Brunel House

All round excellent home. As a family, we are all very happy with the outcome of a very sad situation.

Excellent kind, caring staff in homely surroundings. I wouldn't mind living there myself.

Mum has lived at Brunel since Sept 2015. In that time she has been genuinely cared for and we have been very well supported. The staff and facilities are wonderful.

The staff are brilliant. They are caring and compassionate and treat everyone with dignity. They work to meet the changing needs of residents and are always finding ways to improve their care in a person-centred way. I feel very welcome when I visit staff are good at keeping me informed. The activities coordinator does a good job of offering a variety of activities.

For the period of one year three months, the time of my friends residence, I have found the staff helpful and understanding. Any problems I did experience were handled correctly by the nurse in charge of the ward and the manager. I can appreciate their difficulties in running a mixed ward, also as with my friend and her eating problem, dementia/alzheimers is not the only thing many patients suffer from!

The carers at the home are brilliant with all the residents. Last week some of the residents and six carers went in the mini bus to Weston-Super-Mare and returned with lots of photos of happy residents walking on the beach, eating ice cream, fish and chips etc! Most days I bring my husband home or go for a run in the care and there are never any problems about going back into the home.

My father died on 16 May, despite a critical illness, he refused to go to hospital as he was desperate to spend his last weeks at Brunel. The care home team did their utmost to ensure his well being. Constant checking, monitoring and giving emotional support went on both day and night. Members of the family were able to stay overnight whenever they wanted and they too were supported and kept informed. Nothing was too much trouble. At all times they were professional and caring to us all. We can not fault their support and perfectly understand why my father had insisted 'I want to stay in Brunel'.

Both my parents have just moved into Brunel House. My husband and I visited with no appointment, we were welcomed in and given a guided tour by a lady, who was extremely friendly and answered all our questions in great detail. We visited several times on the following days bringing other family members and my parents, and on each occasion we were greeted with the same friendly staff. They have now moved in and have nearly been there a month, the home is comfortable all staff cheerful and friendly. My parents are extremely happy in their surroundings!!

My mother was admitted in November 2015 for palliative care when transferred from hospital. She was in a very poor way and very frail. She left Brunel House on the 4th of May 2016 after being nursed back to full health. She is walking well and is almost totally independent thanks to the careful and considerate care received form Brunel staff. She is 96 years old!

I came to a residents meeting in Jan 2016. It was well attended, we were all encouraged to ask questions, all of which were answered. Since then nearly all of the issues have been dealt with. I have really been impressed with the staff and the kindness they show to relatives and most of all residents. It is never easy moving into a care home, and it's thanks to the staff that my mother has settled in so well. They always have time to talk to her, recently mum became quite ill and thanks to the Dr and staff she is getting better. Carry on the good work. Thank you.

The overall standard of accommodation is excellent and the staff do a wonderful job of caring for the residents. The little touches like the reminiscence room, chickens, secure outdoor space, photos on walls, puzzles on walls, personal artefacts, prams and dolls etc. all make for an enriched living environment.

My sister and I were so comfortable with the excellent care our mother received at Brunel House. Her room was lovely and the staff were warm and caring. I would recommend this home to anyone looking for a safe, warm and caring home for a loved one.

My relative has been in Brunel House approx 18 months. They are frail but do not have dementia/Alzheimer's. The staff at this residence have always been good/caring however since a new manager took over, patient and relative comments are being taken on board and acted on. Staff have now been granted to give consistence both to residents, relatives but also for each other. The atmosphere is calmer, confident and the service far more efficient. Standards of cleanliness have improved in some ways though main meals continue to lack imagination/flavour. It seems there is much better support from management and a feeling of progress and confidence.

My wife has been here a week. We find the standard of caring has greatly improved since February 2015. The food is adequate, let down by poor evening meals though, many elderly people do not require much to eat in the evening we realise that but the staff could make more effort in preparing evening snacks/meals. Soups are below the standard of the hospital.

The staff at Brunel House are extremely caring. There is always a smiling face and a joke. They treat the "guests" with respect and genuine kindness. They try to be flexible with individual guests needs and wishes. I don't think any "care" home can be perfect but Brunel House does strive to improve and listen to relatives concerns.

I am pleased that the home have been able to reduce the reliance on agency staff in the last few months.

Overall I feel my mother is treated well, with dignity and respect and kindness. Her basic needs are met, she is fit and well physically although due to her condition she struggles mentally. the staff are always friendly and helpful to both her and myself, acting with great patience and understanding at times. The activities are well run although I do not always feel my mother makes full use of what is on offer she perhaps needs some more encouragement to take part? But, I am very happy with her care and treatment at Brunel House.

My husband, who died on 29th December has been a resident at Brunel House for 2 years. He first stayed there on respite care basis, while I had a hip replacement In March 2014. Because of my age and the limitations of my treatment, the family and I decided to make him a permanent resident. He did fret for a bit at first, but I (at 87) could not give him the necessary attention. He accepted the situation and has been very comfortable there, well liked by all staff, whether carers or administrators. I have no regrets about his treatment - the staff are friendly (to residents and to relatives) and very welcoming - he has always been kept clean and comfortable.