Local war hero leaves gift for home carers who became true friends and companions

MAIDENHEAD, U.K. - June 19, 2013 - PRLog -- 19th June 2013, Maidenhead -- Senior carers Maggie Wallen and Ann Lockley from Halcyon Homecare in Maidenhead were today honoured at a quiet presentation ceremony. They were presented with a photograph in a silver photo frame and a Dartington glass carriage clock each, in the name of Fred Smith, who had been a home care client since 2010 until his death in February 2013. Executor Barrie Mair presented the gift on Fred’s behalf.

Fred Smith suffered from a variety of chronic illnesses including Crohn’s disease, Sjogen’s Syndrome and skin cancers, but it was his personal views and desire to find a compatible carer which led him to Maggie and Ann. He didn’t want a carer without some maturity; it was important to him as he felt that a young person simply would not be able to appreciate fully what he had gone through in his youth - which was partly responsible for his state of health years later.  His aged and croaky yet still authoritative and military-style voice was often to be heard on the phone, demanding small adjustments and, early on, changes in his care routine. These ebbed away as the perfect team and balance of care was established.

Operations Director Tracy Barratt says: “Fred was a character! He could be very demanding but we worked with him from the position of respecting his individuality first and foremost, and then tailoring both our care package and our care team to suit his requirements. The gifts of thanks that Fred has left for his carers are a testament to how home care can be managed well. Done well, it enables people not only to realise their own personal choices, but accept care on their own terms. We’ll miss him.”

Halcyon Homecare visited Fred 3 times a day, spending over 1600 hours with him over more than 2 years.  The company believes that spending such a length of time with someone is a foundation for real relationships. It specialises in tailored home care which takes into account the customer’s own personal perspective, never only reflecting the theoretical needs based on health or mobility and the instructions of a client relative.

Commenting this morning Paul Dunn-Sims, managing director of Halcyon Homecare, said: “We always advise our clients against making will bequests, but a gift is very different. It is personal, reflects the real personal relationships which can grow between a person and their carers, and will be accepted gracefully and, probably, with a few tears too,” He continued “Fred wasn’t an ‘old person’ or even just ‘a customer.’ He was on the beaches on D-Day on his 18th birthday. He was a great character who never lost any of his fire to tell us what he wanted – and we were pleased to design a care package around his needs.”
“You can’t do this job well if you don’t care,” says Maggie Wallen.

Halcyon Homecare
Halcyon Homecare is a privately run home care specialist providing local quality care and support services to the elderly in and around the Maidenhead, Ascot and Windsor areas. Halcyon understands that for most people who require care, remaining at home for as long as possible is the preferred choice. It strongly supports this preference and is committed to bringing the elderly at home the personal independence, comfort, living style and contact with their local community that can be lost when care is provided in care homes. Halcyon Homecare has been registered with the Care Quality Commission since 2010. Further information at www.halcyonhomecare.co.uk