Derby’s oldest nursing home which has officially been rated ten out of ten by residents and their families has seen a rise in inquires for respite care in 2026.
Brookfields Private Nursing Home on Burton Road has since January seen increasing numbers of calls from people who are looking for a respite stay rather than a permanent move into residential care.
Reasons for respite stays include those who have been discharged from hospital but do not feel ready to return home. Other requests have come from those wanting to stay close to loved ones who are already residents at Brookfields. There have also been a number of post operative recuperation stays after cataract, hip and knee operations.
HR and services manager Lucille Parsisson said the requests for respite stays had been notable in 2026 with many residents feeling they would like an interim period of care after leaving hospital before looking after themselves at home again.
Some have not wanted to put pressure on spouses for their care at a vulnerable time.
One resident who came to Brookfields in 2026 for a few weeks was Pat Meakin, of Lower Kilburn, who said she really valued the opportunity to get back on her feet after a sudden and unexpected trip to hospital.
She said: “I had a sudden emergency operation which really knocked me sideways. I was in hospital for ten days and afterwards I wasn’t really fit to go home.
“It hadn’t occurred to me I could come somewhere like Brookfields – it isn’t something I’d ever thought about, but it has been absolutely wonderful.
“The whole atmosphere when you walk in, it’s like walking into somebody’s home. The team is like a family. The care is amazing. They are all so kind and considerate, every one of them.
“I was a little nervous. I didn’t know what to expect. I couldn’t really walk and I needed to get my strength up. The nurses are just so helpful. If I wanted to walk, they came and walked behind me with a wheelchair so I could drop down into it if I needed to. They made me feel a million dollars!”
Pat, who has now returned home after getting her strength back at Brookfields, is still a regular there, returning to chat to friends she made while a resident and enjoy some home cooking produced on-site.
Another resident who is currently staying at Brookfields for a period of respite is Annette Marples whose husband is a resident.
Annette described how she had been struggling to get to Brookfields to visit her husband as regularly as she would like as she no longer drives.
She said: “My husband is here and I wanted to visit him as much as possible. I was coming every day to see him and one of the staff said she didn’t know why I didn’t stay.
“I’m very well looked after. The staff are amazing. They are all the same: dedicated to their tasks and their job and they do it with love and care for both of us. it’s like being in a family home.”
Lucille said: “Respite stays can be a great option for people who feel they could benefit from a stay somewhere where they can expect to be very well looked after and get their strength up.
“As we get older it’s a lot harder to get back on your feet after a stay in hospital and that’s when a respite care stay of a week or two can be hugely restorative. Not just that, it gives spouses a break if there are two people in their 80s or 90s still living together independently.
“We don’t just cater for older people, some residents are living with some serious illnesses at a younger age and appreciate the love, care and warmth that we show every day at Brookfields.
“It’s well worth people considering respite care if they feel they are not quite ready for the step of coming to a residential nursing home but would appreciate some TLC for a little while. It’s like a holiday with great food and access to top quality nursing care. It’s good to see that more and more people are realising what a benefit a respite stay can be.”
Brookfields Private Nursing Home has recently been named in the top 20 care homes in the East Midlands by carehome.co.uk, achieving a ten out of ten rating with 111 glowing reviews.
This story was written and shared on behalf of Brookfields Private Nursing Home by Lucy Stephens. Can we share your news and get you in the headlines too? Find out how we can help by getting in touch.
