From a residents' family - Eighton Lodge

"I knew from the moment I approached and stepped foot in the door that Eighton Lodge was the right home for my mum." - Helen West

Moving an elderly person into a care home is understandably upsetting for the person concerned, but the impact is has on their family can be just as devastating.

Mary West's daughters Helen and Gloria tried to keep their mum in her home for as long as possible, but after being diagnosed with breast and bone cancer, as well as Dementia, they knew that despite their best efforts, it was no longer possible.

The sisters reluctantly began looking for a suitable residential care home. Living in the Low Fell area of Gateshead for most of their lives, they were keen for their mum to remain in the area so she could be close to her daughters.

Helen had experience of working in care homes so she knew exactly what she was looking for. The sisters drew up a short-list of homes and the first one on their list was Eighton Lodge, which is owned by Wellburn Care Homes.

Helen remembers: "I knew from the moment I approached and then stepped foot in the door that Eighton Lodge was the right home for my mum.

"The home looked immaculate from the outside and it was the same in the inside. There was no smell of urine that you get in many care homes, the bedroom and communal areas were nice and the furniture was very tasteful.

"The staff, to a person were fantastic, and if I needed anything else to make up my mind, the final clincher was when I discovered Mary Hardy was the manager there. I had worked with Mary in a previous job and when I saw her at Eighton Lodge I said to my sister that this was the right place – and we didn't visit any of the other care homes on our list."

Even at this stage Helen and Gloria still found it difficult to "let go" and they changed their mind about moving Mary into Eighton Lodge. However, just a few months later Mary's condition had worsened and they finally realised they had no other choice.

That was just over a year ago and Mary is happily settled at Eighton Lodge. She continues to receive treatment for her cancer and her loving daughters, who live just minutes away, are regular visitors.

Helen says: "Despite our best efforts it was just not possible to keep mum in her own home as it had become dangerous for her and my sister and I had become exhausted to the point we were concerned for our health."

"Mum is in the best place at Eighton Lodge and Gloria and I are now comforted that she is receiving the best possible care from the best possible staff."

Return to previous page