TESTIMONIALS

To all at St. Heliers

I would like to express my sincere thanks to you all for your kindness and caring during the past two weeks.

I have so enjoyed being here and I am sure it was the best thing that I have done to come and stay here after my hip operation.

I was very pleased to be in Room 10, a nice light and bright room and I am so grateful to you all who helped me in your own particular way.

I will call in and see you, perhaps after I have been to Buckingham Palace Tea Party

I hope you enjoy these biscuits, god bless all of you.

Love from Christine

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To all of the staff at St. Heliers

I wanted to write a few words to say how grateful I am for the wonderful way you cared for Dad

Although he was only at St. Heliers for a short time you and your staff made him feel so welcome, caring for him with such kindness and sensitivity, he was surrounded by so much love.

Also thank you for taking care of me, my grief would have been so much harder to handle without the kindess and support of you and your staff;. My family and I were so impressed by the dedicated professionalism and cheerfulness shown by ALL of your staff.

Everyone at St. Heliers is amazing, I am eternally grateful to all of you.

Thank you, Kate

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Dear Liz

To say 'thank you' to St Helier's for all they do for mum. My mother was showing signs of early dementia and she and I wanted her moved from Scotland down to Folkestone to be near me. I had done my homework and visited a number of places, but I was concerned that none matched the quality of the care she had received north of the border. That was until I went to St Helier's.

From the moment you step into the entrance hall, and see the beautiful flowers on the bureau, it is clear that this is no ordinary care home. 'We want this place to be the kind of place we would be proud to bring our own family' said one of the owners. Indeed, when mum first arrived, one of the manager’s had her own mother at St Helier's and I thought that you couldn't get a better recommendation than that! Mum's room is lovely, it benefits from the fact that the building retains many of the original features of its splendid Victorian heritage. She has plenty of room for all the furniture and personal items that she brought down from Scotland, and she can see the sea from one of her huge bay windows. Her en-suite is always immaculate and the staff make sure that her toiletries are kept in full supply in case I forget something.

But their attention to the look of the place does not stop there. On the contrary, it is reflective of the depth of care with which every resident is treated and respected. I am a regular visitor; and over the three and a half years that my mother has been there, I have come to know the staff and the owners, and to celebrate my mother's fortune in being looked after so well. It is rare these days to find such commitment to the welfare of others; I am always amazed at the patience and fortitude with which each staff member responds to the residents no matter how grumpy the latter might be that day, and that includes my mother!

St Helier's is a place that 'goes the extra mile', and that includes everything from the delicious home-cooked food to the regular free 'pampering' sessions put on by the staff and enjoyed in the sun lounge. Other free activities include word games, bingo and musical sessions designed to keep the mind active. If the weather is fine, the staff take residents for walks, or push their wheel chairs the couple of minutes along to the famous Leas overlooking the sea. Trips are also organised to the local theatre, the garden centre, or to one of Folkestone's grander hotels for afternoon tea.

We hear so much these days about the appalling treatment meted out to the elderly, and I know that finding a place for my mother, and trusting her care to others, has been the hardest job I've had to do. This is why I am so grateful to St Helier's, it really is a 'home from home' and I could not recommend it more highly.

by Wilma Fraser

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