Remembering Joan

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Joan’s beloved grandson Josh, reflects on the care Joan received and shares precious memories from the family’s last Christmas together.

Traditionally, Christmas was always spent in Joan’s home, where the whole family would gather round for a delicious dinner, with a toast to celebrate all being together. Last Christmas was no exception and around a dozen family members arrived to spend the day with Joan. The Herriot HOME Team visited both in the morning and the evening to ensure that Joan’s symptoms were being managed and she was comfortable.

Josh explained how the family all took it in turns to spend time at Joan’s bedside, chatting about happy times and involving her in the day. Joan was never alone, with someone always at her bedside, enabling the rest of the family to have a wonderful Christmas dinner together. In the evening everyone watched Morecambe & Wise with Joan, which Josh tells us was her Christmas tradition.

“The team’s visits gave us all a little more breathing space to enjoy time with Grandma, without worrying that she was too uncomfortable. Mum was able to cook an amazing Christmas dinner in the knowledge that the HOME Team had Grandma’s care covered.”

Reflecting Josh said; “It meant a lot to us all – to have Christmas at Grandma’s house and spend all day around her, rather than visiting a hospital and leaving her after a short time. Some of us were able to sleep over on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, without having to travel.”

In loving memory of Joan Sidney 24 April 1932 – 3 February 2024.