Swan Corner

A message from Tara at our Alexandra Care Home in Poulton-le-Fylde

Compassion and sensitivity are delicate subjects to write about, however, I wanted to share a few thoughts about loss from the perspective of the Alexandra team.

At the Alexandra Nursing Home, our staff get to know the residents and form attachments. Kindness sits at the heart of our values. For that reason, a resident's passing naturally affects the team. Expressing loss and grief is difficult, so the team devised a wonderful little remembrance table in the corner of the reception area.

We are calling it the ‘Swan Corner’ and, among other objects that will be added to a new larger table soon, it currently contains an angel, flowers, and pictures of residents who have passed recently.

We do not see this as morbid, and hope you don’t. It reminds us of those lovely people we have been privileged to have in our care and whose presence at the Alexandra Nursing Home has enriched the lives of the team and fellow residents.

There is also a little leaflet on the table for the friends and family of residents to take away. The leaflet talks about dealing with grief with some help about ‘what happens next’, including a helpline. It also talks about staying in touch with the Alexandra family. Remember, myself and my kind colleagues are here to talk to you, so please don't be afraid to ask for support.

We trust everyone will come to enjoy and find comfort in the little display as much as my colleagues in the care team at the Alexandra do.

Thank you,

Tara McCormack

Senior Assistant Practitioner

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