Lounge named after first resident, Brenda Osborne

Company news

Apr 13, 2011

Harry Sotnick House has named a lounge after its first resident, Brenda Osborne, who has lived in Portsmouth all her life.

The Brenda Osborne room is a quiet area where residents can choose to go and watch the television, read or look out at the garden in peace.

Brenda's daughter Deborah Manghan said: “Alzheimer’s disease is the cruellest of diseases, but since Mum moved into Harry Sotnick House, I feel a great deal happier and relaxed, because I know she is in a safe and beautiful environment and is being looked after by people who really care.”

Brenda Osborne was left to bring up her three children on her own – Deborah, Mark and Karen – when her husband died aged 34. As well as caring for her family, she worked as a senior manager at Cosham BT exchange.

When she moved into the new state-of-the-art home in Portsmouth, her family were amazed at the quality of care and comfort they found. 

Deborah said: “The staff here are so caring. They treat her like an individual and give her all the time she wants to chat and join in activities and day-to-day life in the home.

 “They are also good with us – they always keep us up to date with Mum’s health without using jargon and we still feel a real part of her care team. When we came to look at the home, my 11-year-old daughter Emily had prepared questions she wanted to ask, and Gary the manager listened to her and answered them all.”