Introduction

Alexandra House opened its doors as an 8-bedded residential home in 1986; some fourteen years later, it has undergone dramatic changes to become what it is today a well-established centre for care of all kinds of people in a comfortable and homely environment.

It remains owned by the same people who first opened it, Phil Edmunds and Kath Edmunds, mother and son who have ensured that the Alex has never lost its family feel and philosophy.

The challenge for all involved in care, professionally or otherwise, have never been greater; the professional, social, political and economic climates all combine to ensure that there is more uncertainty and anxiety about available nursing care than ever before.  What is still certain is that while you may not be able to change the world, you can change your little bit of it therein lies the basis of the nursing philosophies that have been developed at this Home since the beginning.  The care team has a number of vital qualities (and we should clarify at this point that our care team constitutes every member of staff, whatever their capacity), not least of which are compassion, dedication, tenacity and a truly remarkable generosity of spirit which encompasses residents, visitors and colleagues alike.  This is a stable workforce, one which works hard and plays hard and one which has created such a family that several of our staff members have subsequently trusted family members of their own to their colleagues‚ care.  Every family is flawed and we are not perfect  - nor have we ever claimed to be so, but this is a Home which is honest, and which cares.

The emblem of the Home is the Alexandra Rose; the original name of the house was maintained when it became a residential home.  It was named after Princess Alexandra, and the Alexandra roses used to be sold from the gardens of this house to raise money for veterans of the First World War.  We believe that history be it personal or otherwise should acknowledged, especially when caring for the elderly, on whose shoulders we all stand today.

On 10th April 2000, we further extended the nature of the care we offer by opening a new 20 bedded dementia care unit Briony, for those suffering mild to moderate forms of dementia illness.