Care, Later life, RMBI Care Co., Support for Freemasons and families
Masonic support available for RMBI Care Co. residents
Sheila and her husband, David.
The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution Care Company (RMBI Care Co.) currently provides care homes for over 1,000 people across England and Wales. It offers a wide range of accommodation depending on its residents’ individual needs. The first RMBI Care Co. home dates back to 1850, which opened in East Croydon; today, RMBI Care Co. has 17 care homes, with another set to open soon in Suffolk. Most of the homes are rated ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Good’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
Currently, RMBI Care Co. accommodates Freemasons, their families and the wider community; those in the Freemasonry community who need the most can count on our support when they can no longer fund their own care, or to meet daily living expenses and fund medical treatment.
Through RMBI Care Co., we are able to provide a range of residential care options for older Freemasons and their families, including residential, nursing and residential dementia support tailored to meet their specific needs.
The MCF can support existing RMBI Care Co. residents when they can no longer fund their own care; this allows Freemasons and their families to have the security of knowing their relatives have a home for life, regardless of changes to their financial situation.
In addition to financial aid, we also offer further support that RMBI Care Co. residents may need. For instance, a resident may fall ill and require medical treatment, so our grants can help them access the support they need to recover quickly without any financial burden. Also, if a resident’s mobility declines while in an RMBI Care Co. home, we can assist them to access mobility equipment and empower older people to live autonomously.
Derek and his wife, Pam.
Caring for a family member alone can take its toll, especially when that care is carried out around the clock. That’s why we also help fund short breaks for carers that assist with temporary domiciliary and residential respite care and day centre care in RMBI Care Co. homes, to support both the carer and their family member’s wellbeing.
When Sheila‘s husband of thirty years, David, suffered a stroke that left him paralysed, Sheila found herself having to be a full-time carer and in much need of mobility adjustments at home.
I was really struggling to cope, but then someone suggested that we turn to the MCF for help. David had decided that he wanted to go into a residential home whilst the work at the house was being done. It was a little hard at first being away from him, but it did mean that a huge weight was lifted and I didn’t have the constant pressure of worrying how he was going to react to what was going on around him.
Derek also received help when he became the primary carer to his wife Pam following a stroke that left her disabled. After nine years of being Pam’s carer, he was diagnosed with a heart condition that would require an operation. Derek felt stuck because his surgery would mean weeks of recovery time where Pam would not be cared for. Fortunately, Derek reached out to us and was given a grant to cover the cost of full-time care for his wife.
Having my caring responsibilities taken away after my operation meant that I had the time and space to focus on my own health and reach a point where I was well enough to care for Pam myself again.
The support we offer through RMBI Care Co. and to its residents aims for everyone to enjoy later life by providing care where it’s needed and giving residents the confidence to thrive independently.
If you need further information, advice or support about care, please call RMBI Care Co. on 020 7596 2400 or email: enquiries@rmbi.org.uk
