LOCAL: Couple life in a care home
“It’s been good for us and we’re still together”; Care for couples at Lilian Faithfull Care.
For anyone considering ‘moving into care’ the decision can be made a lot easier knowing that couples can live together at the charity Lilian Faithfull Care.
Each of its six care homes welcome couples and options include double rooms and/or apartments. Some couples also choose to have their own rooms to accommodate varying needs but enjoy sharing their days together.
In February this year Faithfull House, on Suffolk Square in Cheltenham, welcomed two couples; Doreen and Ernest Rowland and Margaret and Joseph Cheetham.
Margaret and Joseph met when they were sixteen at a dance after an evening church service. Margaret studied English Literature at University and became a teacher while Joseph studied engineering joined the electricity board and became one of the first engineers to specialise in nuclear power. They moved to Cheltenham with their young family of four children and the town has been their home ever since. Margaret explained how it has been moving into Faithfull House;
“It took me a while to settle but I am very glad not to be running a house. I hadn’t realised what a pleasure it would be to come down for a meal that’s been cooked for you. We get a dessert at lunch and supper which is a treat and we have a sherry before lunch – something I would never have had time for at home as I would be busy cooking. It’s been good for us and we’re still together.”
Since coming to Faithfull House they have been able to enjoy the trips organised by the activities team. Recently this included going on a canal boat cruise, this was particularly special for Joseph – he had been an officer in the Royal Navy reserves and it was the first time in a long while that he’d been on a boat.
Doreen and Ernest are new to Cheltenham, they moved to Faithfull House from Berkshire to be close to their daughter. A few weeks after they arrived they celebrated their 71st Wedding Anniversary with a party at Faithfull House. They both grew up in Kent and met through a shared love of cycling and recently they were able to enjoy another cycle ride together! The charity has a specially adapted trishaw, which volunteers and staff pedal around traffic free routes close to the homes. Faithfull House’s Physiotherapist Martin cycled Doreen and Ernest around the nearby Montpelier park where they both enjoyed the opportunity for ‘people watching’.
Doreen explains how they have found the move to the residential home.
“We’ve settled in very well. It’s been no problem; we’re used to moving around. We are lucky because as a married couple we have an apartment. I enjoy having our meals prepared – it’s wonderful food.”
“It’s different but it’s very homely here. We aren’t obliged to join in [with the activities] but there is a lot to choose from. We can have our own furniture, all our own pictures. They make you feel at home straight away.”
If you would like to find out more about the residential, nursing and day care provided by the Gloucestershire charity, Lilian Faithfull Care visit www.lilianfaithfull.co.uk for details of all their services.
