Shirley’s story: “HBH felt warm, positive and lively.”

Cyril had been living at home however, he was starting to suffer from dementia and having the odd fall. “My stepfather didn’t want to leave his home, but it all came to a head when he fell and couldn’t get up,” says Shirley. After recovering in hospital, he was assessed and told he needed to move to more supported living.

Shirley had recently had a similar experience when her mother had needed care, and had been unhappy with the facility her mother went to. “I had been aware of how good HBH Senior Living is for some time, but unfortunately when Mum needed fulltime care, HBH was full. She had to go to another care home which I wasn’t particularly happy with,” she explains. Luckily when her stepfather needed care, HBH had a room available. “Cyril moved into a premium room initially, but when a standard room became available, he moved there as it was more affordable.”

Shirley says the quality of the standard room was far superior to many she had viewed at other villages. “Cyril’s standard room still had its own basin and toilet and a lovely outlook. He was very comfortable there. It’s wonderful that HBH continues to make standard rooms available as not everyone can afford a premium room.”

“When I look back, if Cyril hadn’t had gone to HBH, I’m not sure he would have lived for as long as he did,” she says. Shirley was impressed with the consistent, attentive care during his time at HBH and believes it was “head and shoulders” above the care she’d seen at other aged care villages. “At HBH, they genuinely care for the person and that is consistent across all of the staff,” she explains. “I remember visiting Cyril not long before he passed away, and one of the staff was filing his nails.”

Cyril said he felt very well looked after and particularly loved the food. She says she can’t help but compare HBH to the other places she’d visited when her mum needed care. “Some of them were very sad places and you could tell the staff were under enormous pressure. They didn’t look very happy which doesn’t usually translate to happy residents – HBH was the complete opposite and it felt warm, positive, and lively.”