Two Bowral women have thanked a Highlands retirement home for making their mother’s final years so comfortable.
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Described as an “amazing woman”, Bowral’s Freda Oakey passed away at the age of 97 on April 7, 2018.
Her daughters Mary and Lynn said their mother’s passing had left a hole in their lives, but wanted to thank Anthem Care in Bowral, for making her final two-and-a-half years so easy and comfortable.
When Freda first moved to Anthem, Mary and Lynn said she was immediately made to feel welcome.
“She didn’t want to be there, but the staff were wonderful and she was made to feel like part of the family,” Lynn said.
Toward the end, Lynn and Mary would visit their mother most days and hold her hand, and when they left they would place a teddy bear in her hand instead.
“Often when we returned the nurses had put the teddy in her hand or by head,” Mary said. “It was really special.
“One day we arrived and found a nurse putting hand cream on for Mum while she was asleep.”
Lynn and Mary said staff went above and beyond, not just to care for their mother, but to form meaningful relationships with her.
“There has been lots of bad publicity about nursing homes and how the residents are treated,” Mary said.
“But the staff at Anthem were beautiful.
“They treated her with nothing but respect, love and dignity.”
While there were too many staff to name, Mary and Lynn sent a heartfelt thank you out to all the staff, including the chefs and maintenance men, who were so kind, and genuine to their mother.
“A few of the nurses even came to her funeral which just shows how important the patients are to the staff,” Lynn said.