Margaret was our first ever client. She was independent at home when we first met her but no longer able to leave her flat or want to.
She was very sure about what she wanted and made sure all her carers knew this. She had a very sweet tooth and loved her dark chocolate and cakes. She loved to watch motor racing and tennis on the TV. She would tell us off if we were “too bossy”. She would say “thank you” every morning for her cup of tea.
As the years went on her health deteriorated and things she once could manage were now becoming more difficult. As carers, we changed with her. Her care was at the heart of all we did for her. It was made very clear to us that Margaret was determined to stay at home until her dying breath. At every step of her journey we were there with her providing the support she needed. We ensured we were proactive to her changing needs. This involved joined up working with our colleagues in health – the GP, the Community Nursing Team and Occupational Therapist and Social Services.
We shared lots of memories together of family pets, her life as a child, her work in the war years, her daughter and grandsons, her love of tennis and all the games she played. Her Catholic faith was very important to her and she looked forward to her regular visits from a lady from her local church who always brought fresh flowers and shared mass with her.
We kept our promise to Margaret and did not leave her side until the undertakers took her from her home.
We will always be forever grateful for her daughter for allowing us to become such an intimate part of her mum’s life and sharing Margaret’s dying breaths with her.
Margaret may be gone and she will always be missed but her legacy lives on in the work we do to support and care for people in their own homes with compassion, dignity and respect, ensuring our care for them is truly unique and person centred.
18th December 1920 – 9th July 2017 RIP