84-year-old Maureen Sams was struggling to walk after coming down with an infection in April 2018 and unfortunately, her physiotherapy treatment wasn’t having the desired effect. In order to get a little bit more help, her son’s suggested coming to Oaktree Court for some respite. However Maureen soon realised that Oaktree was going to be her new home.

Mother to five sons and grandmother to 10 children, Maureen and her husband Ronald, also known as Ginger, were married for nearly 60 years until he sadly passed away eight years ago.

“He was known as Ginger because of his beautiful red hair,” Maureen explains, “we met when I went to a dance class with another gentleman! We had to dance with other people so Ginger and I started dancing together, and as they say, the rest is history!

“Ginger worked in the building trade and part time in the fire service, he didn’t want me to have to work and wanted to look after me. I often went onto site with Ginger to help but I didn’t like the heights! We had a very happy life together.”

Maureen loves all the activities that are planned for inside and out of the home. She still enjoys doing cross words, reading and has taken up knitting again, currently making a blanket for the premature babies in the Yeovil Maternity Hospital.

She describes the staff as brilliant when she first arrived. They encouraged Maureen to start walking and building up her strength and she now walks with a frame and is very confident in everything she does at Oaktree Court.

Resident ambassador Maureen describes the team as part of her family, she explains: “The team make all the residents feels very special. They keep their cool and make it a real rest home. I love that everything is done for you, from your clothes being washed and ironed to your meals being made for you. I’m also diabetic and they really cater to my needs.”

“Tracy, the home manager was very supportive when I moved here and I can talk to her about anything.”

“I’m still happy because life has to keep going and you have to enjoy it.”