Christmas in Care

[matrix45]

I just thought I would give you an idea of my 1st Christmas with my wife in a Nursing home. Her Mother and I took her presents up on Christmas morning and I had asked if they could leave her in bed until we had visited to give us a few private moments to open her presents. When we arrived she was dressed and in bed with her hair combed and she looked well. As we were opening her family presents a Carer came to the room with a present from the Staff and she kissed my wife on her forehead and wished her Merry Christmas. She offered us a glass of wine or a cup of tea and a mince pie. When we opened the present from the Staff it was a knitted top, trousers and socks - sized to make it easy for them to put on. When the Carer came back and saw we had opened the present she said she had sewed nametags into everything so they wouldn`t get lost in the laundry.
She brought in a Christmas cracker for us to pull for my wife and I read the silly joke to her.
I should have gone to my Daughters for Christmas lunch in the afternoon but I couldn`t face it (she was having 14 of her husbands family and friends) and I just wanted to be on my own with my thoughts. I don`t know how I got through Christmas - I miss her so much but I can`t praise the Staff at the Home enough for their kindness and consideration at such a difficult time. I know you read such horror stories about Care Homes but the people who look after my wife are really caring. - Sorry it`s been such a long thread but I needed to say it

 

[Brucie]

Thanks for posting a very positive story of care homes. I'm so pleased that your experiences have been similar to my own, with my wife's care home.

The more positive stories we hear about, the less will be people's fears, either for their own futures, or for the futures of their close relatives.

Not everyone is going to be able to look after their loved ones at home, or to be looked after themselves at home, and to have the knowledge that these good places exist will be a relief.

It may also spur a movement to try and have all such homes living up to the standard we would want.

 

[Norman]

Hi Matrix
how wonderful to hear such a good report about care homes,It must give folks more hope about what may lie in the future.
Norman

 

[Lynne]

Matrix

Matrix,
thank you so much for sharing your experiences with us; it's so easy to think all 'care homes' are dreadful places if you believe what's seen in the newspapers and, sometimes, on this board. For those of us who have yet to face that stage of AD where our loved ones need more specialist care than the average relative can provide, it's such a comfort to know that there ARE good homes - and wonderful caring staff - our there for us. I hope I can find one nearer than Cheshire when the time comes though!
God bless