"They certainly reassured me and put my mind at rest"

We were in desperate need of respite from caring for my elderly mother for the past 4 years.. She was extremely reluctant to go anywhere without us and did not want to mix with others. Previous attempts at respite had proved futile!

We had previously visited the unit for coffee. Staff at Anam Cara were very aware of the situation and had reassured us that they would be able to deal with the situation. We were not optimistic and extremely anxious. However, with the excellent support and professional skills of care staff at Anam Cara we have recently achieved just that. Mum reports( in her own words) that there were staff present at all times and that she had something to do all day. She loved her room, the food, and the showers. Unfortunately she cannot remember names but said staff couldn't do enough for her. She also remembers watching videos and singing along (she laughs when she tells this. )

As her main carer I cannot describe the overwhelming feeling of relief knowing that mum was in the care of staff who I felt were dedicated, very experienced and caring. They certainly reassured me and put my mind at rest giving the impression that they had dealt with many "reluctant" patients in the past. I had a worry free weekend and did a lot of sleeping. This meant good outcomes for me - a complete respite from the caring task. There were also good outcomes for mum -her mobility has improved. She is more alert and "aware" and has a healthier appetite. However my happiest moment came when she said she would return again and this time ask for bigger helpings of food.