Zest Care Homes

On the whole the staff care about us all. Sometimes you get an agency staff worker who don't smile and just walk in and say what do you want, but the main staff that work here all smile and talk to you when they come in your room.

Someone coming in smiling and saying hello makes all the difference. I can't do many of the activities as I am losing my sight.

I was feeling very upset as I used to do so much to help in the community. I now help here if they are interviewing new staff, I can ask ... questions from a residents point of view, it has made me feel more useful and that I am helping.

I have even had staff that have started to thank me for the job. The food isn't bad but I do get a bit sick of sandwiches every day.

Also in the morning if I have corn flakes they put the milk in and it goes soggy, I would like to be able to put my own milk in. It can take a long time for the bell to be answered but I know they are busy.

We have just moved my friend here from another care home as I was not happy with the care she was receiving there. I stopped by here just to ask if we could make an appointment to look round and they showed us round there and then which proves they had nothing to hide which was reassuring, nothing was too much trouble and they spent a long time with us showing us round.

It's great how there are snacks and squash available all day. Today is her birthday and they have put a banner on the door an ... d when we arrived they went off to find us extra chairs.

We are concerned about the medication she has been put on and feel listened to here and they will talk to the doctor. There are lots of things for her to do and she likes the food and says it's good which is great as she can be very pedantic.

All the staff have smiles on their faces and we have been given a warm welcome.

I have been here just over a year. I don't like care homes and would much rather be at home on my own not living with other people but due to my disability I can't.

I feel like there is nothing for me to do here, it's all for much older people. I am lucky as in my wheelchair I can take myself out and about, if I need to see a doctor I just make my own appointment and get myself there, I have even taken myself into town for fish and chips.

I do not like the food here, I eat a dairy and gluten ... free diet and they do not cater for that so I get my own food brought in and they cook it for me, it's sandwiches every night for tea and they do not always have brown bread which is annoying. I would love to do something to volunteer but they can't find me anything, I am waiting to hear back from age concern to see if I can do some befriending over the phone.

The staff are lovely, I love the staff, I don't have any problems with any of them, I just do not want to be here.

I most of all like the people here, the staff are very very nice, I don't like it if they leave and there is a change. The whole home is clean and the food is good, there are two things to choose from every day.

I have breakfast and tea in my room, but it's nice to join other people for lunch. I have my hair done here once a week and my daughters come to see me regularly.

I don't think they can do anything more and I am allowed to make my own choices.

I think it's very good here, I don't have to do anything, everything is done for me. I spend lots of time colouring and the staff bring me in colouring books, I have even done some paintings for the home.

I have been here just over a year and I think it is wonderful. The food is good and is cooked fresh every day.

The things they put on are good, I like it when they have singers. I have a CD player in my room so I can play my own music.

3 of us have decided we like have our meals together ... so they let us do it in a separate room.

It's a nice pleasant house. The staff are very joyful and ready to help when you ring.

They are there to help. Sometimes when you ring your bell it can be a bit of a wait before I get a response and if it was an emergency I don't think it would be very good.

It has been a big adjustment coming here as before I was doing everything for myself and now I can't do very much. This morning I am still in bed because I am waiting for the nurse to visit and do my dressing but I usually sit out in my ... chair.

I have my breakfast and supper in my room but I do have lunch with some of the others. I am glad because I have met some pleasant people.

The food is generally good but I do have less appetite now which is probably because I am doing less. I have several friends visit, if fact I didn't realise I had so many.

My family live further away so it is difficult for them to visit. I think the visiting times are flexible because I thought it was from 2pm, but my friend came at 11am and I was surprised they let her in.

My priest is also able to visit and has been in with Holy Communion.