Testimonials & case studies

Allan has just passed probation after what has been a pretty challenging 12 weeks for him, having never worked in care before.  Allan has really worked hard to win over customers and has had so many successes.  Only last month Allan took a customer, out, Brian, who lives in a residential setting.  Brian was described as withdrawn and not overly sociable.

Allan started by taking him out for a bit of a drive to see more of the naturally beautiful part of the world that we live in and it has had an incredible affect on this gentleman.  Suddenly Brian’s life is full again and he has something to look forward to when Allan calls to visit.

Allan also became a favourite of Effie.  Unfortunately, her family are spread across the North West and Midlands, but we were able to keep them informed of what was happening on each visit via our online portal, which they are able to log into after each visit and get sight of what had happened when the platform had been populated with detailed notes.  Eventually the family decided to relocate Effie and Allan took her to All That Sparkles, a Vintage Tea Room in her home town of Middleton for her last visit as a treat.

Our Care Manager, Michelle, had been to visit one of our customers. Marjorie.  Although it would not be appropriate to mention her age, Marjorie is in receipt of a telegram from a well-known VIP.  Marjorie had commented how it was a nice and refreshing change to have had a visit from a male member of our team, and that Allan was a breath of fresh air.

Allan continues to bring his friendly personality to all those that he deals with and brings sunshine into the home of those that he visits.  Congratulations on passing probation Allan, where you will now get a well earned pay uplift and additional gifts.  You are a really valued member of our team.  Thanks for all that you do.   

Top man!

I recently had occasion to contact Bluebird Care Rochdale with an urgent request to increase the care package for two elderly friends. One lady had to attend hospital for emergency hip replacement. To enable the other lady to remain safe at home I contacted Bluebird Care Rochdale to increase the care package at short notice. I couldn't have had more help from the care coordinator, she pulled out all the stops and along with clearly very willing and caring staff she successfully managed to accommodate as much extra care as possible by juggling rotas and asking for the care team to do extra hours at very short notice, and over a weekend. To say I am grateful is an understatement, Bluebird threw a lifeline to this urgent situation without hesitation. The care coordinator is clearly a caring, organised young lady and both she and the care team are an asset to Bluebird Care Rochdale. She continued to help by organising the client's Pharmacy to supply a medi-dose type system. A big thank you to all at Bluebird Care Rochdale.

I recently had occasion to contact Bluebird Care Rochdale with an urgent request to increase the care package for two elderly friends. One lady had to attend hospital for emergency hip replacement. To enable the other lady to remain safe at home I contacted Bluebird Care Rochdale to increase the care package at short notice. I couldn't have had more help from the care coordinator, she pulled out all the stops and along with clearly very willing and caring staff she successfully managed to accommodate as much extra care as possible by juggling rotas and asking for the care team to do extra hours at very short notice, and over a weekend. To say I am grateful is an understatement, Bluebird threw a lifeline to this urgent situation without hesitation. The care coordinator is clearly a caring, organised young lady and both she and the care team are an asset to Bluebird Care Rochdale. She continued to help by organising the client's Pharmacy to supply a medi-dose type system. A big thank you to all at Bluebird Care Rochdale.

Introduction

Effie was born on 30 January 1933, in the Crumpsall area of Manchester.  She had been living alone in the family home after being widowed. She had experienced a fulfilling life, married to Harry, an electrician, with whom she had five children - two boys and three girls. She was a dedicated stay-at-home mum who created lasting memories by sewing matching outfits for her daughters and loved to travel.

Effie and Harry enjoyed vacations in the sun-soaked continent, relishing sangria and one another's company. Despite the geographical spread of their children across Reading, Leicester, Nottingham, Shaw, and Hereford, they united to celebrate Effie's milestone 90th birthday in January 2023 at a family meal in Stocco, Oldham. Effie was not only a mother but also a grandmother to eight and a great-grandmother to her great-grandson.

Members of the Bluebird Care Rochdale team were on hand to plan and join Effie on her actual birthday and were able to share the event via video link with Pam.

Background

Effie's daughter, Pam, had seen that Effie was often alone despite her wonderful neighbours' frequent visits. In October 2022, Pam approached Bluebird Care Rochdale to ask what support services may be available to enhance Effie's companionship and well-being. The visits initially started for a few hours each week to gauge Effie's adaptability to external support while maintaining her independence.

Initial Care Plan

Gradual Engagement: Our support team began by visiting Effie for a few hours weekly, gradually acquainting her with the assistance and assessing her response to the companionship and to get more of an understanding of her needs.

Increasing Visits: Post-Christmas, the frequency of visits increased, providing Effie with more consistent companionship and support, further enhancing her emotional well-being.

Daily Presence: By Easter, the team were visiting Effie daily, fostering deeper social interactions and close monitoring of her welfare.

Special Connections: Effie quickly formed strong bonds with specific support team members, particularly Amanda and Maureen, who became her regular companions.

Community Engagement: Allan, a newer member of the support team, introduced Effie to more community activities, enhancing her enjoyment and connection to the world beyond her home.

Outcome

Enhanced Well-being: Effie's emotional well-being improved significantly due to the regular companionship and increased social interactions from the support visits.

Established Rapport: Effie's fondness for Amanda, Maureen, and Allan highlighted the value of forming meaningful connections with our team, contributing to her overall satisfaction.

Geographical Transition: As Effie's family grew concerned about her well-being, they made the decision to move her to a residential setting closer to family members in the East Midlands.

Reflection:

Effie's journey exemplifies the impact of dedicated support services on an individual's life. From her rich family history to our gradual introduction, Effie's well-being was nurtured through companionship and community engagement. While Effie's geographical location changed, the connections she formed and the memories created remain as a testament to the positive influence of compassionate support. As Effie moves forward into her new setting, the legacy of care and connection established by Bluebird Care Rochdale will undoubtedly continue to resonate.

Allan took Effie for a treat on her last visit to All That Sparkles and commented how he will miss her. 

We all will Allan. 

Take care and enjoy your next chapter Effie. 

After our 93-year-old Mum had a long spell in hospital, it was essential that her safety at home was catered for. The Care Manager set up a care plan for Mum in October 2022 with a team of wonderful ladies to care for Mum, they are so very caring allowing Mum to do what she is able with supervision, encouraging Mum and giving help when it's needed. The lovely team of ladies have had some difficult times as Mum's demeanour fluctuates. They are compassionate and offer reassurance and explanations as and when required. If they have any concerns that maybe need clarifying, they will contact me, but overall they are all more than capable when caring for Mum and her needs. The care plan in place for Mum gives me the opportunity and pleasure of interacting with the ladies regularly. The carer's notes written on the online portal are a bonus to read. Having the lovely ladies care for mum in all manner of ways gives us 100% peace of mind, we have no worries at all and are confident that Mum is safe.

I am able to do what I do with my son because Bluebird Care Rochdale allow me to go to work in the knowledge that he is being cared for by their team.  This allows me to plan breaks away with James where we can spend quality time together.  

Patsy came to us in October 2021 following a fall causing damage to her hip. She is very close to her family and sister, Myra, who lives nearby, visits her frequently. Patsy loves a cup of tea, reading romance books and completing crosswords.
Her favourite holiday destination was Benllech Bay in Anglesey where she used to visit with her late husband Phillip and their dogs Mitsy and Suzie. Patsy has loved looking after children within the family and is now seen by them often.

She is a very independent lady and we have been able to support her to the point where Patsy is now confident she can continue without further assistance. We are delighted that she can continue without our support in the comfort of her home. There were concerns initially that Patsy may need more support, but, with our encouragement and her own independence of spirit and the love of Myra and her wider family, she continues to live the life she loves in the home where her memories are. Patsy established a real strong rapport with the regular team members that supported her and they certainly will miss their time together.

Above and beyond everyday and for every ‘client’ if you can call them that. More like extended family to the managers/owners. Love seeing their stories and what they do for the community in Rochdale.