News

We love nothing more than to talk to our residents and their families about their lives and experiences at Richmond Villages. 

It was privilege to have been able to spend time with our very special resident Audrey Searle, her daughters Denise Hughes and Julia Flowers and her granddaughter, Gemma Lamph. Audrey’s family came across our specialist Dementia Village in Willaston over a year ago when they realised that Audrey was displaying signs of early dementia and was no longer living safely on her own.  

Audrey got married when she was 20. She subsequently had 4 children over a period of about 20 years and then lived as a housewife and mother. She was widowed when she was 80 and came back to Cheshire to live closer to her Daughters and Granddaughters. Audrey believes she came to Richmond Villages Willaston, a specialist dementia care home for a fortnight holiday just over a year ago and decided to stay however, really, she was showing signs of dementia and her family thought it best for her to take residency at Richmond Village. Audrey states, “It’s lovely here, I don’t have to do anything! I don’t have to shop, do the washing or the ironing. Everything is done for you. Absolutely everything.” 

Audrey was living independently after losing her husband and seemed to be doing okay. Once covid arrived, it became really apparent that she was struggling. She would go walkabout into town, and Denise Hughes, Household Assistant, Audrey’s daughter would get phone calls from complete strangers saying that they were with her Mum. It transpired that her mum wasn’t eating, so the whole picture together concerning. Denise describes dementia as, “scary. It’s the fear that she isn’t going to know who we are. That in my book is what sums it up. It’s losing this person that has been there all my life.” Fortunately, Audrey was able to take residency at Richmond which was a massive relief to all the family, “I honestly don’t know where we would be without Richmond Villages at that point,” Denise adds.   

By the time Audrey was ready to move into Richmond Village Willaston, Denise’s sister and niece also both worked at the care home which helped her to settle in. After a few months, Denise also decided to leave her job working with adults with learning disabilities to transfer to Willaston Richmond Village to be closer to her mother. The plan for Audrey is to stay at the care home and to be cared for as well as the residents are cared for here, and that’s spectacular. “In my years, I’ve visited several residential care homes and have always found them to be sadly lacking. But to have visited Richmond Villages with Mum while she was on respite put all that to rest. I’ve not come across anything like this, it is amazing. The staff are amazing, the care and dedication that they show to the residents is second to none. I know that mum is receiving the care that she should have,” Denise states.  

At Richmond Villages, the staff go above and beyond to provide the best care for their residents, Gemma Lamph, Receptionist, Audrey's granddaughter adds that the staff, “Richmond Villages stands alone as a unique place, there’s nowhere else quite like it. We’re a completely different set up. It covers everything: health and wellbeing, sociability, emotional support, and there are many benefits to working for Bupa.” 

Since moving to Willaston, Audrey is much happier, “It’s changed her life being here. We’re just grateful that Richmond was here at the right time,” Gemma.