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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
National
Anna McAree

Derry woman thanks care home for life-saving care of mother

A Derry woman has thanked a care home for the life saving care they have given her mother.

Cathy Dillon's mum Bernadette, has been a care home resident for a few years, and Cathy and her family are incredibly grateful tothe staff of Oakleaves for the care they have given her.

Cathy even said that without the high level of care given to her mother in monitoring her COPD, her mother may not be here today.

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Cathy told MyDerry : " My mother would suffer with COPD and get chest infections quite often. They would be able to know when she would be taking one with the way she spoke and acted and they were on the ball at all times with her, getting antibiotics or contacting the hospital.

"The last couple of times she was taken into hospital she was a bit touch and go but I know if the care home and staff had not been so prompt in noticing her temperature and everything then we might have lost her. They are so lovely and on the ball with everything.

" M y mammy likes to do things on her own, she would rather please others than herself, they know how to act with her and get things done by letting her help them and it makes her feel very comfortable."

For Cathy and her family, the peace of mind they get from knowing Bernadette is getting the best care possible in Oakleaves is priceless.

Chris Walsh, Jenny Lynch, Siobhan McMullan and Nuala Green of Larchwood Care NI at the First Anniversary Celebrations of Oakleaves Care Home, Derry (John Stafford / PressEye)

Cathy said: "It has just been a lovely place for my mother to be in, when we come out we are happy and content that she is getting looked after and that she is very happy. At the start we didn't want to leave her and were worried, it was very hard and we felt guilty but that care home put our family very much at ease, we knew she was being looked after at all times.

"The staff are so friendly, they care and that is one of the biggest things in life. You can’t put a price on someone caring. They have been fantastic. She is the happiest I have seen her in a long time being in there.

"Even now we have to covid test at the door and test negative before we go in. It is a great peace of mind knowing that someone you love is being kept safe as well. They are doing a fantastic job, taking a load off our minds and I appreciate so much what they do for my mother. I haven’t gotten enough nice things to say about them."

Oakleaves Care Centre, situated on Racecourse Road, is celebrating its first anniversary having reopened last year following a seven-figure investment.

Oakleaves Care Centre Manager Jenny Lynch (John Stafford / PressEye)

Jenny Lynch, Home Manager at Oakleaves Care Centre said: “We are proud of our care home, our team and the care and treatment we provide to our residents. We liaise with families of our residents for feedback on our services regularly and it’s always motivating and rewarding to know that they are pleased and can see their loved ones are happy and comfortable.

“Our philosophies of ‘residents come first’ and ‘your care, your way’ promotes a holistic approach to care for those with dementia and their wider family. We pride ourselves on consultation and engagement with the person and their loved ones from day one.

“It’s wonderful to have marked our first year and reflect on the high level of service we continue to offer. We look forward to serving and contributing to the community for many more years to come.”

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