Family move mum from Scotland to Hayling Island with support from care home team

A family has gone the extra mile – quite literally – to bring their 78 year old Mum closer to home, with the dedicated team at Wimborne Care Home on Hayling playing a crucial role in making the move possible.

After a sudden bereavement and subsequent placement in a care home in Crieff, Scotland, the family and Bridget wanted her to be closer to them in Hampshire. What followed was a three-month process involving the family, Scottish authorities and the team at Wimborne, working together to achieve a highly individual placement.

Moving a loved one between care homes can be challenging at the best of times. Moving someone the length of the UK, involving different local authority systems and ensuring that the right care and support could be put in place, requires patience, determination and close communication.

The family worked tirelessly with the relevant Scottish Authorities for three months, whilst the team at Wimborne provided strong support throughout the process, helping to navigate the practicalities and ensuring they were ready to welcome their new resident when everything was finally agreed.

For the family the move was about much more than changing care homes.

It was always about bringing Bridget closer to the people who love her and are loved by her.

The successful placement means that Bridget’s family can now visit more easily – indeed there was the first ‘gathering of her clan’ this last weekend, where grand and great grandchildren were able to visit for a very happy family occasion.

Daughter Anna Clodfelter said ‘We knew moving Mum from Scotland was going to be complicated. I contacted over 30 local care homes and personally visited 14. The team at Wimborne were just fantastic. It felt right from our very first visit. They worked with us, supported us and helped us through what was a very long and challenging process. Knowing that my dear Mum is now so happy has made everything worthwhile.’

The story is also a powerful reminder that care should be individual to the person, rather than dictated simply by geography or circumstance.

The Wimborne team worked closely with the family to understand Bridget as an individual – her needs, preferences, routines and what would help her feel comfortable in her new surroundings. She has a beautiful garden room and a chair with a view of calm greenery, allowing her to rest and relax with her treasured books. She greatly enjoys the delicious homemade food, the good company and convivial conversations, as well as a terrific range of varied activities.

General Manager at Wimborne, Kelly Brown said ‘We are delighted to be able to support this wonderful family. We understood just how important it is to have Bridget closer to her family and we wanted to do everything we possibly could to help make that happen. It was a complex process involving different authorities and a considerable amount of coordination, but everyone remained focused on the same goal – finding the right solution for Bridget.’

After 3 months of dedication, conversations, paperwork, planning and coordination, the 400-mile journey from Crieff to Hayling became a reality and was achieved in 1 day by car. While the physical journey was long, the destination was simple, to bring Bridget finally close to her beloved family. And we all know how much family matters!