Leazes Hall Care Home

My mother was cared for in the truest sense of the meaning of care at this home for 2 years, to her death in December 2016. The whole ethos and environment engendered a feeling of confidence, that this was not just a care home but a home in respect of it being a place where people went to live and be lovingly looked after. With an experienced and proactive Matron/Manager, the team responds to quality leadership to the benefit of the residents. Many staff have been there a long number of years, and they all interact with residents and visitors in a positive way. Its a very difficult thing allowing a parent to leave the family home and move to a care environment, but this place is in tune with many of the aspects of life that will have been part of the lives of its client base. My mum liked to stay involved in some domestic chores and the home with our blessing was able to facilitate this...folding table cloths and napkins, who could know that it could be such a positive part of someone's day, but some time spent other than sitting gazing into space. It may be that the carpets in the home have a vivid pattern, there may be a few bits of paint chipped here and there but actually it chimes with a 'normal' domestic environment, and surely for someone enduring dementia that is one important factor in them settling into a new set of surroundings. Some care homes are overwhelmed by unpleasant stenches clearly tangible on entering the premises, here you are often greeted by the smell of polish, and cooking. It's great on Sundays to smell beef roasting and veggies cooking, and I think what could be better for those living there. It's an old building an by it's very nature cannot be as swish and stylish as a new purpose built property, but I know where I would rather have had my mum stay, somewhere she felt comfortable in and not like an outsider in a slick hotel environment with no heart and soul. There is always a bustle of activity, whether it be from nurses, carers or domestic staff. There is a GP practice nearby, and the home provides nursing care on various levels and will engage with 'Agreed Care Plans' for those nearing the end of their lives. It was a source of comfort that we knew our mother was safe, soundly and lovingly looked after, and that we were kept well informed at all stages of her state of health and proposed courses of action, always in her best interest and always responded to and reacted to promptly. It makes me sad to read what I see as the rather petty criticisms of the CQC report, based on a very small window. They seem to have put supposition and speculation over the substance of the quality of the care that is provided at Leazes Hall, and would do well to re-evaluate the findings by interacting with more than a small handful of interviewees. They have ticked their boxes but they are very different boxes to the ones I would tick, based on my experience, which makes me glow with satisfaction when I think of it.
Original Comment Report...