TESTIMONIALS

The Manor very frequently receives notes and letters, often accompanied by donations, from family members and friends of former residents attesting to the excellent care their loved ones received. Here are excerpts from some recent ones on file.

“Although it is impossible for me to properly thank each and every one of the Sherwood Park Manor staff who have given such excellent care and consideration to mum, I would like you to know that your efforts have never gone unnoticed or appreciated, and I sincerely thank you.

"On the day of mum’s passing, you were all so kind and supportive, and it made the hours less long and more tolerable-you treated her with such respect and kept her comfortable.

"I can never say enough kind words for the care and caring from each and every one of you in regards to Mum and the love you gave her. Now it is time to move on and know that she will now help us all in her prayers because I know she is in a definite vantage point. We won’t forget her and I won’t forget any of you.”

Accompanied by a $1000 donation.

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On June 22^nd , another lady came in to say that through the years, the staff were always so wonderful with her mother. Even though she had dementia, they always spoke respectfully to her. “They took the effort to really connect with Mom and that meant so much.”

Accompanied by a $2,000 donation: half to the Manor and half for the staff.

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"We, the family of [name withheld] would like to express how thankful we are to each and every one of you for the wonderful care our mother received over the 8-plus years she was in your care.

"Mother felt that the Manor was her home, and I knew she was happy to be there until the end, as that was the way she always wanted it to be.

"Everyone tried to meet all mother's needs in a caring, loving, and professional way. We wish each of you many blessings and strength to carry on the work you do so very well."

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"Just a note to say a Big Thank You for helping Mom, [name withheld], to be all ready and look so beautiful for our daughter [name withheld]'s wedding. You help was greatly appreciated."

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"It is difficult to put into words how grateful we are to all of you at Sherwood Park Manor for you care, compassion, advice, and hugs. People comment that it must have been difficult to be alone while Dad was in the infirmary....I did not feel alone--my Sherwood Park Manor family was there with me."

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"Thank you for the excellent care you gave my dad, [name withheld], while he was living there at the Home. He loved you all and thought of it as his second home."

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"Just a few minutes of your time, on behalf of the family, to express our appreciation to the nursing and ancillary staff of Sherwood park Manor.

"Our mother, [name withheld], has been a resident at the Home for just six weeks now, and we feel she is just blossoming!

"Her personal care is highly improved, her mental health is excellent, and her general attitude superb."

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"Thank you for giving our father the comfort and peace he was looking for. He did nor want to spend his last days alone and he did not; he was surrounded by loving, caring people, and he really felt 'at home'."

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"I will never be able to thank you enough for the excellent care my father received. Your support and kindness during his stay with you will always be remembered. You all cared for him like he was part of your family. You are all very special people.

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"I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to everyone at the Manor. The care and compassion my Mother, [name withheld], received while under your care was exemplary. I know many of you went above and beyond your normal everyday duties to make Mom comfortable during her last trying weeks. I will never be able to thank you enough. She loved all of you."

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"...we would like you to know we will always be grateful for the excellent care and respect [mother] was shown by all the wonderful staff at Sherwood Park Manor. It is very difficult to single out any one individual because you are all very special in your own way and have become very dear to us.

"The compassion shown her during the last weeks she was there will always be remembered. It relieved our minds to know she was in such caring, capable hands.

"A mere thank-you seems so inadequate for all you have done over the years for us all."

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"Thank you for the loving tenderness with which you took care of Mom while she made her home at SPM.

"Each staff member demonstrated the special qualities of caring, consideration, and friendliness that were so important to Mom. Special meals when she had difficulty eating, gentle handling when she could not take care of herself, and friendly greetings and kind words when she was alone with her dog.

"As a family we did not have a moment of worry that Mom was not being looked after."

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"Please accept this as a small token of out thanks to all the staff during [name withheld]'s passing, but most of all for the love, hugs, and sincere concern you showed each day to Mom."

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"Thank you very much for the swift and thoughtful attention to the roommate situation recently resolved re [name withheld]. We appreciate your efforts very much. We are so thankful that [name withheld] is happy in her new home and cannot thank you enough for all your kind and loving care of her."

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"We know how much [name withheld] cherished his sister, and also how important it was to him...that she was happy and comfortable and well taken care of by your staff and your facilities."

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"My brother [name withheld] and I want to thank you for the excellent care you gave our mother, [name withheld], during the past eight years.

"Please accept this cheque in the amount of $1000 in her memory."

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"A sincere thank you to each and every one of the Sherwood [Park Manor] family who cared for mom. We could not have chosen a better facility.

"Special thanks to the 'nursing angels' who were there for our family on mom's final journey. We will never forget the care and concern shown to all of us."

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"I want to let you know what a delightful Halloween Party you had on October 30th. The staff went out of their way to include all the residents in this event by having them in costume and inviting their families to come and participate in this event...The thoughtfulness and planning that went into this event was much appreciated by the residents and their families. A big thank you to all the staff."

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"As I have become used to life without my mom, and in particular at this holiday time of year, I am beginning to be able to remember her whole life, including the many years she spent with you all at the Manor. I remember many celebrations--Christmas, New Year's, Easter, summer holidays, even Halloween--each of which you were able to make special and personal to every resident, including my mom, [name withheld]. More importantly, however, I remember the patience, kindness, concern and care that marked your interactions with her, and with us, her children and grandchildren. We were always welcomed and never made to feel in the way--it was like coming to visit her 'at home'.

"At this Christmas holiday season, I would like to take the opportunity, on behalf of all my mom's family, to say a profound thank you for all your work and care. Our lives were made less anxious because of your expert attentions."

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"We would like to thank all the staff for their support, kindness, and words of sympathy during [name withheld]'s illness. You were all wonderful. It meant so very much to us."

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"I want to take this opportunity to tell you what a wonderful place you made Sherwood Park Manor into. It is people like you who make life worth living for the elderly.

"Words cannot express the good feelings my family and i have about all of you. My mother was in the best of hands. I know you are there to provide a service, but you really went overboard with my mother, and we saw this every day she was with you. The gentle hands of your nurses taking care of her and the love that was shown was above and beyond the call of duty. Mon was lucky to have two families taking care of her--my family and Sherwood Park Manor."

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"I would like to thank you and your wonderful staff for all the love and care you gave my mother over the past three years.

"She thought the world of each and every one at Sherwood Park Manor. Your staff went out of their way to make her feel comfortable and wanted. She received excellent care on a daily basis. Some special people even came in on their day off to feed her, to visit with her, and to comfort her. She could not have asked for a nicer group of caregivers. As my son, Patrick, said in his eulogy to his Grandmother, 'You are all truly God's living angels.'

"I also felt the warmth there, and you became my extended family. The hugs and kind words meant a lot to me as I struggled through the last weeks.

"Please accept the enclosed donation in memory of my mother, and know that it comes with appreciation and love."

With $1,000.

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"To all the staff who cared for my brother while he was in your home, thank you from the bottom of my heart."

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"On behalf of the Family Council of Sherwood Park Manor may I take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for your constant and ongoing dedication to the comfort of our loved ones.

"...we want each and every one of you to know at we appreciate the conditions under which you are working and hope that you can continue without too much "burnout" and that your vacations have or will help to regenerate you.

"Your work is not overlooked in our lives and in the lives of our loved ones under your care.

"Once again: thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you."

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"In my heart of hearts I could not honestly think of a better place for my grandmother to spend her final years, nor could I find a better group of health care professionals to look after a grandmother that I loved so dearly. Each visit, I was greeted by smiling, caring individuals who put in tireless hours of work looking after the elderly and the ill. Those smiles reverberate through the halls of Sherwood, bringing much joy to everyone who visits and everyone who resides there.

"....Enclosed in this envelope is a cheque for $300 for the staff of Sherwood Park Manor. If possible, please use this money for [a special treat, like a catered lunch and] try to include anyone...who work[s] in the various departments of your building (the kitchen, the front office, etc.) or those who may work various shifts at various times of the week.

"My grandmother was so grateful for the work, the care, and the love that each and every one of you provided.

"Again, thank you for all that you did over the past four years to make my grandmother's life so enjoyable. You truly are the greatest team of professionals in your chosen field."

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“Your kindness during the year ____ spent at Sherwood was greatly appreciated.” From his wife.

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“I want you to know that your efforts in keeping dad comfortable and putting interest into his life this last year has been much appreciated. I know it was extra work for someone to go to his room to pick up his phone, but it helped me to stay connected from so far away [Australia]. I thank God for the good memories of my dad and you are a part of it.”

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"Please accept my sincere thanks for the wonderful care (husband’s name withheld) received while a resident and especially during his final days with us. The care he received from the nursing staff was unequaled and I will never forget.

I would also like to thank all the caregivers, activities, dietary staff, family, friends, residents and anyone connected with the Manor who helped us during Ken’s stay. Your sympathy and understanding has helped me through a difficult time.

I hope to be feeling well enough to pay a visit in the New Year.

God Bless.”

The Manor provides opportunities for nursing students to receive practical training in a nursing home environment. Many students in a recent cohort of trainees afterwards wrote to express their appreciation to the staff:

"Thank you for all your help and support and fo teaching us to care properly. It was appreciated."

“What can we say? Everyone has been so wonderful. We requested that the memorial donations be made to the Manor in recognition of the wonderful compassion and understanding given to Mom over the past two and a half years.

The staff lovingly cared for Mom right up to her last breath. The support from staff, residents and their families for all of us is so appreciated and will not be forgotten.

“Thank you for the care that Nanny received. It does take special people to show love and compassion to the elderly that can’t take care of themselves. We will always be grateful to Sherwood Park Manor and everyone who took the time to care for Nanny.

“Thank you so much for all the care you gave to Mom for the last three years at the home. A special thanks to nursing, dietary and activities departments for all your kindness during the last few days Mom was with us. You will always be in our thoughts.”

Here I am wondering what to say to you. Instead of wondering what to say, I will just write what is in my heart.

I do so want to thank you and all at Sherwood Park Manor for your care and support. (Husband’s name) and I spent nearly three years with you. When we couldn’t be together at home, we were so thankful to find Sherwood as an alternative. Much of the time (husband’s name) was contented. Occasionally he would ask to be taken home, but he realized this was not possible. We did have our Saturdays in our home environment, which was our special day. Para transit were so good and helpful.

I am at a loss without my visits with (husband’s name). Shopping for treats for him was fun. I miss everyone at the nursing home too. We were blessed with 65 years of marriage and the memories are great! Sixty-five years is more than one can hope for, so we had a bonus.

I am planning to visit a friend in London, Ontario. Leaving on the 6^th of July for two weeks and perhaps when I return I can make that initial move to visit everyone and soon be able to help where I can.

Joan, my family and I would like to thank the nurses, caregivers, and meal givers for their care and compassion especially (husband’s name)’s last few days. They made it a little easier for us.

On behalf of all J’s family, thank you for your kind thoughts and prayers. We know you all made J feel welcome and loved at the Manor.

Even my five-year-old grandson had a good impression of life at the Manor. When his mother tried to explain that Aunt J. had died and gone to heaven, he said, “No, she hasn’t. She’s in a place where she can drink tea, sing songs and get her hair done.”