When Dale Batten moved her mother-in-law to The Malthouse, she expected safety – not the sense of family she says shapes every day now

When Dale Batten moved her mother-in-law Jeanne into The Malthouse nearly four years ago, she hoped she’d found somewhere safe and steady. What she didn’t expect was how quickly it would feel like an extension of the family. ‘I wouldn’t wish her to be anywhere else, really,’ she says.

Jeanne, 93, had been living independently in Gillingham after losing her husband, with Dale supporting her through the move from Crewkerne and the long, isolating months of Covid. But as Jean’s needs increased, especially overnight, the choice became clear. ‘I couldn’t do it forever,’ she says. ‘But the decision really had to come from Jeanne, and she realised she needed more.’
The Malthouse team visited Jeanne first to assess her needs. ‘They were really kind,’ Dale says. ‘And then she moved in about 10 days later.’ The transition was smooth, though not without emotion. ‘She doesn’t like change. She’s a very private lady.’
Jeanne is profoundly deaf, relying on lipreading and a small whiteboard for communication – and she has periods of hallucination that can make visits challenging. ‘Some days are more upsetting than others,’ Dale says. ‘Some visits are very hard. Some are a lot easier. Today is a good day.’
What has made the difference, she says, is the patience and constancy of the staff. ‘They’re such a wonderful bunch of people here. They really are. If ever there’s any queries or questions, we just message or they phone. The communication is brilliant. It feels like family. That’s the difference. It’s not just a job here.’

Genuine care
Daily life is shaped around Jeanne’s abilities. She is encouraged to walk short distances for exercise, though she prefers the reassurance of her wheelchair close behind. She goes for lunch when she can. And when she can’t join group activities, the team bring them to her. ‘They make sure she doesn’t miss out,’ Dale says. ‘She has visists from the therapy dog, and the owls. And they took her to a farm one day – not a group trip, just her – and she loved it. The photos they sent were wonderful.’
The personal touches matter. When Jeanne’s niece visited from Australia – the first time for 35 years – the Malthouse team arranged a cream tea in the garden room. ‘It was beautiful,’ Dale says. ‘They just can’t do enough for you.
Dale sees the contrast clearly when she visits her own mother in a care home elsewhere. ‘You can’t compare them,’ she says. ‘When I go to see my mum, the manager sits behind a glass door. There’s an iPad to check in. No hello, no eye contact. I just go upstairs, see her, and come away.’ She shakes her head. ‘Here, you’re greeted at the door. They ask how Jean is. They fill us in. They genuinely care.
‘She doesn’t want to press her buzzer because she thinks she’s putting everyone to trouble,’ Dale says. ‘I say, “You’re not. This is why you’re here: to be looked after.” She appreciates everything they do.’
The conversation turns to longevity of staff – something The Malthouse is known for. ‘It tells you a story on its own,’ Dale says. ‘The carers, the cleaners, the kitchen team … they all stay. And that says it all, really.’

Cared for and valued
Before we finish, Dale tells one final story. She was at the building society sorting out paperwork when a man overheard her discussing care homes. ‘He said, “Do you mind me asking which one?” and I told him it was The Malthouse.
‘A few months later I bumped into him again here – his mum had moved in.’
You can hear the relief in her voice – the sense of having made the right decision.
‘It makes our life easier too,’ she says. ‘You want to know you’ve done the right thing by them. And we do know. If anything was wrong, they’d message us, day or night. We don’t mind what time it is. We just want to know she’s in good hands.’
For Dale, it all comes back to the feeling she gets when she walks in. ‘It just feels like home. Not her old home – that chapter’s passed. But a home where she’s safe, and cared for, and valued. And that’s all you want, really.’
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It may be billed as ‘the most wonderful time of the year’, but for the elderly and isolated, Christmas can often feel lonely, rather than magical. Age UK estimates that almost a million older people will face loneliness this Christmas – but it doesn’t have to be that way. Taking part in meaningful activities in the company of others can foster feelings of belonging and engagement, boosting wellbeing and bringing some much-needed Christmas sparkle.

For those that would otherwise spend the season alone, day care and respite breaks can offer a valuable opportunity for connecting with others, in the safe, warm and welcoming environment of their local residential care home.
When you spend the day in your local care home, you can access specialist care tailored to your needs, tuck into a hearty, home-cooked meal, participate in festive activities and enjoy the seasonal entertainment on offer. In the run up to Christmas, you can expect activities to include carol singing, festive bingo, arts and crafts (with added seasonal sparkle!), and the chance to simply soak up the festive atmosphere in the company of care home residents.
As well as providing the opportunity for enrichment and companionship in a safe environment, supported by expert carers, day care can offer meaningful connection if family members are elsewhere or unable to visit over the Christmas season.

A little respite
For those looking for a short seasonal break away from home, a respite break could provide the ideal solution. A temporary stay in a residential care home, complete with expert, tailored care, a respite break is suitable for those who receive help at home with daily tasks, have nursing care to support with a long-term or complex medical condition, live with dementia, are recovering from illness or injury, or are planning for the future.
A respite break ensures that your care requirements are taken care of, so that you are free to enjoy the change of scene, and feel more connected this Christmastime.
For some people, day care visits and short-term respite breaks provide a well-deserved break for themselves and their carers; for others, it provides an opportunity to experience care home life before making longer-term decisions.
Whether you stay for a day, a week or longer, you and your loved ones can relax knowing your care needs are being met.
Not just for Christmas, Somerset Care’s day care and respite services support you to live independently at home, for as long as possible.
For more information and advice, please contact our expert enquiries team on
0800 817 4925 or visit somersetcare.co.uk/respite

Visitors to the newly-reopened Poole Museum can now explore the remarkable story of England’s earliest known medieval shipwreck. Discovered in 2020 by Bournemouth University (BU) Maritime Archaeologists off the coast of Studland, the 13th century ‘Mortar Wreck’ is the centrepiece of a new exhibition now open to the public.

The wreck was first spotted by Poole charter boat skipper Trevor Small in the Swash Channel. BU archaeologists, led by maritime expert Tom Cousins, investigated the site and raised artefacts that reveal fascinating details about medieval trade and seafaring.
‘The cargo and items now on display are a testament to the last twenty years’ work by the BU Maritime Archaeology team,’ said Cousins. ‘And our students get to dive these wrecks themselves – this year, they helped survey the Mortar Wreck as part of their training to become scientific divers.’
The vessel, a ‘clinker’-built ship constructed with overlapping timber planks, was dated using tree ring analysis of its Irish oak hull to between 1242 and 1265. Among its cargo were large Purbeck stone mortars, used for grinding grain, and two remarkably preserved Purbeck marble gravestone slabs.
Poole Museum Collections Officer Joe Raine said: ‘It’s been an incredible opportunity to work with BU and to display items that help tell the story of Purbeck stone trade and medieval maritime life.’
The wreck and its discovery featured in a new episode of Time Team on YouTube, which aired on Saturday 29th November – now playing left.

The Mortar Wreck exhibition is now open daily, 10am–5pm, with free admission.

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