After suffering a spinal injury in 2013, Theophilus was left tetraplegic and requiring complex care at home.
A fiercely independent gentleman, ‘TS’ as he was known to friends, was looked after by a series of care providers.
His daughter, Samantha explains: “Dad deserved the very best care but unfortunately we had to part company with a number of carers who fell far short of the standards we expected.
“In 2018 we became very unhappy with the care provider we had in place. Standards had slipped so I started searching for another company.
“I got in touch with quite a few and actually found Almond Care via an internet search. As soon as I spoke to the team there I felt reassured that they were very different to the other care providers I’d experienced.
“They asked lots of questions about dad’s care needs and put together a tailored package of care for him.
“They recruited carers local to us in Hampshire and each member of the care team went through a rigorous training programme led by an Almond Care complex care nurse.
“We were very impressed, not only with the level of clinical knowledge the team displayed but also the fact that they really cared.
“It was clear to us that the Almond Care team view what they do as far more than just a job. They put dad’s personal needs at the heart of everything they did.
“They built a really good rapport with him and would sit and chat with him, play cards, take him on outings and help cook meals. Although we had employed a cleaner to look after dad’s home, the carers even tidied up and did some of the housework – they really went beyond the call of duty.
“I know that dad really appreciated having them around. Every morning and afternoon I would call in to see him and it was great to hear dad laughing and joking with his carers – it was like they were an extension of our family.
“I also appreciated the fact that Almond Care never left us in the lurch. On the odd occasion that one of the care team was off sick, Almond’s care co-ordinator, Calvin, would step in and personally drive down to Hampshire and provide care himself.
“I think that speaks volumes about Almond Care. They provided dad with excellent care with a personal touch – and most importantly, they always did what they said they would and made sure dad was comfortable and well looked after in his own home.”
Almond Care provided 24-hour, at-home care to Theophilus for 11 months, from December 2018. His clinical care provision included tracheostomy care, suctioning and, on occasion, PEG feeding, as well as all personal care.
Sadly, Theophilus passed away in November 2019 at the age of 70. We are grateful to his family for generously agreeing to share their experience of Almond Care.
