Re La
Mar 2026
Garden Abode is a 6 resident facility in a lovely private house in a gated community. It is run by a very professional, kind and compassionate individual with staff who care very much about all the people who come to stay. If there are 6 residents the staff ratio is one to three. This is crucial and pretty much as good as it gets. It’s a close as you will find to a home from home. The care given by Melissa and her staff is amazing. The accommodation ranges from shared rooms through single ensuites and a great kitchen, dining room and lounges area. And the garden is sunny with lots of beautiful plants and a very cool resident tortoise who is very fond of hibiscus flowers. When I initially visited, Melissa sat and talked with me for more than 2 hours. She will listen to what it is your loved one needs and talk through everything and help you with every step of the process, she will tell you exactly what she can and can’t do. She has been running Garden Abode for more than 15 years and has a wealth of knowledge about everything you will need to know. She will manage meds, special diets and advise on Hospice when the time comes. She is very flexible on visiting and will accommodate any reasonable requests. The task may seem overwhelming to you but once the initial intake admin is complete Melissa and her staff will be able to provide comprehensive and compassionate care for your loved one. My husband was in their care for seven months. I was unable to keep him home any longer and Melissa and the staff really did provide a home for him. This was not an easy time by any means and Melissa helped our family navigate it with as much grace and dignity as is possible. If you are looking for care for yourself or a loved one in a comfortable and caring environment it may be the best thing you do to just give her a call and talk to her. If you leave a message she will call you back promptly. This part of life is a very difficult one to navigate. The decision to put your loved one into care is, at the very least, heart-wrenching. The facilities available range from massive expensive institutions run by corporations where, if your loved one is on the quiet side and deteriorating they may not receive the care you would hope for (and they are very much institutions regardless of what you may see when you tour) to small Board and Care facilities with a few beds and a dedicated staff, and everything in between. A Board and Care facility may well provide more personalized and superior care than a far more expensive large institution. Some are obviously better than others and you will know the facility that’s right when you find it. I looked at many facilities trying to find accommodation for my husband who had dementia and was deteriorating. I came out of every tour of every facility and sat in the car and wept because I felt there was no way I could leave him in any of them…. then I found Garden Abode and Melissa. I can recommend them wholeheartedly. I don’t think I could have found better and I thank Melissa, her daughter and the rest of the staff from the bottom of my heart. x
