From a residents' family - St Georges

"Dad is definitely in the right place and the support he is receiving at St Georges is vital to his continuing care." - Jill Scorer

Being active all his life meant that when 84-year-old Sam Scorer was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease the effect it had on him and his family was devastating.

Sam had played professional football for Sunderland at the age of 18 and went on to become a miner and carpenter. Before retirement he worked for Tyne Tees Television building sets and producing special effects for some popular TV programmes. He was also a trained singer and was part of a local male singing group - The Newcastle Keelmen.

As the Parkinsons progressed and became more advanced, affecting Sam's health to a serious extent, his family realised that with these increasing complex care needs they were no longer able to care for him at home where he lived with his wife Doris in Blackfell, Washington, Tyne & Wear.

The family therefore started to look at suitable nursing and residential care homes in the area and his son Peter, a local paramedic, recommended St Georges as somewhere he was used to visiting regularly through work which a good reputation and therefore the most suitable to care for his father.

The home, which is owned by Wellburn Care Homes, also used to look after Sam's mother before her death, and despite being, understandably, reluctant to follow his mum into a nursing home, Sam moved into St George's in 2008.

Due to his condition Sam now requires 24-hour-a-day nursing care at St Georges but his family, including Doris, visit him regularly.

Sam's daughter Jill said: "Dad is definitely in the right place and the support he is receiving at St George's is vital to his continuing care."

"He has very complex needs but St George's, thankfully, has the specialist nursing care and experience that he requires."

"We as a family are always made very welcome and are always able discuss Dad's needs/condition at any time."

"This gives us the comfort to know he is safe and sound. We greatly value everything St George's does for my Dad and for us as a family"

"Staff are always telling us they love my dad, even when he's mischievous and we know he definitely keeps them on their toes, which is fantastic."

Return to previous page