Praise for unique care for older people

Staff at The Retreat in York were thrilled after hearing that actor Sheila Hancock praised their work, commenting on their unique working practices for older people.

The actor and wife of the late John Thaw, spoke at a recent conference and mentioned The Retreat’s excellent end of life care for people with dementia.

The Retreat’s clinical service manager Chris Smith explained: “As a Quaker herself, Sheila has become a friend of The Retreat and is extremely supportive of the work we do here.  She is genuinely interested in our humane treatment methods and unique ways of working. We are delighted that she has recognised our work and are very proud to have her support.”

The Retreat’s older people’s service provides specialist care to people with challenging behaviour and complex needs, such as dementia or psychosis. Some people may have a background of long term mental illness or cognitive impairment.  The service upholds The Retreat’s historic values of traditional, but modern care that values the individuality and uniqueness of every person.

Chris said: “Our model of working is founded on a bio-psychosocial approach to care, focusing on the individual’s unique personal and interpersonal strengths. We recognise that many of our patients have suffered past traumatic life events, requiring input and support from healthcare professionals. Our aim therefore is to understand and resolve challenging behaviours and empower our patients to rediscover their feelings of wellbeing and personal integrity that they need and deserve in later life.”