care about the residents and their communication with family is good. Highly recommend.

I visited Mum today to celebrate her 89th birthday. I met several of your colleagues who helped supervise and organise the visit. They were so nice, helpful but also professional and I would like you to pass my thanks to them, please. I was very impressed but also touched by their input. Mum looked great, clean, well dressed and actually better than I had hoped and I think she enjoyed every minute of the morning. I know older people can be difficult but I am grateful for the patience you all show.

This last year has been very difficult for anyone with a relative in a care home. When you live 200+ miles from the care home, as I do from Wickmeads, keeping in touch is even more challenging. Since my last visit to Wickmeads in March 2020, I have been very grateful for the contact and understanding shown by the employee team at Wickmeads. Wickmead's Activities Lead has been a particular star, patiently and professionally facilitating a 30 minute Facetime chat for us every week. I feel I have always been able to have an open and honest discussion with the Home Manager, any time I wanted more or more detailed information about my stepmother's health and well-being. And every week, I have been able to see how well-cared for my stepmother has been. All of this has given me clarity and reassurance when I cannot visit.

As a family, we were happy with the care provided to our stepmother. However, when it came to my stepmother's transfer to another home the service provided fell short of expectations. They agreed on the method of transfer and then the following morning backtracked on this, no communication of this to stepmother's wife and caused a lot of stress and upset to us as a family on what should have been a stressful and upset free experience.

My family and I offer our heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the whole team at Wickmeads. During such a challenging and difficult last six months for all, they continued to deliver outstanding care and comfort and included those little personal touches and activities that gave my mum a happy and fulfilled life. When visits were not possible, there was always excellent communication and sharing delivered in an appropriate way and always sharing of little insights of Mum's life at Wickmeads. A lovely, caring home and dedicated staff team. If you are considering a new home for a loved one, look no further.

My Dad was looked after by the staff at Wickmeads for the last few months of his life. During a really challenging time, I was reassured that my Dad was receiving excellent care. My mum also had to stay here for a few weeks and again she was really well looked after. I would most certainly recommend this care home, which I feel is extremely well run and employs an amazing team of carers. I can’t thank the team here enough for taking care of my beloved Dad when it became impossible to care for him at home. Thank you.