Ivy Grove

When I first went to Gracewell of Chingford I was very impressed with the standards of furnishings, cleanliness and friendliness of staff. My mum has been in there for three months on respite following a major hip operation. She settled down nicely and enjoyed the food and activities. Everyone has been helpful whenever I have any questions and the care my mum has received has been very good. I don't know how I would have coped without Gracewell.

I found the service provided by Gracewell of Chingford to be of the highest standard. The can-do attitude of all the staff throughout the care home came as a great comfort to our family, this being the first time we had opted for respite care for our Mother. Nothing was too much trouble for the excellent staff and my Mother has decided to extend her stay for another week due to her striking up friendships with both staff and residents. I would like to extend my gratitude and thanks to all at Gracewell of Chingford and keep up the great work!

The meals provided appetising food and staff would ensure any specific needs were met.

Thank you to the staff at Gracewell, Chingford, for their support and help in settling my parents into their new home. You are all so kind, helpful and welcoming, which has made the transition so much easier than it might have been.

My father seems relieved to have somebody to care for him now, and my mother seems much more relaxed - she was smiling within a few hours of arriving, something she hadn’t done for a long time.

We were recommended Gracewell of Chingford as a suitable resident home through a friend whose relative had already resided there for more than eight years and who was extremely happy and content with the professional care and excellent service provided. It is always a very big leap of faith to adjust from independent living to becoming a resident in a care home and we were naturally hesitant when considering placing our dear friend into such an environment. But all our concerns were totally unfounded and we couldn't be happier with the outcome. The facilities are truly 5*, the staff is extremely professional, very caring, accommodating and thoughtful. Our dear friend was made so very welcome in her new home which enabled her to adjust to her new surroundings in no time at all. Gone are the worries of coping by herself, being lonely and feeling isolated! Gracewell is a home of high standards in every respect and we couldn't recommend it more highly. Thank you to all the staff!

Mum has been looked after with great tenderness by the team at Gracewell; I couldn't be happier with her care. Prior to moving in, Mum's advancing Alzheimers was taking its toll on her and all around her - she was in a very poor mental state. When I first visited Mum at Gracewell, I couldn't be more pleasantly surprised - she had settled in so quickly, and I hadn't seen her so calm for many years. It has taken all the weight off our shoulders knowing that she is safe and happy.

As I say, the carers themselves are dynamic and excellent. I feel confident they will keep my Dad strong until we can go back to normal times.

Very happy with my aunts care. Would recommend this home to anyone.

I would like to say how pleased I am with the care and cleanliness of this home, I have to also say how amazingly well they have coped during the Covid-19 pandemic, everyone has worked so hard to keep it out of this home, well done and thank you.

It is one amazing place. It's like a 5 star hotel, all the staff are second to none, right from the cleaners right up to the top, I really can't say enough. They are so caring we are all so lucky that our mum is there when we go home. We have no worries about her as we know she is so well looked after. We all feel so very lucky.

I was amazed in the change of her dementia. Calm, clean and happy. Thanks, Gracewell.

My family are grateful for all the care and love the home gave our mother. We very much appreciated it.

She is 97 and has no short term memory so is not always cheerful but I think they do what they can.

The home looks very clean. Staff are very nice, friendly caring people. Please keep it up. Rooms are big and comfortable. Food is excellent. We are pleased and happy with everything. Important to have caring carers. Staff to look after the resident. Home is a home, happiness for the resident is important.

My mother-in-law resided at Gracewell for 5 years. She was very well cared for in a lovely family atmosphere. Her final days were peaceful, spent in the midst of people who loved her and treated her with respect.

Going into a residential home for the elderly was something I hoped would never be necessary for me. I had visited such homes a number of times to visit members of family or friends and my overall opinion was of people sitting around a room on the same chair they always used, the telly would be on but nobody watching it, either their eyes were closed or showing no interest. What attracted me about Gracewell was that people were encouraged to come and go and, very especially, the lady in charge of activities had a very wide range of these with entertainers, quizzes, exercises.

Much love, generosity and hospitality always shown by the staff. Meals also are first class. Ambiance leaves nothing, repeat nothing, to be desired.

Whenever we visited we also received a warm welcome and on several occasions, we enjoyed lunch with Mum in the bistro. Nothing was too much trouble. Latterly, as mum's health declined, she was treated with respect and dignity and we are so grateful for all the loving care she received. Thank you all.

Mum lived at Gracewell of Chingford from December 2016 until her recent death. She was reluctant to move from her home of 67 years, but it was not possible for her to remain living independently. From the very moment she moved into Gracewell she was treated with dignity, respect and kindness from a wonderful team. As a result, she blossomed and became quite a character. Gracewell became her home and I was always welcomed so warmly, at any time I visited. Nothing was too much trouble and Mum really enjoyed all her lovely meals, taking part in the activities, as well as trips out. Gracewell exudes a warm and loving atmosphere, and I cannot praise everyone, from the housekeeping staff to the catering team, the professional carers and the management team, highly enough. In the end, Mum wanted to stay in her own bed, in her own room, The team made that possible, caring for her until the very last moment. Thank you all so much, I will never forget what a difference you made to us.

I am more than satisfied with the level of care mum is receiving.

Concerns relate to ....her clothes being 'stuffed into her drawers, despite me labelling each drawer it is ignored, pyjamas particularly are scrunched up. Mum never lived like this at home and I feel it in a small way her dignity is not considered.

It is good that the front lounge is being used but I do despair when I visit that on quite a few occasions staff sit at one end chatting amongst themselves and residents look abandoned...staff do respond to the residents but could this not be improved?

Table clothes are quite often stained and an absence of condiments. Could Gracewell consider getting some pretty PVC tablecloths which can be wiped clean after each meal with paper serviettes available on the table? Lots of residents drop their food, ruin their clothes and look a mess.

The fruit salads are hard and lack variety.

I wish mum could be encouraged to go to the Bistro every day, I do not believe the above would be costly.