Nov 2021
"The high quality of care and caring nature of the team at Orchard House stood out straight away."
Ade talks openly on the how his twin brother has found life at Orchard House and the impact it has had on the family.
Ade and his family decided 9 years ago that the time was right to move his twin brother into a care home. They visited several homes but opted for Orchard House as the best fit for Ade’s brother.
Reflecting on the reason they choose Orchard House, Ade said: “The high quality of care and caring nature of the team at Orchard House stood out straight away. The home is not as modern as the more newly built homes, but the way they look after their residents was always the most important thing for us.”
It is a decision they feel vindicated by due to the experiences they have had with the home over the last 9 years. “We always get a nice welcome from the home and end up having great fun and a good laugh with the team. The chef makes sure that my brother gets a homemade cake on his birthday and the atmosphere at Christmas is wonderful!”
As for his brother, Ade is comforted by the fact that he truly feels at home at Orchard House. “After spending some time in hospital a few years ago, he made a comment on his way out that he was looking forward to ‘returning home’. This meant the world to all of us. I can truly say that I know he is being looked after at Orchard House and that is very comforting.”
Orchard House is part of The Orders of St John Care Trust (OSJCT). As a family member of a loved one living in a care home, Ade feels the values of the organisation were important when considering which home to choose. “They are a not-for-profit charity and that is important to me. I know that it is a large organisation with guaranteed high standards across all its homes. They put the residents first and not the money. Which cannot be said for all care homes I have visited in my 30 year professional career, when visiting elderly clients.”
Finally, whilst Ade acknowledged that the pandemic was an incredibly difficult period, he said the clear communication from the home team made a huge difference. “They were very considerate to us and clear and why certain decisions had to be taken for the safety of their residents. The Home Manager, Nicola, is wonderful and leads from the front, and everyone connected to the home is lovely which goes a long way.”