A Time For Reflection

I think we can all agree that it’s been quite a year. For us, the pandemic has definitely hit us hard. We’ve endured weeks of heartbreak, exhaustion and, to be honest, all out despair when we’ve lost much loved residents to Covid.

Despite such harrowing times, the friends and families of our residents have kept us going. There have been some very dark days but also some amazing days too. It’s been a whole year without our normal relative visits, a whole year without our usual trips to social clubs, garden centres and inviting specialist care groups into our homes to deliver specific care related activities to our wonderful residents.

However, we’ve dug deep and our amazing team have worked relentlessly to care for residents as normal, thinking of the most creative and inventive ways to engage with residents and keep their spirits up during a period of time when their loved ones can’t visit and also continue with specific activities that meet their individual care needs.

This is why on the day that marked a year since the first lockdown came into force on 23rd March 2020, it was important that we looked back on the year and reflect on the highs and lows and the good and bad. We’ve learnt so much about ourselves too and how resilient and determined we are to do everything we can for residents and their families.

Lucy Craig, Managing Director at Craig Healthcare, said: “From car park concerts to live Zoom bingo sessions and window visits, the staff truly have worked wonders.

“Despite facing such challenging times, they’ve continued to care for residents and provided a wide and enriching activities programme despite being unable to bring visitors into the home or take residents out anywhere other than for walk locally.

We’ve had live entertainment take place outside with the residents safely inside, video technology has enabled residents to stay in constant touch with family and friends but most of all we’ve made residents smile, laugh and feel good every single day – thank you to each and every member of staff and every relative that has supported us all. I will be forever humbled by each and every one of you.”

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What people are saying

"I am very pleased with how my mother has settled in and generally how supportive and caring the staff are. This has given us peace of mind knowing that she is safe & well looked after. Thank you."
"Our mum has been a resident at Cramlington House for over a year and we have nothing but praise for the friendly, approachable staff and management. We always feel like part of an extended family and when we visit nothing is too much bother. We are completely happy with the standard of care, support and understanding we all receive as a family."
"From the first day, I knew it was the place for my mum. Clean, friendly staff, lovely environment! My mum would not get the opportunity to do the activities she is experiencing if she was not in Cramlington House. It is home from home and we can visit anytime. I can't say enough of how great Cramlington House is. "
"This is an absolutely superb care facility. The staff say that this is the home of the residents, in which they work - and they evidence that philosophy every day. In the last months of our mother's long life, we took comfort form the fact that she was safe and secure, being well-fed and looked after. The entire care team are brilliant. "
"All the staff at West Farm have provided such wonderful care, compassion and support to my auntie. We both feel incredibly lucky to have found West Farm, it’s been the perfect home for my auntie. I can honestly say, hand on heart, every aspect of the care provided by each member of staff at West Farm has been outstanding."