THE OKEHAMPTON residential home where Gladys 'Rene' Westaway spent five happy years has received a donation from her family for its quality of care.

Rene died earlier this year and instead of flowers at the funeral, her family asked for donations for Wardhayes Residential Home. The donations provided a portable television and shrubs for the garden.

The home was presented with the items by Rene's daughter and son-in-law, Jenny and Ken Clark, and a magnolia tree was planted in her memory.

Mrs Clark, who lives in South Zeal, said the treatment and care of her mother by Wardhayes staff was wonderful.

'My mother was so very happy there and the courtesy my husband and I received was second to none — we wanted to thank them for what they had done,' she said.

'Mum used to attend Wardhayes for respite care and one day when we went to pick her up she said she was not going home — it was like home from home really and she had made so many friends there.'

Four years ago, at the age of 90, Rene had a serious cancer operation and her family were not sure whether she would pull through. Mrs Clark said her much of her mother's recovery was down to the excellent care she received at Wardhayes.

'Wardhayes is a residential home not a nursing home but I do not believe my mother would have been any better off in a nursing home,' she added. 'She virtually gave up eating in the last ten weeks of her life but the care those girls gave was just extraordinary.'

Rene loved the garden at Wardhayes and Mrs Clark said it seemed appropriate to donate some shrubs including a magnolia tree which was planted in memory of the lady.

'When I asked the staff what they would like as a gift they said a portable TV which could be moved to different rooms if residents were bedridden,' she said.

Wardhayes manager Kay Westbrook said the staff were all very fond of Rene.

'She was always well supported by her family and it is nice that the family are continuing to support us by their kind donation,' she said.

'We know the quality of care at Wardhayes is excellent but when families acknowledge it in such a generous way it means so much to the staff.'