Willowcroft

Our mother has been living at Willowcroft for eight years (at the time of writing). We looked at a number of care homes in the area. Our decision was based on facilities, location, and staff attitudes. We’ve been very pleased with our choice. The facilities are excellent and well looked after. The staff really care about their residents. They have been supportive as our mother’s mental condition deteriorates and her behaviour becomes more erratic. We’ve also been very impressed with the MHA. At first, it was the group oversight and the ability to provide cover in the event of staff changes. During the coronavirus pandemic, we have been particularly pleased with the forward planning and practical response: locking down the home early, sourcing PPE, building a dedicated meeting room complete with intercom and keeping us informed of developments.

Mum has been at Willowcroft, on the residential wing, for two years now. She has been looked after with care and respect, exceptionally well throughout. When the home went into lockdown, due to Covid 19 last year, they did so two weeks before the government instigated the national one and have kept all their residents safe and happy throughout the year. The family have always been able to visit, (outside of the lockdown periods) either outside during the summer, or inside the internal 'pod' the home built, as the weather turned cooler in the autumn. The carers are all very kind and caring, nothing is too much trouble and the food choices are well balanced. Mum put on weight within a month of moving in. (Not too much though. Residents are weighed regularly as part of their health checkup.) Mum has not been well since last October, due to a new medical condition but the carers have gone out of their way to cheer her up and help her come to terms with her illness and look after her even more closely.

I cannot fault the professionalism of the staff at Willowcroft. They are an exceptional group of people to whom I have no hesitation in entrusting my mother's care. From the quality of the food provided to the regular entertainment offered, their unceasing optimism and sense of humour make them the perfect family substitute for my mother.

On my weekly visit to see my sister, she has always looked well and quite happy with the home.

The staff treated Mum, and us, with care, respect and good humour. The food, accommodation and activities were excellent. I am delighted that we were able to get a place at Willowcroft for the last few months of her life.

Gran has been there seven months now. During lockdown, it has been so reassuring knowing she is content, happy and cared for. They have all gone above and beyond their duties. So grateful. Fabulous place!

The carers here go above and beyond in looking after their residents. Nothing is too much trouble. Even before these awful times were upon us, we would praise this home and all the staff. We cannot recommend highly enough. Our mum has dementia, she is so happy here, she is shown so much love. The staff are so caring, Mum has lovely meals, always looks nice. The home has a lovely warm, welcoming feel to it. It's so clean and fresh. The rooms are lovely. The activity team are amazing, they do so much with the residents, never a dull moment. Couldn't have chosen a more lovely home for our dear mum.

Prior to the Coronavirus I have visited the home on a number of occasions and found the staff to be extremely professional and helpful. The home manager has always been welcoming and had time to talk when as a family we have felt anxious about our relative's welfare. We are always offered refreshments and have space to talk in private. During this time when we are not able to visit, we have had telephone conversations with our relative which has made us feel better and we know that all residents in the home are well cared for and happy. Its lovely when you hear residents singing in the background and always makes me smile. I can't wait to visit the home again and would recommend to anyone to visit and speak with the home when they are looking for a home for a family member. We can't wait for this to be over so we can visit the home again.

I am exceptionally impressed at the way staff have engaged with my brother to assist in his self-worth and independence. He has certainly thrived since his arrival at Willowcroft.

My grandparents moved into Willowcroft around 5 months ago. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming and the staff are fantastic. They show true kindness to the residents and nothing is too much trouble. I visit often and I am always offered a drink and a piece of cake on my arrival! The food is always freshly prepared and plentiful, with lots of choice. My grandad has a full English for breakfast every day! The activities team work hard to provide a stimulating environment for the residents, which they are encouraged to engage in, or not, depending on their preference. The rooms are spacious, each with an en-suite and are cleaned daily.

The care at Willowcroft is second to none, and with minimal staffing changes, the carers have really got to know my grandparents over the last few months, building up a good rapport. Carers take time to chat with my grandad about the football, and make sure the radio is always on to listen to the matches! A simple thing that really means a lot to him.

We visited my mother today and we were, as usual, welcomed with happy smiling faces from all the staff we encountered. Carers were only too pleased to cater to our every need, never too busy to listen to us and answer our questions about our mother's state of well-being, even going the extra mile and offering us tea (and biscuits!), which is always welcome as we come some distance and are always ready for a "cuppa!"

The home is spotlessly clean whenever we arrive, mother's room is immaculate, and the care and attention all the residents receive is always very impressive.

We have visited mother at Willowcroft for a number of years and have always intended to report back and say thank you for everything you do. So our views are not just from a single visit but reflect the consistency of satisfaction throughout this time. We are by no means unappreciative of everything you do, and despite mother's condition are sure that she would echo our comments if she was able to do so. Thank you all.

My mum has been a resident at Willowcroft for the last 18 months. From day 1, all of the staff have been incredible, the whole experience of dementia for my mum, myself and our family has been the hardest and most painful time in our lives.

We now know Mum is getting the very best physical care from staff (who we don't think of as staff, but friends and family) who stimulate those precious memories, through well thought out activities, which happen daily.

My mum is happy, relaxed, and safe, and we can all sleep well knowing this.

My sisters and I cannot recommend Willowcroft highly enough. We love and thank you all for looking after Mum so well.

Willowcroft is very clean and homely. Each room has a fridge. There are plenty of activities for residents. In addition, Willowcroft does not smell horrid like many care homes do.

The staff are friendly, supportive and nothing is too much trouble. I feel extremely fortunate that my mother is in such a wonderful new home and we enjoy visiting her there.

Willowcroft doesn't feel like a care home - it feels like home. Mum is happy, very comfortable and extremely well cared for. The bricks and mortar and all the fixtures and fittings may be excellent, but it is the staff who really are superb. They are so caring, gentle and patient and I trust them absolutely. Before moving into Willowcroft, mum was isolated and lonely and would forget to eat and take her medication. Now she is surrounded by friends and has fabulous meals and her tablets are never forgotten. The staff ensure that residents are not only safe, comfortable and happy but they retain their dignity. I will always be in their debt.

Patient, kind and so helpful with my father.

My mother has been a resident of Willowcroft for over one year. She settled in very quickly making friends with staff and other residents. She enjoys living there. The staff are very caring and helpful but still treat her with dignity. She enjoys the privacy of her own en-suite bathroom and the fresh food. The activities bring a smile to her face. I am kept informed of any issues by the staff and trust them to care for my mother.

The Manager is friendly and approachable and all the staff are willing to discuss the resident's needs. Care plans and notes are available and up to date. Each resident has a lead carer who has an overview of their care.

Having to admit our nearly 90-year-old mum needed 24/7 care which my sister and myself could not give we started the unenviable task of looking for a suitable care home. After scouring the internet and several visits to care homes we crossed the threshold of Willowcroft. On meeting the manager and members of her caring staff we knew this was the home for mum. Mum is now in residence - her room is excellent with en suite facilities. Mum joins other residents for meals in the dining area and joins residents in the lounge areas and encouraged to be involved in several activities respecting her dignity and right to choose. Care plans are raised and in place, updated daily for family, friends to read. Finally, all the love and care mum receives from all members of staff means she has now got a larger family.

My mother had Alzheimer's and spent her last few years at Willowcroft. We are very glad that we chose it as it has very caring staff and good facilities. We would happily make the same choice again. Her room was relatively spacious and had en-suite facilities. A family friend, who has visited several other homes in the Derby area, told me that Willowcroft is the best of them. My mother was in another local home, whilst waiting for a place here. It was good but Willowcroft has nicer rooms and better facilities. A former manager said that my mother needed nursing care and asked us to move her from Willowcroft to a nursing home. The decision was not supported by the NHS professionals or Social Services (or us), so she stayed put. We had no further issues and are happy with the current management. A few very minor niggles regarding wear and tear to decoration and furnishings and occasional temporary minor cleaning issues are far outweighed by the excellent care and facilities.