Family hails “transformative impact” on former Histon doctor’s receptionist who has reconnected with her beloved community

Bramley Court Care Home has ‘transformed’ the life of a former doctor’s receptionist by reconnecting her to friends and colleagues she’d lost contact with due to the onset of dementia.

Bramley Court Care Home has ‘transformed’ the life of a former doctor’s receptionist by reconnecting her to friends and colleagues she’d lost contact with due to the onset of dementia.

Jean Falkingham, age 86, worked for 30 years at the Firs House surgery on Station Road, but her progressing dementia meant she was becoming isolated at home by organising meet-ups at local cafes and inviting her friends to visit her at the home on Chivers Way.

Since moving into Bramley Court, a 72-bed care home providing high quality residential, nursing and dementia care, the team have supported her to become part of the community she gave so much to.

Jean’s daughter, Anne, said: “The home makes so much effort to keep her engaged with her former colleagues and the community she was a key part of for so long. I’m so happy to see her thriving.

“Before Mum moved into Bramley Court, she had lost most of her social skills and used to cry a lot which was heartbreaking for me.

“She felt isolated and didn’t have the opportunity to socialise with others. I was initially worried about how it would go but the move was seamless and Mum has settled in very well.”

Anne was her Mum’s carer before she moved into Bramley Court and the home also offered Anne access to training courses which significantly improved her well-being and her relationship with her mum.

The move to Bramley Court has also been a chance for Jean to make new friends, including the home’s resident dog, Pip.

“Pip has helped enormously, making Mum feel at home here,” added Anne. He used to sleep with her at night which helped her to relax and she loves seeing him every day.

“Dementia is still sadly so stigmatising, I don’t want to hide Mum away,” she said. “I want her to live her best life and she definitely does at Bramley.

“She often says to me how happy she is and that makes me so happy too. I can’t express how grateful I am for the transformative impact the home has had on both of our lives.”

Bramley Court’s is constantly working to provide the very best support for residents living with dementia, and has been part of a National Institute for Health and Care Research study to assess how best to alleviate feelings of isolation among residents with dementia.

“Our involvement in this study, and others we have taken part in, show we are a forward-thinking home dedicated to continuously improving the quality of care we provide,” said home manager, Judith Wroe.

“We want to build a strong sense of community with our dementia peer support group and we are also committed to investing in supporting our residents and their loved ones because we know this has huge benefits for them.

“All of the extra things we are involved in are ultimately all about positive outcomes for our residents and their families and we are delighted to have had such a big impact on Jean’s life and her relationship with Anne.”