Testimonials
The following are excerpts from real letters from residents' families regarding the care their parents received at various Maria Mallaband care homes. Names have been withheld for data protection.
I really can't allow your kindness yesterday to pass unrecorded. After enjoying a delightful lunch with my daughters I returned to my new home to be faced with a large and splendid birthday cake, complete with a dozen or more candles to be blown out. Then before I had time to digest a slice of this beautiful cake I was overwhelmed by a selection of toiletries followed by a special bottle of wine from Spain. Yes, overwhelmed is the right word. I am most grateful for this welcome to my new home.
For the first time ever words fail me. One day in the not too distant future, I will drop by to see you but for now, I just want to thank you ALL for everything you have done for me and my family. We really appreciated your care.
On a recent visit to see my lovely mother I noticed a gentleman lying on the floor. He appeared unconscious. Although he was not aware of his surroundings, the staff on duty kept talking very quietly to him while attending to his every need. Without any fuss and without disturbing the other residents, these wonderful members of staff were so gentle in helping the ambulance crew, talking all the time to the gentleman. I could not let this occasion pass without commenting on such professionalism. What is wonderful is knowing such gentle caring people work where my mother lives. God bless you and your staff.
I am writing to express my heart-felt gratitude to the wonderful staff at Hope Green. In today's world, everybody is ready to complain and, if the press is anything to go by, all we hear about is how neglected and mal-treated the elderly are. Nothing could be further from the truth at Hope Green and I feel very privileged to have had my mother looked after and nurtured for the past 5 years. She was very happy and looked upon you as her second family.
We want to thank the manager and staff at Furze Hill Lodge for all the care you have given to my mother over the past three years, and especially during her last months. You have looked after her with great love, far and away beyond the call of duty. Yours is not an easy job but it is such an important one, and it gives great comfort to your residents and their families. This letter is a very inadequate thank you but I hope you all know that it comes from the heart.
"I wanted to say thank you to everyone at Corinthian House for looking after Mum before she died. My sister and I were so grateful for the efficiency, kindness and compassion shown, not just towards Mum but to the whole family. My Aunt and Uncle were very impressed by the staff who came out to help push my Uncle's wheelchair up the ramp everytime he visited - little things like that really matter to us!"
"We thank you for the excellent care and attention that Mother received from all the staff at Skell Lodge. Your level of care and support enabled Mother to make a peaceful pain-free transition between this life and the next... Thank you for all your care, attention and support."
"To the management and all staff. We felt priviledged to be part of your "Dignity in Care" Day.
Thank you for the opportunity to see the special care, consideration and the effort you make, to enrich the lives of all your residents. With our best wishes, Madelein & Ronnie, Freda & Graham and Maureen & Eddy - The Tea Dance Team"
Just a few words to everyone connected to Maria Mallaband and Batley Hall Nursing Home for the care of our Mother received over the last three and a half years. The dedication shown at Batley Hall was outstanding and we will never forget what all the staff did for our Mother in her twilight years.
Ashfield Court and all the staff were wonderful and I know Dad was very happy there. Sadly he was not in the best of health but they looked after him very well. I would recommend Ashfield Court to anyone, and I am very grateful for all their help and support.
Everyone in Troutbeck was so helpful and friendly and couldnt do enough to make Mums time there comfortable for her and for us as a family. Special thanks to the Manager and her team of staff for looking after Mum most of the time and the night staff who cared for Mum through the night. No matter how many times I say thank you to all of you, I will never be able to express how much your help, support and kindness meant to me and for that I am truly grateful.
Following our meeting yesterday I felt it would be good to email you to once again thank you and all your staff at Troutbeck for the wonderful nursing care given to the patient recently with the serious leg wound. This was a lady who when I first saw the extent of the injury I honestly felt she was at risk of losing her leg. However, with a combination of excellent nursing care including ensuring this ladies psychological wellbeing and "honey" dressings, her leg has healed to such an extent it now looks like it was a minor injury. Please could you pass on sincere thanks to all the team.
"All too often we hear of people's complaints of neglect, poor food, dirty conditions and even cruelty from staff members towards residents in some nursing homes. This letter is just the opposite; it's a heart-felt thank-you to such a lovely nursing home. Our Mum loved every minute in Corinthian House. She loved being waited on and being pampered, having her hair done and not having to do any cooking or cleaning. All she had to do was sit back and relax, and she did, bless her. We are going to miss going to Corinthian House because we shared a lot of laughs and happiness with the staff, and have come away with some lovely memories. In fact, we started to think it was our second home, too. Many, many thanks to all the wonderful staff for making Mum and Dad's last few years so comfortable and happy."
"I would like to place on record my sincere thanks for the very high standard of care my father received while staying at Troutbeck Nursing Home. I was very impressed with the attitude of the staff. He entered the home when it became apparent to him that he could no longer cope on his own, but his view of care homes at this state was very negative. This changed into a much more positive one within a very short time of arriving at Troutbeck."
"I was greatly relieved when I called your nursing home to enquire about my Aunt, and was put in touch with the Care Manager. We talked about my Aunt and it was such a relief to have her act so professionally, but have the ability to put me at ease by saying the right words to me in a calming and reassuring voice. I am grateful to her. She is really an asset to your nursing home."
"My mother has been a resident at Chesham House Care home, Alderley Edge for over two years and transferred to your new building, Cavendish Court, last Saturday. I went to the home during the afternoon to assist with the move and I am writing to draw your attention to the success of the operation.
During the last year, my Mother has been kept informed about the move to the new building by the staff. Although she was a little uncertain about the matter initially, by last Saturday she was looking forward to it. Throughout the day she was treated with care and consideration, and help was on hand to move her heavier items and resolve any problems she had. She was very pleased with her new room and, by the time I left, she was settling into new surroundings.
I would like to commend the staff, in particular the Care Manager, who remained calm and efficient at all times, for their hard work and assistance. They made what was inevitably a difficult day as easy as possible for the residents."
"Thank you very much for the most enjoyable Cheese and Wine evening last Friday. We enjoyed the entertainment, particularly the young musician and the school choir - all budding musicians in the making. A pat on the back for the chef and his crew for the wonderful spread.
Our thanks to you for all your preparation and hard work. It was very much appreciated."
" A note to thank you and your staff for inviting me to the Cheese and Wine evening last Friday, which was enjoyable on many fronts.
The children were delightful and played and sang beautifully. Opportunities for the elderly to have contact with the young are very special.
James (Toseland) was inspirational, and not just for his singing and piano playing skills which were exceptional. As your Chairman eloquently pointed out, James echoes the values and virtues which Maria Mallaband hold dear.
Thank you all so much for what you do for Dad, to make his stay with you as comfortable and happy as possible."
I write to thank you and all your staff for the care and professionalism that was shown to my Mother whilst in your home for the past year. I am sure that she could not have had a more happy and comfortable time in the remaining year of her life in any other nursing home. As a member of the Airedale Acute Trust Patient & Carer Panel, I am aware that the Trust has a number of rooms reserved at Troutbeck. As such I thought it would be appropriate for me to make the Trust aware of the high regard my family place on your establishment. Hence I have copied this letter to the Chief Executive of the Trust.
To all staff who cared for Maureen during her stay with you.
It was a great relief to find a Home who actually cared and nurtured the Residents in your care and for our family especially to carry on the regime of working etc. that we do with her at home.
We have noticed a change in her, she is more responsive than before. She particularly enjoyed mixing with new friends and sends her love to Cecily, Betty and Ivy.
We hope to see you all on the 25th February for Dignity Day.
