Testimonials

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My daughter in law stopped the car at the door.

By now it was dark, the journey was over.

For nine years I’d lived in Corfu; then I spent

Eleven years with Maria. With her

In Italy, I had a TIA, and

For three months, I languished in hospital. I was 

Discharged home at Christmas with my wheelchair, where 

I found she was suffering from Alzheimers. 

We realised that from now on 

Our lives must be apart, our destinies 

Forked! I phoned. My son and daughter hired a car

In Rome, and reached us in the evening.

The next day, weeping goodbye, Maria and

Daniela waved farewell on the lawn. Upon 

Reaching the airport, my son turned in the car. 

At Air Staff insistence, my wheelchair was left 

At the airport - it was too wide to fit in 

The plane! My new, narrow, airport wheelchair took 

Me straight up to Ryanair! My son, James, 

Conductor of the Belfast Philharmonic, 

And my daughter, Annabel, Consultant 

Surgeon in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 

Sat beside me. Whoopee! I slid over 

To the window, feeling massively stunned, 

My life in Italy was done! Emma, 

My daughter in law, met us in Dublin, 

Drove northwards to Dromore. By now, I was 

Exhausted by what had been said, I had 

Lost my legs, my home and my lover! A 

Filipino Nurse put me to bed where I 

Slept soundly under a cover. Here, at 

Mountvale, I am adjusting my life, everyone 

Has a rich Irish brogue. At first I roomed with 

A man called Jim, now I’ve a bedroom of my 

Own. My crabby legs still hold me long enough

To transfer from my wheelchair to a“Steady,”

A wheeled transfer, and from there to my bed 

Or an armchair, As I sit, the lounge is quiet, 

I’m listening to Sibelius. Morgan 

The Blonde moves me to the Breakfast Room. When

Listening to music, writing verse, time passes 

In a flash! Sam, the cat’s a Sentinel, waiting 

For his breakfast, one leg aloft, pretending 

He is a turkey! Miracles at Mountvale 

Occur through promptness and good food. 

Helping one who’s disabled is a taxing 

Task, helping fourteen is a miracle! 

Here, I am reading and writing 

And listening to music; eating and sleeping, having 

Visitors visiting; but during the night 

I am ‘catenato,’ which, in english, means

Chained up, behind bars, where I feel safe! At six, 

I get news on TV, so long as I don’t

Lose the remote on the floor! But at 7.15! 

Joy! Oh joy! I get eased out of bed, teeth cleaned 

And shaved, helped by Ernie and Senna. After 

Lunch there is armchair volley ball! With sponge 

Pipes and balloons; my arm pits sweat by the 

End of the game. In half an hour tea and

Cakes reappear, followed swiftly by “tea,”

Which is dinner in Northern Ireland. At eight 

Oclock, tea and cakes again; somewhere around 

8.30 or 9.00 I am wheeled off to bed! 

“Just wait till I’m 80 on Friday!” I said.

{TIA] trans ischaemic accident, minor stroke

 When we were told my mother would require palliative care, it was life-changing. Search criteria for a suitable nursing home can be comprehensive, however, first-hand experience has now shown how irrelevant much of this can be. The key consideration has to be the staff; a professional, caring and communicative 

approach is mandatory and this is where Mountvale excels. From our initial contact to having Mum move to her new home, our treatment was exemplary. The staff at Mountvale are its number one asset. There is a real sense of a caring family approach in all they do. After a short spell in hospital, Mum expressed her wish 'to go home'. We assumed she was referring to her previous family residence, however, she was talking of her new home in Dromore. This substantiated our decision to choose Mountvale.

We would like to thank you for all the care and attention that you gave to Joey over the past 11 years. She was always very happy and content whilst in your care. we were all safe in the knowledge that she was being well looked after.

Thank you all for caring for my father Jim the last 2 weeks. The service provided was excellent and very professional.

Thanks again.