From first impressions to a feeling of home
When looking for a place to settle down in later life, there is often a lot of consider. However, sometimes the choice doesn’t come down to a checklist, but a feeling of home and comfort. For 93 year old Maria, that is exactly what happened.
A few years ago, Maria spent some time living in a different care home, but it never quite felt like the right match. She chose to return to living independently in her home just ten minutes away from Sandwood Care Home. She was comfortable and knew the area, but she was still looking for a sense of community.
That search ended the moment she visited Sandwood. Here Maria shares her story.
A life rooted in Nottingham
“My journey actually began much further away than Nottingham. I was born and raised in Italy and made the decision to move to the UK when I was 24 years old. It was a big change, but it was here that I met and married my husband, an Englishman, and together we raised our two children.
“Nottingham has been my home ever since. Alongside looking after my family, I spent my working years doing a local job, making mosquito nets for many years.
“Eventually I was living in my home, just ten minutes away from Sandwood. I knew the area very well and a few years ago, I did try living at a different care home for a while but it didn’t feel like the right fit for me at the time, so I went back to managing in my home.
“However, the moment I came to visit Sandwood, everything changed. I didn’t need time to think about it – I like it straight away! There was a warmth to the place and the people made me realise, then and there, that I didn’t need to look anywhere else.
Life at Sandwood
“I have been living at Sandwood for a year now, and that first instinct was right. Moving from your home to a care home is a big step, but I felt at home from the very beginning.
“What makes Sandwood feel so right for me is simply the people. Everyone here is so kind and we all look out for each other and help each other out. One year on, that lovely feeling I had when I first visited has only grown stronger.”
Nestled in the Sherwood district of Nottingham, Sandwood Care Home provides dedicated residential and dementia care in a warm, welcoming community. This purpose-built home features 31 comfortable single en-suite rooms, which residents are encouraged to personalise with their own furniture and belongings. With 24/7 care tailored to individual needs, the home focuses on supporting independence while offering a lively social calendar, home-cooked seasonal meals, and beautifully landscaped gardens for residents to enjoy.
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