A last-minute respite break gave Maggie space and time to plan for the future

When Doris needed an emergency respite care break, she was warmly welcomed by the team at our Heathlands home, giving daughter Maggie the time she needed to make longer-term arrangements.

It started when Doris woke up one morning unable to get out of bed, leaving Maggie needing support at very short notice.

Thankfully our team at Heathlands Residential Care Home in Pershore were there to help and were able to offer Doris a two-week respite stay, which has since been extended. The home is also about to open the Allard Suite, a dedicated suite especially for residential respite stays.

Maggie said: “It was such peace of mind for us to know she was safe and happy at Heathlands. We didn’t know how well she would settle but within a week she felt quite at home.”

For Maggie, the break gave her the breathing space she needed to calmly make permanent arrangements.

When the decision was made to move Doris to assisted living accommodation, Maggie was delighted that she could extend her stay at Heathlands even further. This meant that Doris could move directly to her new home, rather than endure the upheaval of moving back to her former home beforehand – and Maggie didn’t have to worry about her mother being on her own.

She adds: “It’s been very reassuring that she’s been able to stay at Heathlands and I think having this help has also made her realise how much she really needed it.”

“The team are very caring and she has really taken to them. Before she went, she had a lot of problems with her legs and was having nurses visiting her twice a week to dress them. Since being at Heathlands her legs have completely cleared up."

For more about respite care breaks at Heathlands, or any of our other care homes in Worcestershire, our Enquiry Support Team are here to talk on 0800 046 4845.