***NORMAN'S STORY - WHY WE NEED TO SAVE ADA BELFIELD****
We have received the following email from Kathy about her Dad Norman, which she has allowed us to share with you.
This is why it's so important to save our care home.
Please sign and share the petition to everyone you know.
Dear Ben
I have signed your petition and wanted to thank you for your support for Ada Bellfields Care Home.
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> We too have been trying to raise awareness but are unable to attend this afternoon due to work.
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> My dad Norman, is 90 and has been at AB since early this year. Before that he was dotted around Derbyshire as far North as Staveley, North of Chesterfield. This was an hours drive making it a 3 hour trip with an hours visit. As it was so far away my 84 year old mum was unable to get there unless she came with us, meaning everyone visited all at once rather than spreading the visits out.
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> The benefits of AB have been daily visits from family and friends (dad can only be moved by hoist). Regular visits have lifted his spirits no end and made him feel cared about and remembered by everyone. It also means that he can be wheelchaired to his local dentist/optician/hearing appointments, aswell as being seen by his family Dr who knows his medical history. His room and living accommodation are modern and comfortable with views over the Chevin where he explored in his former years, he enjoys the familiarity of being in his home town.
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> His needs are complex and he now benefits from excellent round the clock care. Previously, at home he had 4 carers a day who were not allowed to lift him, even when he was found lying on the floor on several occasions! My 84 year old mum and multiple neighbours would do this as carers watched on (contractually not allowed to lift, they were told to ring 111 which was at least 8 hrs on the floor!)
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> During the day he would be left soiled and wet until the next carer arrived which could be several hours; which of course creates sores and distress. Most visits had different carers so there was no continuity with his needs, they had to be taught how to cook an egg or how to spread marmite on toast each time and what his needs were. Living at home became a nightmare and frightening for both him and his wife. We didn’t know the carers as they came infrequently and were often different. Also, they left after a short time and went to new jobs.
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> Ada Bellfields is an amazing purpose built facility, with an uplifting atmosphere, amazing caring staff who treat Norman as an educated man rather than wanting him to ice digestives and throw a balloon around. They organise musicians to come in, gardening and community projects. It is so convenient, it enables residents to have far more regular visitors, including visits from neighbours and friends that wouldn’t just pop in if it was further away. He can be taken to the cafe for a change of scene or the library next door to choose a new book. He can be taken in his wheelchair to local places to eat for family birthday parties and was even wheeled by his grandchildren to the River Gardens to a Sunday summer jazz concert (his favourite music as he was a jazz pianist.)
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> It took many months to finally get a space at AB as there is very little space in the residential homes and discharge homes around Derbyshire, this also had an impact on being able to leave hospital, it would take weeks to get a recovery or residential place. I currently have two friends in Belper that are unable to get their mothers into care homes as there still is no space and so are bed blocking at hospital. I have no idea why they think more homes are not needed.
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> We know you will try your best and wish you luck.
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> Thank you so much once again.
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> Kathy Stoker