"Westmeads Extra Care"

I have lived at Westmeads for 9 years in May this year, there was nobody on this corridor when I came so I picked my apartment.  I moved in with my husband who became ill with a massive stroke. I looked after him until he passed away in June 2013. 

Things have changed for me now I miss my husband and I keep to myself more to myself than I used through choice.  Many of my original  friends here have either died or moved away to care homes.  Whats always been good is its a lovely place to live,  I live in a ground floor flat overlooking the rear garden and now the flowers are out which cheers us up.  The environment has been great. The managing staff in the last few years have been getting entertainment in very frequently and this is well received and even in Covid times we have still had some activities like movement and dance. At the moment the manageress is arranging for singers to sing via phone at an individual's request, I think this is really innovative.  We have enjoyed bingo which has now stopped because of Covid. 

It will be good to have the cafe open again for people who rely on it. We enjoy having the  Probation Service volunteers working in the cafe when its open but at the moment and the cafe is closed because of Covid. 

I know some residents want 24 hour onsite staffing which could help if a person has a significant illness or fall in the night.  Many times I have helped in the night when someone has had a fall by using the emergency call system and waiting with the person.