Barchester Elm Bank Care Home

Very comfortable dealing with all the senior people from initial home assessment through to admission and follow-up meeting. I have had a limited number of visits so far, due to the distance from the home to where I live, plus my holiday. However, I have been very impressed with the overall feel of the home, how the staff have been responding to other people's needs/requests in addition to my mother, plus the friendliness of the carers.

Very helpful and approachable staff making the process of Mum entering the home as painless as possible. Staff are very supportive of Mum and encouraging her to make the most of the arranged activities and staff are happy to make themselves available to discuss Mum and how she is coping.

Elm Bank Care Home has looked after my mother's needs for over four years. Through every level of care she has needed, they responded with the utmost thought and appropriate package. We as a family could not have hoped or asked for more. The staff were brilliant and she was genuinely loved and looked after in a manner I could not have given her myself. I have nothing but praise to give the staff who so sensitively looked after her every need. We know the staff went above and beyond their duties to sensitively respond to her care and changing needs.

The move went very well and she has settled in really well. In just over a month, she is now engaging with people and is speaking, singing and enjoying life. Her diet has gone from fish fingers and chips at almost every meal to properly cooked fresh food, with vegetables and fresh fruit - fabulous!

It's not easy dealing with dementia patients, but in our view, the Manager and staff at Elm Bank cannot be praised enough. We are so glad we moved our Step-mum and are thankful to the Manager and Staff at Elm Bank for making every day a quality day for her.

My sister and I were very touched by the kindness and care given to our mother in the last three years of her life. The team is excellent - the atmosphere in the home is happy and cheerful, and calm and peaceful when needed. The care was everything we hoped for. Family was always made very welcome and we could come and go as necessary. There were lots of activities and things to do and in the summer everyone would be out in the lovely garden in the sunshine for singing and crafts etc. Mum sadly passed away in June, and the staff were fantastic, she was able to stay at the home and was cared for round the clock by people she knew, rather than go into hospital - everyone was so very lovely, popping in to visit her right up til the end. My sister and I also received wonderful care and lots of hugs. The staff went that extra mile to make everything as good as it could be for us all. Looking back now we feel Mum had the best care possible, and had many good times in her final years.

She has early dementia and my grandparents were caring for her, so when it became too much it was a difficult decision as we are a close family. She settled very quickly and the staff made every effort to make her at home, including a beautiful bouquet and card on arrival, and a personalised cake on her birthday. My two young boys call it "grandmas house" and they are always welcome with hugs, snacks and biscuits (from staff AND residents!) and are allowed to play in the beautiful grounds and join in with everything, just like a family. The rooms are lovely, like hotel rooms with en suites, and kept clean. We are always encouraged to make it as homely as possible and the staff ALWAYS go above and beyond. I could write all day about how amazing every person has been and it's made something difficult as easy as possible, it's a really personal service, and everyone is much happier.

My mum has three main carers. Mam hasn't been herself lately and her main carers and their teams have gone above and beyond their duty to make sure my mother has been properly cared for. When mam was in hospital they called to see how she was doing every day! My mam loves them and I can rest assured that she is cared for 100% when I am not there I have no worries. I cannot thank them enough!

We visit Elm Bank several times a week. The Manager has been absolutely wonderful at helping us sort a lot of things out for her. The reception girls are lovely. They are so helpful and friendly and always have a smile for us. Mother gets well cared for and her needs are always attended to. All the staff (including kitchen and maintenance) are so friendly. We love coming to visit.

Care for my godfather is good. Happy to leave him knowing he will be looked after.

Mum is well cared for. My sisters and I appreciate the way all the carers know and value mum. They also know us and we appreciate the way we are kept informed. Mum is respected by staff.

I was impressed with the immediate response, given with care and reassurance, to our request for a placement in the home for an elderly lady suffering with the onset of dementia. The home itself is impressive and the facilities are first class. The staff are all well informed and eager to please, and demonstrate a sympathetic and understanding attitude. I feel fortunate that we were able to find this caring care home.

This was an ideal place to recuperate from major surgery. The care was excellent, although there was some staff shortage. The food was so much better than the hospital, and helped my recovery. The staff particularly were very helpful.

Mum was very pleased with the treatment she received during her stay. Very comfortable bed meals were very tasty and rooms clean and fresh. Overall she enjoyed her stay very much, many thanks to all the staff.

My mother's recent hospital stay has highlighted the very good care offered by Elm Bank. Level of care on the Connect floor, especially from the seniors, is excellent, plus courtesy and support for relatives....much appreciated! The Manager and her deputy are equally helpful and pleasant, and it is easy to speak to either of them if any difficulty occurs. From receptionists to laundry staff everyone is always keen to help. Most important of all my mother is happy living in Elm Bank.

Throughout my stay of 3 and a half weeks I was kept comfortable and secure. Although the food was of good quality and palatable I found that the way it was presented left a lot to be desired. There were long periods of delay at the dining table and no attempt to allow all diners at one table to eat at the same time.

Happy with everything except activities could be better.

Overall excellent service.

Very happy very nice place to live.

A few years ago, my wife and I were looking for a residential care home for her mother, but we were disappointed until we looked at Em Bank. When we went inside, I was able to compare it favourable in a quality hotel, with nice garden and communal lounges and we found that the residents were entertained and encouraged to join in games etc. to help them happily pass the time. This was and still is, by far the best local care home and my mother-in-law has spent three and a half happy years here and has made many friends, not only with the residents but also with the wonderful caring staff.

Everyone seems very happy all the staff are very approachable. Rooms are clean and tidy and the food is excellent.