A couple from Gleadless became the first residents of Sheffield’s newest care home today as Brackenfield Hall, of Fox Lane, Frecheville opened its doors to Olive and Wilfred Mansfield.

The brand new facility, which is operated by Ideal Care Homes provides 60 beds – 30 for those requiring dementia care and 30 for residential. Olive, 88 and Wilfred, 90 who are both living with dementia, recently took the decision to live in Brackenfield Hall’s more structured caring environment after seeing the specialised facilities the home has to offer.  

The pair, who will celebrate 69 years of marriage next April, were born and brought up in the Sheffield suburb raising their two children in the area. Keen amateur dramatics member Olive, worked for many years at Sheffield Town Hall in the election office, whilst Wilfred, who is a World War 2 veteran worked as an engineer.

Ideal Care Homes Chairman Lawrence Tomlinson, who was on hand to greet the inaugural residents as they moved into their new accommodation, commented: “Brackenfield Hall is the first Ideal Care Home to be in operation and I am delighted that Olive and Wilfred have decided to make it their new home. We never under estimate what a big step it is moving into a new environment but I know that Dawn Martin and her team of carers will go to every length to make sure the move is as smooth as possible. Its great that I am able to share this important day with the Mansfield family.”

Meanwhile the couple’s son Rodney Mansfield who helped his parents settle in said: “It has been a huge decision for my mother and father to move from their own home but having seen the facilities on offer at Brackenfield Hall I am sure they will be very happy here. The dementia care here is of an exceptional standard and its great to know that they will be well cared for, so close by, so we can call in on them as we would if they lived in their own home.”

Brackenfield Hall is the first of Ideal Care Home’s new facilities to open. It was built by Ideal Care Home’s sister company LNT Construction, both part of the Leeds-based LNT Group and boasts fully landscaped sensory gardens, a courtyard and a hairdressing salon.